Am I Charging Too Little For My Time?

[momma2girls]

My contracts say that I will provide 30 day notice. To be professional you really should give at least 2 weeks notice. This way if parents don't like your increase they have the time to look elsewhere. You always have to be prepared for this. I raised mine recently for school agers. They were a lot more work then I was getting paid for! I did have a family call around, other daycare providers told me, but I was still cheaper so they stayed. I only raise rates or change my contracts in September when I have parents update contracts and releases. Some providers do it for January.

Can i ask what you charge for school aged children, are you talking before and after school? I charge $50.00 for before and after school care. I know that is very reasonable in my area, there are many that do $60-$75.00 to make it worth your while!!

[momofboys]

I don't know why I never thought of this. This is a great idea! I'm telling you, sometimes I don't think of the obvious. I'll call around and just see what the rates are for people in my area.

You have to be careful these days though with caller id etc. I live in a small town too. I just say I am considering a job & need to find out pricing & then I price my child (he's 2) & adk about before & after care for my older boys. So it isn't a lie really b/c who knows when I could get the "perfect" job!

[Persephone]

You have to be careful these days though with caller id etc. I live in a small town too. I just say I am considering a job & need to find out pricing & then I price my child (he's 2) & adk about before & after care for my older boys. So it isn't a lie really b/c who knows when I could get the "perfect" job!

I use my cell phone, because that normally doesn't show a name. Sometimes there's a code you can type on your land line to block the caller ID.

[gbcc]

Can i ask what you charge for school aged children, are you talking before and after school? I charge $50.00 for before and after school care. I know that is very reasonable in my area, there are many that do $60-$75.00 to make it worth your while!!

I charge $75 per week for before/after school. I don't give the option to pro rate for just before/after and tell them they pay for the spot which includes before and after.

I also offer an average. From September thru August they pay an average of the school year. So instead of paying $130 on wks off or extra on days off they pay me the same rate every week which this year the average was $95. They can not start that in the summer though. They have to pay full rate and wait until the following September to start the average payment. All my parents love this option!

[originalkat]

Interesting Idea gbcc. I like that averaging idea. If I did school-age care I might consider that as well.

[momma2girls]

I charge $75 per week for before/after school. I don't give the option to pro rate for just before/after and tell them they pay for the spot which includes before and after.

I also offer an average. From September thru August they pay an average of the school year. So instead of paying $130 on wks off or extra on days off they pay me the same rate every week which this year the average was $95. They can not start that in the summer though. They have to pay full rate and wait until the following September to start the average payment. All my parents love this option!

Can I also ask what your going rate is in your area for Parttime and fulltime, siblings, etc....
Thanks!!! Have a great weekend!!!

[gbcc]

Can I also ask what your going rate is in your area for Parttime and fulltime, siblings, etc....
Thanks!!! Have a great weekend!!!

In my area most providers don't do part time unless they are not registered or lisenced. If they do part time though they charge $20-$30 per day. I don't know of anyone that does a minumum number of days or anything like that. For full time the prices are really varied $100-$175 depending on age. Usually the ones that charge $100 are not registered or don't have the space or curriculumn to back up a higher fee. I don't know anyone around me that offers a discount for siblings. I offer 20% but I am thinking of not offering this any longer. For before/after school it is really different. Some charge $2-$3 per hour, some charge $50 per wk, some are $10 on $10 off. I tell my parents that it is $75 no matter the hours for before/after. They are paying for the SPOT not the quantity or quality of care.