Questions About Rates

[Unregistered]

I'm getting ready to open my daycare in 3months. The only thing is i'm not sure how much to charge. I have called around to see what the rates are in the area but they vary so much.
I would like your help-
Can you please tell me where you are from? what your rates are? what your hours open to close are?

Also I tried asking the question before but no one really answered it. It is concerning Parents Night Out. How does the ratio work for those? I will only be licensed for 6 kids but I wasn't sure if for those types of special events as long as I had another adult if I would be allowed to have 12. Does any one know?

thanks for your help
MNM

[MrsCoffee]

I am from Michigan, here 1 person may be licensed for 6 children under age 6. You can contact your local state government for that info. My state has a great website with all the info on it that I needed. I would suggest you try that.

As for my rates, I like you called around. They very some what so I raised mine according to the current going rate that was in my area. I am in the mid-range I would say. I charge $ 150 a week for infant care $125 a week over 18 month care. These are my Full time rates. I also have part time $30 a day - sort of a drop in rate. My full timers get 2 sick days a year that are for emergencies and I give 2 weeks no pay vacation time. In addition to that I take 3 weeks a year for personal family time or vacations. These are scheduled a year in advance so families have no surprises and may plan accordingly.

Hope that helped
~Kelly

[originalkat]

I am from Kansas. I do not do a PNO but, I would not think you would have to go by your ratios if it is after business hours. At least I wouldnt worry about ratios in the evening.

As for rates...
I charge $125 per week and only take 2-5 year olds. I think I am on the high end for my area. A lot of people charge my rate, but mostly the "better" places. Many charge $100 per week for full time. When I advertise I usually get people who are not interested after hearing my rate. I think they want to pay closer to $100. Most of my best clients have been referrals and they have no problem with the rate. I have my AA degree in Early Childhood and 12 years experience in licenced facilities as a teacher and director. I offer a preschool curriculum and all meals are included. I use all this information to determine my rate. I do not offer part time to new families. But if a current family needs to move to part time (3 days or less) then I offer a rate reduction to $100 per week (Aprox. $33 per day).

I am open M-F 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
I am closed all Major holidays Paid. I take 2 weeks unpaid vacation per year. I have 5 paid personal days per year for sickness/emergency/training.
I give parents 1 week vacation when they do not have to pay.
All other days are paid regardless of attendance.

[Liliya]

I'm getting ready to open my daycare in 3months. The only thing is i'm not sure how much to charge. I have called around to see what the rates are in the area but they vary so much.
I would like your help-
Can you please tell me where you are from? what your rates are? what your hours open to close are?

Also I tried asking the question before but no one really answered it. It is concerning Parents Night Out. How does the ratio work for those? I will only be licensed for 6 kids but I wasn't sure if for those types of special events as long as I had another adult if I would be allowed to have 12. Does any one know?

thanks for your help
MNM

I would not worry about ratio for PNO,this is in your house, right? Plus if you have helper,who cares what you do in your house after daycare hours.
You may let parents know that you may have more kids then you usually have during the day hours.But also let them know that you will have helper and what you plan to do. And this is going to be their choice if they want to bring their child on that day. Good luck.

[Crystal]

You do need to be within ratios for a PNO. I cannot imagine any state that would allow you to have more children in the evening than they would during the daytime.

I am in Sacramento, Ca. I have been in business for 13 years, hold a master Teacher Permit, am a Mentor Teacher for the local colleges, present workshops at conferences, etc. I am telling you this, because my experience, education and professional growth are things I considered when setting my rates. When I started my business, I charged $100 per week. As I "grew" as a professional, I increased my rates. I charge $150 per week full-time, for all age groups. This is on the low side for my area, and especially for my experience and education, but I find that it affords me a comfortable lifestyle, is within parent budgets and keeps me at operating capacity.

[originalkat]

I could see if you are open 24 hours or provide routine evening care for your business, but if not I see it more like a babysitting type of deal after hours.

[Crystal]

Well, I know in Ca. it's a big no-no.

[momma2girls]

I am from Kansas. I do not do a PNO but, I would not think you would have to go by your ratios if it is after business hours. At least I wouldnt worry about ratios in the evening.

As for rates...
I charge $125 per week and only take 2-5 year olds. I think I am on the high end for my area. A lot of people charge my rate, but mostly the "better" places. Many charge $100 per week for full time. When I advertise I usually get people who are not interested after hearing my rate. I think they want to pay closer to $100. Most of my best clients have been referrals and they have no problem with the rate. I have my AA degree in Early Childhood and 12 years experience in licenced facilities as a teacher and director. I offer a preschool curriculum and all meals are included. I use all this information to determine my rate. I do not offer part time to new families. But if a current family needs to move to part time (3 days or less) then I offer a rate reduction to $100 per week (Aprox. $33 per day).

I am open M-F 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM
I am closed all Major holidays Paid. I take 2 weeks unpaid vacation per year. I have 5 paid personal days per year for sickness/emergency/training.
I give parents 1 week vacation when they do not have to pay.
All other days are paid regardless of attendance.

I have went to a 3 day min. and I have $30.00 per day, but thinking of going to $100.00 for 3 days. I use to have one at 1 day /week, one 2 days, and one 3 days. It just got way too much, and then only charging $30.00 per day. The going rate in my area is $125.00-$150.00 for fulltime. Many daycares just do a daily rate with a 3 day min. of $30.00 per day.

[momma2girls]

I did find out from calling around to different facilities that offer preschool as well(calling about my 2 1/2yr. old daughter) they charge anywhere from $160.00-$220.00 week for an infant. Then maybe give a 5% at tops discount for siblings. WOW!!! That would be very expensive especially if you had an infant and another 2 or 3 yr. old. I couldn't imagine paying over $400.00 a week for 2 children to attend daycare!! Over the yrs. I have found out there is such a need around here for newborns!! I have many calls all the time, ones that just find out that they are pregnant, and want you to hold a spot for them for so long!!!

[tymaboy]

In my area $2.50 - $2.90 is the going rate. I myself charge a daily rate of $22.50, Varing daily rate $23.50 or if the parents perfer they can have a $2.50 per hour. They have to sign a contract for which ever way they decide to pay.

[momofboys]

I am "open" 7 am - 5:00 pm but parents have contracted hours. Starting in a few months when I change my rates my hours will be a little less, more like 7:15 - 4:45.
I am in Ohio. I currently charge $20/day for full-time care & $3/day for before & after school care (highway robbery!). When my rates change (probably in May) they will be $22/day for full-time care & $5/day for before & after school care.
I have never done a PNO but I would think if your significant other was there to assist or a friend you would be allowed to take on a few extra kids.

[momofboys]

You do need to be within ratios for a PNO. I cannot imagine any state that would allow you to have more children in the evening than they would during the daytime.

I am in Sacramento, Ca. I have been in business for 13 years, hold a master Teacher Permit, am a Mentor Teacher for the local colleges, present workshops at conferences, etc. I am telling you this, because my experience, education and professional growth are things I considered when setting my rates. When I started my business, I charged $100 per week. As I "grew" as a professional, I increased my rates. I charge $150 per week full-time, for all age groups. This is on the low side for my area, and especially for my experience and education, but I find that it affords me a comfortable lifestyle, is within parent budgets and keeps me at operating capacity.

I totally agree with you! I have a bachelor's degree & charge sort of on the low side for my area, although well within what many other providers in my area charge. My degree is in English & I used that to my advantage to
attract clients. One of my current clients said she wanted to stop going to their previous provider b/c the provider didn't use correct grammar on a frequent basis & she did not want her child picking up on that. However, I still felt inclined to charge the normal rate & since I am sort of new at this I didn't want to appear greedy. Now knowing that I provide a full day of activities & learning opportunities I feel that I well deserve to charge a little bit more & I plan to do so.

[Unregistered]

I am "open" 7 am - 5:00 pm but parents have contracted hours. Starting in a few months when I change my rates my hours will be a little less, more like 7:15 - 4:45.
I am in Ohio. I currently charge $20/day for full-time care & $3/day for before & after school care (highway robbery!). When my rates change (probably in May) they will be $22/day for full-time care & $5/day for before & after school care.
I have never done a PNO but I would think if your significant other was there to assist or a friend you would be allowed to take on a few extra kids.

OMG! You should be charging a LOT more for before and after school! School age kids are often harder to deal with than the little ones! I charge $10/day for before or after school ONLY, and $15/day for before AND after school. I'm going to be raising my rates next year, too!

[kelli050]

I am in Fargo, ND and my full time rates are $125/week for under 24 months and $100-$110/week for 24 months+. My hours are 6:30am-5:30pm, but my full time rates are for the typical 50ish hr weeks. My parents are charged according to their contracted hours (e.g. 7:30am-5:15pm), not my open hours. If they need to bring their child in an hour earlier than normal for a couple days there is going to be an extra charge. My drop in rate is 3.75/hr or $30/day regardless of age.
I do close for major holidays paid - I take 2 weeks of unpaid vacation per year and 5 days of paid sick days.
I do not provide my parents with any unpaid vacation time, but being the person I am I will kind of tackle this on a case by case basis (it is listed in my contract that their sick days, vacations, etc. I still get paid).
My contract/handbook outlines these and other policies pretty well - let me know if you'd like to see a copy

[mac60]

I live in one of the lowest dc rate areas of the country. 1 child fulltime is $85, 2 children fulltime is $135. School kids.....B/A $35. I am in line with other providers that I have talked with. And, people still complain about dc rates.
I do charge whether you are here or not, vacations, holidays, sick days included, I do not charge for vacation time I take off.

As for pno, I agree with some others about treating it as after hours and not a typical daycare day. I would just be sure you have 2 or 3 adults as needed.