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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Brightwheel
ElleR 11:17 AM 03-22-2017
Now that Brightwheel is charging $2 per child per month, is anyone still using it and paying the subscription?? I was interested in signing up my center...but that's pretty expensive...Also billing and bank transfers incur more costs. Is it worth it??
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jenboo 11:18 AM 03-22-2017
I've been signed up for a while and haven't seen any costs associated with it.
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JackandJill 11:20 AM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by jenboo:
I've been signed up for a while and haven't seen any costs associated with it.

same! I haven't received any information on being charged yet.
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Cat Herder 11:33 AM 03-22-2017
"If you're not paying for the product, you are the product"

I'd even pay extra if they could also give me the same accounting features as the current MMK Pro.

But everyone here already knows that.

Granted, I only have 6 children, I doubt I am much of a market share. I am product loyal to the core, surely that counts for something.

I just checked as I am seriously considering joining, still free.
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EntropyControlSpecialist 11:37 AM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by jenboo:
I've been signed up for a while and haven't seen any costs associated with it.
Same here. I really like it but not enough to pay $2 a child since I have mostly part timers and that'd be $36.
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CityGarden 05:23 PM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by EntropyControlSpecialist:
Same here. I really like it but not enough to pay $2 a child since I have mostly part timers and that'd be $36.
I agree I like it but not enough to pay for it. My parents however love it and most would likely be willing to incur the cost themselves.
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TXhomedaycare 05:50 PM 03-22-2017
I've been waiting for them to start charging but mine is still free. Since I only have 6 full time kids I would be willing to pay for it but next year I will be raising my rates and I will keep that in mind.
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CityGarden 05:51 PM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by TXhomedaycare:
I've been waiting for them to start charging but mine is still free. Since I only have 6 full time kids I would be willing to pay for it but next year I will be raising my rates and I will keep that in mind.
Yeah that would likely be my approach for next year... that said right now I only have 3 on any given day. Is there a way to write a note or picture and select all the parents?
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jenboo 08:17 PM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by CityGarden:
Yeah that would likely be my approach for next year... that said right now I only have 3 on any given day. Is there a way to write a note or picture and select all the parents?
Yes there is.
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jenboo 08:18 PM 03-22-2017
Originally Posted by ElleR:
Now that Brightwheel is charging $2 per child per month, is anyone still using it and paying the subscription?? I was interested in signing up my center...but that's pretty expensive...Also billing and bank transfers incur more costs. Is it worth it??
Is it per month? Per year? Just a one time fee per child?
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daycarediva 04:46 AM 03-23-2017
Mine is still free. Is that monthly? Previous to brightwheel, I was printing and filling in daily sheets. $2/month would still be cheaper than all that ink (and paper).
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Blackcat31 07:47 AM 03-24-2017
http://mybrightwheel.com/pricing/

Sounds like there is still a free version but there is a premium version that does cost.

The FAQ section also says:

Does brightwheel cost anything?

"If you choose to enroll in any premium services that brightwheel may offer (the “Premium Services”), you will be charged a subscription fee (the “Subscription Fee”) in advance, to the method of payment you provide upon enrollment in the Premium Services. Subscription Fees are non-refundable. Your enrollment in the Premium Services will be automatically renewed on a monthly or annual basis, depending on whether you elect monthly or annual billing during enrollment.

If you wish to cancel auto-renewal of the Premium Services for the following billing period, you must notify brightwheel within thirty (30) days prior to the auto renewal date. brightwheel may change the Subscription Fee upon notice to you, but such change will only take effect once your then-current Premium Services term has ended.

If you do not wish to pay the new Subscription Fee, your only remedy shall be to cancel your enrollment in the Premium Services for the following billing period, prior to the expiration of your then-current Premium Services term. You may cancel your Premium Services subscription at any time, but again, no refunds will be granted for Subscription Fees paid.

If you are participating in the Tuition Program (the “Tuition Program”), then you are also subject to our Tuition Program Payment Terms set forth below and we (or a third-party service provider) may accept and process payments on your behalf, for which we may charge a fee.

Many of the brightwheel Services are currently free. In addition, we reserve the right to charge for certain or all Services in the future, including new Services that we add. We will notify you before any Services you are then using begin carrying a fee, and if you wish to continue using such Services, you must pay all applicable fees for such Services."

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jenboo 11:08 AM 03-24-2017
That's a bummer. All my parent's use the tuition payment. I wonder when I'll get an email about it.
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LittleScholars 09:03 AM 03-27-2017
Originally Posted by jenboo:
That's a bummer. All my parent's use the tuition payment. I wonder when I'll get an email about it.
I chatted with them, and they said to expect to be rolled over within a few months if you're an existing customer. You will be notified prior to the change, though. And the basic version will still be free, but you can't access certain features. All invoices will have a processing fee.
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jenboo 09:31 AM 03-27-2017
Originally Posted by LittleScholars:
I chatted with them, and they said to expect to be rolled over within a few months if you're an existing customer. You will be notified prior to the change, though. And the basic version will still be free, but you can't access certain features. All invoices will have a processing fee.
Ugh. Guess is back to checks and cash.
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Blackcat31 09:38 AM 03-27-2017
Originally Posted by jenboo:
Ugh. Guess is back to checks and cash.
IIRC, they had once said that those who signed up early (when the app was still new) would never be charged and that it would always be free.

Guess they aren't going to be honoring that as appreciation for those programs that were willing to give them a shot and help them grow.

I deleted the app from my iPad/iPhone this morning and won't be "sharing" with fellow providers any more.
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Laurie 06:40 PM 03-27-2017
I found out about Brightwheel here, while I was getting use to the forum. I did a little research and also contacted them. They said there will always be a free version with limited functions.

I decided to go ahead and use the free version. My Parents love it so far. The features that come with the free version are working for me so far. Since signing up last week, I have the premium version for 30 days. I've found it a liittle confusing as to what's free and what premium. I may change my mind once they turn off the premium version. 😂😂
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LittleScholars 06:31 AM 03-28-2017
Originally Posted by Laurie:
I found out about Brightwheel here, while I was getting use to the forum. I did a little research and also contacted them. They said there will always be a free version with limited functions.

I decided to go ahead and use the free version. My Parents love it so far. The features that come with the free version are working for me so far. Since signing up last week, I have the premium version for 30 days. I've found it a liittle confusing as to what's free and what premium. I may change my mind once they turn off the premium version. 😂😂
I shared that question. I don't totally get what will and won't be free. I think the free version will be perfect for updates, but I'm interested in how parents will feel about the billing charge (I'm requiring them to cover that).
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Pestle 06:36 AM 03-28-2017
I've got one parent on Venmo and all the others prefer personal checks--most of them run their own businesses and use their checkbook to track expenses. So they're all perfectly happy with just the free Brightwheel service.
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Laurie 10:29 AM 03-29-2017
I'm not going to require parents to pay through brightwheel. I'm sure they would complain about the charge! Most of my parents pay directly through their banks and it goes straight to my bank account. WellsFargo calls it surepay and they don't charge to use it. I'm not sure what Chase calls it, but most banks offer this service now. With Brightwheel, we need to manually check that they've paid and a receipt will be sent to them.

I'm also not completely sure what services are free or premium. So far, everything I'm needing is available in the free version.
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Tags:app, attendance hours, brightwheel, child management software, daily reports, management software, manager services, payment - automatic transfer, payment - rules
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