Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Sibling Discount Rate?
MissMaries 10:41 AM 03-19-2013
Do you give a sibling discount? If so, how much of a discount?
I have a client that is pregnant with her second. Her son attends full time right now. They both will be here full time starting in Nov and both are under 2 years old.
Thanks
Reply
MyAngels 10:43 AM 03-19-2013
No sibling discount here. They don't get discounted care, do they?
Reply
butterfly 10:43 AM 03-19-2013
Nope.

It's been said "discounted care isn't given so why give a discounted price?".

I can understand from a parents perspective though, it gets expensive having multiple children in daycare.
Reply
Patches 10:49 AM 03-19-2013
Nope, I know it gets expensive with more than one child but that's part of having kids. Kids are expensive!
Reply
CedarCreek 11:04 AM 03-19-2013
I do but I want to get rid of it when I change my policies.

Right now, I give a 20 dollar discount a week for sibs.
Reply
EntropyControlSpecialist 11:07 AM 03-19-2013
Initially I offered a 10% discount. I currently have one part-time family enrolled that still has it. I lose $480/year from doing that. They go to Kindergarten next year. They have been with me for over a year.

Then, I offered a 5% discount. The only other sibling set (full-time) in my care still has this. I lose $384/year from doing that. One sibling goes to Kindergarten this Fall. They have been with me for almost a year.

Now, I do not offer a sibling discount. Below is what my Parent Handbook says.

Originally Posted by :
Sibling Discount
No sibling discounts are given at this time. Please understand that every child is provided the same level of care, same opportunities, and utilizes the same resources thus making it unfair to our clients with one child if we offer clients with multiple children a discount.

Reply
mrsnj 11:12 AM 03-19-2013
Nicely said. I might steal that. I used to but no longer. I have limited space. And I am already lower than a center. I can't afford to discount a spot someone else could take full rate.
Reply
Mom&Provider 11:35 AM 03-19-2013
No sibling discount here either. I offer the same thing to both children in the same family (same meals, snacks, crafts etc), so I never saw a reason to offer it. It's not like my expenses go down just because they are siblings!
Reply
Willow 11:48 AM 03-19-2013
I offer a sibling discount.

It's a $.25/hour difference for one child if both children are in attendance at the same time.


For me it's not about selling myself short or about offering a discounted level of care, it's about recognizing that we're in a recession, my family is very financially stable, I love that I can live the life I want to by staying home and doing what I do and don't mind giving back a bit to those who support the lifestyle I've chosen and comfortably settled into.

It's no skin off my teeth. Combined with the quality of care and environment I can offer it just adds to what sets me aside from the competition.


Do what you feel is right and fair for you and your families MissMaries, that's all that really matters in the long run
Reply
MissMaries 07:02 AM 03-21-2013
Thanks everyone.

I don't offer a discount in my handbook. I'm only licensed for 6 children so spots are obviously limited.

They only reason I was considering offer a discount to this family is they have been with me since I first opened. I have only been opened 14 months. They are also my only full time family.

Thank you
Reply
Meeko 07:36 AM 03-21-2013
I have, on occasion, told a family that I was going to lower their rate because I knew they were struggling etc. and I was in a position to help out.

But nothing bugs me more than people who EXPECT me to take money out of my pocket and put it in theirs just because they have more than one child.

Why would I pay THEM to bring their child to me?!!!
Reply
crazydaycarelady 07:49 AM 03-21-2013
I used to give a sibling discount but I stopped. We already have a cap on how much $$ we can make by the state limiting the number of kids we can have so I am not going to cut myself short bu offering a discount. Plus the 2nd kid is no less work?

Does McDonalds give a sibling discount if you buy 2 Happy Meals?
Reply
Blackcat31 07:50 AM 03-21-2013
Siblings do NOT receive discounted care therefore do NOT receive discounted rates.

No discussion, no negotiation, no exceptions.
Reply
wdmmom 07:57 AM 03-21-2013
When I started I offered a 50% discount on the 2nd kid. (No discount for twins.)

Then I changed it to 25% discount although I had no siblings at that time.

About 2 years ago I changed it to 10% off and now I don't have one.

I stopped discounting because they aren't getting discounted care and with only being able to have a maximum number of kids, I need to maximize the income potential.

My electric bill goes up or stays the same with an added soul in the house. So does my water bill and my trash bill. Same goes for cable.

It isn't cost effective to offer a discount when my bills remain the same.
Reply
hope 07:58 AM 03-21-2013
I am caring for twins for the first time. Even though they have two complete opposite personalities they came with same schedule n values implemented. They do everything together. They fix each others problems. DCM is really great. For them I give a discount, a pretty good one! But they care so much for each other that I feel its easier to watch two of them than one other child. They are also great role models for the other kids in my group. And DCM will throw me an extra $50 if she needs an extra half hour here or there. She realizes what a discount I give her and makes sure to appreciate.
Reply
MarinaVanessa 03:15 PM 03-21-2013
I do not give sibling discounts. I provide the same level of care to all of the children so I don't feel the need to offer a discount. I also don't see the fairness of that to my clients with single children.

I don't get too many clients with siblings but that's fine with me because if the family moves then that twice as much income that I'll be losing.
Reply
melilley 03:32 PM 03-21-2013
I don't give a discount. Parents don't seem to mind, they like my home and program so I think that makes up for it. I did have my parent who has two kids here mention in passing how some give discounts, but she then said what ever, not meanly, but in a manner that suggested that it was worth it for her kids to come here.
Reply
MissSarah 05:08 PM 03-21-2013
I don't give sibling discounts. I'm legally unlicensed and am only allowed 2 kids OR one sibling group so I can't afford to give a discount. I'm in the process of getting my license so once I am allowed more kids I may reconsider that policy.
Reply
wahmof3 06:32 PM 03-21-2013
Originally Posted by Meeko:
I have, on occasion, told a family that I was going to lower their rate because I knew they were struggling etc. and I was in a position to help out.

But nothing bugs me more than people who EXPECT me to take money out of my pocket and put it in theirs just because they have more than one child.

Why would I pay THEM to bring their child to me?!!!


This is right on the money! I have been and still am struggling with a dcf that I was already giving a significant discount to and then they added child #2 and thought I would discount my rate even more. After my experience I will no longer offer a sibling discount.
Reply
laundrymom 04:06 AM 03-22-2013
I offer care at the same rate for the second as I do the first.

I word it so it seems they get one. Ex.

120per week for one child

130 for first, 110 for second

120 for one child, if they have a baby after in care, second child is always same $$ as first.
Reply
Kim 04:57 AM 03-22-2013
I offered a sibling discount when I first started but I don't anymore. I don't have anything about it in my handbook since it's not something I offer. I only address it if a family asks about it and then I tell them that I don't offer it. The care, supplies, food, insurance, etc for two children is the same whether they come from one family or two.
Reply
wahmof3 05:42 AM 03-22-2013
Here is another idea:

The local centers in my area offer a sibling discount if your income is under a certain amount and then its 20% off the first child.

If a families income is under that set amount they probably qualify for state assistance.
Reply
Orie 06:39 AM 03-22-2013
I do not offer a sibling discount.
Reply
MaryM 07:05 AM 03-22-2013
Originally Posted by Willow:
I offer a sibling discount.

It's a $.25/hour difference for one child if both children are in attendance at the same time.


For me it's not about selling myself short or about offering a discounted level of care, it's about recognizing that we're in a recession, my family is very financially stable, I love that I can live the life I want to by staying home and doing what I do and don't mind giving back a bit to those who support the lifestyle I've chosen and comfortably settled into.

It's no skin off my teeth. Combined with the quality of care and environment I can offer it just adds to what sets me aside from the competition.




Do what you feel is right and fair for you and your families MissMaries, that's all that really matters in the long run
Oh, but didn't you know-our "wonderful" pres said the recession ended a year or so ago? (yea-hasn't felt like it's ended here either!)
Reply
bunnyslippers 08:44 AM 03-22-2013
I made the mistake of doing it this year, in order to keep one of my easier families. While I am glad I have the family, I shorted myself of about $3700 this school year.

If I were remaining in business, I would never offer this again. Ever.

I am thankful to have just a few families to deal with, but the money is definitely a stretch. Live and learn!
Reply
frgsonmysox 02:13 PM 03-22-2013
I'm realizing that I will change my policy here soon to not have a sibling discount either.
Reply
KnoxMom 02:25 PM 03-22-2013
5%, but only because I am new. I am advertising it for now but not making it a part of my handbook. Case by case only and I intend for only my first set of families to take advantage of the offer because of my age range.
Reply
Tags:sibling discount
Reply Up