Charging Full Day Rate For 3 Hours Of Care
I'm looking at changing my rates and I really like the daily flat rate based on pick up time. I have a family who will often bring their child on DCM's day off just for a few hours to get groceries, work out, take a nap...I really have no clue what she is doing! It kind of drives me crazy that she can't handle her child in public for a few hours, but I agree to it, so I can't complain. Do you still charge the full day rate if they are only with you for a few hours? If she ever brings her during lunch, then she leaves her for the full day, but sometimes it's only 2-3 hours in the morning before lunch. I like to help families out, but it's not worth it for $5-$10, but I feel guilty charging $25 for 3 hours. WWYD?
|
I would charge for a full day.
|
Charge for full day. Unless you can find another child that can use the other hours, That family is technicaly taking up a spot in your daycare ratio.
|
If they aren't here for lunch and its less then 4 hours I knock off $5 from the daily rate. I have a small group though, and have a few openings right now. If I were at full capacity I would probably charge the full amount.
|
Do you only charge for the days they attend? So if mom kept her home on her off day, she wouldn't pay at all?
|
My new contracts I charge weekly. I will prorate if they miss a day for whatever reason (vacation, illness, grandma wants them for a day) but only up to 10 days a calendar year. After that it’s the full weekly rate regardless on if they are here or not.
My cousins child is dropping in today for a few hours due to a funeral. I am charging her an hourly rate just because this is the first and probably only time she’ll ever be here (her mom is a provider as well). If she were a regularly enrolled child I would not be offering this. They take up a space whether they are in attendance or not. |
I always did my rates as simple as possible.
Like for example 0-18m: $160/w 18m-5y(school age): $130/w they pay if they were sick, i may have given like 3 sick days a year and a week of vaca for them to use however they want with two weeks notice required for my financial security but no half days i had the same moms that would get off early every friday and go home till i CLOSE and then pick up their kids, or mom was off and they'd drop of either all day for a day off from kids or for a doc appt or hair appt or whatever. Same rate. your a business run it so. |
Originally Posted by Farmerswife: |
Originally Posted by TheMisplacedMidwestMom: |
I only allow full time so the rate is the same regardless of whether you come 3 hours or 11 hours. I have one dck who comes usually just 4 hours. She pays exactly what the parents of my 10 hour dck pay.
|
Originally Posted by Farmerswife: First time frame is 8:00-11:00 (A.M. Block) Second time frame is 2:00-5:00 (P.M. Block) Half days do NOT include lunch or rest time. Half days are in blocks of time only and if a parent chooses the A.M. time frame and doesn't pick up until 11:15, they are billed an entire day and/or considered late and charged the appropriate late fee ($1 per minute). I understand using child care for a Dr appointment or a couple quick errands but care must fit into MY schedule or it is no longer an option. |
Originally Posted by Farmerswife: |
I charge a flat weekly rate based on enrollment, not attendance. So yes, I charge even if they are only with me for a few hours in a day, or not at all.
|
Charging full day
Yes, I would charge full day rate. They are paying for a spot regardless how long they use. We are only allowed to have a certain amount of kids. Mom could have choice of leaving kid longer. Not your problem. If she doesn’t like a full day rate, then keep them home!
|
Originally Posted by Blackcat31: This is pretty much how I do mine, too. I charge half my drop in rate, too. ($25) |
I charge for a full day. I have 2 parents who work 4 day weeks. At first and with the first one, I gave her a discount for the day she didn't use and I'd plan stuff like park trips, my day off for apts etc. On that day but then she started contacting last minute for me to watch her baby while she did whatever. I ended up with ruined plans and had to redo statements so I pulled the plug on it by telling her she could either only come on the 4 days with no option of the 5th day or pay full price and keep doing what she was doing. She chose to pay full price and I would never give a discount for a ft spot again! Too much headache!
|
Half days
Each area has different rates so I get that. My half day rate for infants under 2 is $26 and is only for up to 5 hours. Also I don't cut my daily rate in half to figure half days. My full day rate for infants under 2 is $38. This way I can save parents money while still making it worth it for me. Also, my hourly rate is $15 and only applies to literally 60 min or less. Nobody has ever used the hourly rate on it's own, only if they need more than my 10 hour limit.We gotta make it worth our time people :)
Just an extra tid bit: I have cheaper rates for older kids but the cheapest daily rate is $30, with a $20 half day option.....but parents contract for certain times, I don't just bill for what they use. (Charge for absence/early pick up) |
If I gave any discount, it would only be a small one. Think about it...you are still doing drop off and pick up. You still have diapers. You still have liability. You are still managing a larger group, even though it's for less time. You still have to provide fresh water and probably a snack or meal. And more.
|
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 10:31 AM. |