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-   -   Need Rate Advice (https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32076)

AfterSchoolMom 07-01-2011 05:58 AM

Need Rate Advice
 
Hi all,

Currently I'm taking the summer off, but for the fall I'm thinking of restructuring my rates. I do SA care, and next school year we'll be having a different schedule than we've ever had - there will be NINE half days and SIX teacher work days during the school year, with at least one if not two of each occuring every month.

In the past I've charged a flat weekly rate, but an additional fee for half days and teacher work days. I don't charge the additional fee if they don't come but still expect to be paid for the day since I'm open (they pay for the space). As some of you know, I've had some terrible times with families not wanting to pay, and this has always been a sticking point.

I'm thinking of raising my weekly rates and having that cover the half and full days off so that I don't charge them any more for those days. However, the raise would have to be significant (around ten dollars per week per child) to make it worthwhile.

What does everyone think?

familyschoolcare 07-01-2011 07:01 AM

that is how my contract is worded.

It say that the weekly fee for school days is ****** and for school breaks is ******. As a curtsy I to you I do not charge extra for min. days or only one day of off school in a week (ie teacher in service).

A paragraph later it talks about a grauented rate and about how i get paid for my holidays ect.

something like that, by wording it that way you make parents think you are doing it because you want to be nice not because you think any other way would be hard to deal with.

MyAngels 07-01-2011 08:14 PM

Based on all the problems you've had this year with receiving payment, I would not hesitate it raise your rate by that amount. I'd also require a minimum of two weeks deposit, to be applied to the last two weeks of care.

Live and Learn 07-01-2011 08:28 PM

This sounds reasonable to me. I assume that you are already paid before you provide care.

Rachel 07-03-2011 05:48 AM

Exactly how I did it when I did after school care. I wrote in the days that are included (teacher conference, some holiday closings, teacher workday), and specifically excluded extra days, but said I may be available, and if I was the extra fee was X. Examples of the extra days were teacher strikes, weather emergencies, building emergencies, etc. No way I wanted to be stuck providing "free" care if the teachers decided to strike or we had weather closings.

AfterSchoolMom 07-03-2011 02:31 PM

Rachel, I didn't even think about weather - free snow days would NOT be fun. Thanks so much for saving me from that! :ouch:

Rachel 07-04-2011 02:14 AM

Yes, don't want to be stuck providing free daycare if there is a teacher strike (not so many weather days here but you never know...)

I think it's easier also. You get the steady income, the parents don't have to scramble (because they know they paid and you are available those days), and you don't get "grandma" coming ot do free childcare at the last minute and you are staying open teacher conference day for 1 kid which isn't even worth your while.

Also I put something in about if there were other days the whole school was being dismissed early (if they added an extra 1/2 day), but it was the parents' responsibility to inform me of when those closings were.


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