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CityGarden 09:57 PM 12-26-2017
Originally Posted by Tigerlilly:
This might be more of a vent but how do you all manage the pushy negotiators? I have had a bit of interest in my services but I keep getting people that are over the top about negotiations. I am only taking a small number of children and since I am just starting out I am offering the lowest price possible while still covering overhead and paying myself. But people seem to not understand that what is written in my contact is not negotiable.
Originally Posted by ColorfulSunburst:
I see that a lot of new providers try to charge a low price. I do not think it is right. Your price should shows a level of quality of your service. It shouldn't be in any connection with your time in the business.
I personally have my base rates listed on my website so it reduces people contacting me who cannot afford my services. Also I am intentional with the places and settings that I market my program. In my opinion with regard to tuition "negotiators" and just in general sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Also I run the tours and I interview them.... I do not allow them to interview me - it's a power shift that you control at the outset.

ColorfulSunburst is right undercharging is not a smart move. I'm new and I charged the same as the highest provider in my town but I offered more than her and I marketed my program much differently. The cost of living is too high where I am to be competitive by offering the lowest rates so instead I aim to offer the best quality. For me being able to offer the best quality meant specializing, I was either going to do 0-2 infant only care or 2-5 in-home preschool --- both would allow me to focus on having an environment catering to that specific age.

A fellow provider two towns over takes a max of four children ages 0-2 only. She markets her program with a max of 4 children only all with their own cribs, etc. she focuses on the benefits of being small and she charges parents a premium for that. Parents visiting home day cares tend to notice less that you are licensed for 4 infants only vs licensed for 12 with some of them infants....... legally that provider can only have 4 but parents just feel that their child is in a more calm setting because less children are present. She is never in need of finding clients and does not market. She does have a good Yelp rating and infant care is in high demand.

I opted to specialize with 2-5 year olds and run an in-home preschool 8:30am - 3:00pm Monday - Friday. I offer beautiful enrichment programs including a professional music teacher, crafting with natural materials, natural toys, all organic snacks, park visits daily and a 4:1 adult to child ratio. My overhead is more expensive for my program and it shows in the quality of materials (beeswax crayons, good quality watercolor paper, etc.)

There are many ways to stand out, charging the lowest is not the only way.

Originally Posted by Tigerlilly:
She wanted an hourly rate and to pay less on top of that. My contract says $150 a week for full time, that is $3.00 an hour. It's also a dollar less an hour than most places locally as it is.
She also did not like my policy asking for payments on Friday for the following weeks service.
Yes those are certainly items I would not budge on. I do not waiver on my rates and the one time I did it was because it was financially and time beneficial to me. In the case of the dcm who wanted a 4-day rate I barely reduced her monthly rate but it bumped her daily rate to almost $10 per day higher than the highest home daycare in my area and it allowed me to close early the day her son was not here because he was my latest pick up.
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