Originally Posted by janarae:
I also wonder about some of your before & after rates? I only care for one family's children which includes a school-age boy, a preschool girl & a toddler. When I initially wrote up the paperwork for the mom to sign (3 months ago) I had no idea what to charge for before and after school care. The mom led me to believe that her husband would be driving the school age child to school most days so I would only have him after school for about 1.5 hrs. Well, flash forward to when I started watching them she has always brought him with the other children in the morning & husband has NEVER driven the school age boy. Hmmmmmm, being so new at childcare I never said a word; however, now I am feeling quite taken advantage of b/c I agred to a cheaper rate under a falsehood, thinking I'd only have him for 1.5 hrs instead of almost 3. I know there is nothing I can do about it now but I do plan to raise his rate next school year. These are a teacher's kids so I won't have them in the summer. I am embarassed to admit I only charge $3 a day for him but I thought he'd only be here 1.5 hrs instead of 3
Come next year I think I will tell her his rate will raise to $25 for the week. DO you think that's fair?
Why don't you do a new contract at the beginning of 2010 instead of waiting till the next school year? If they say something about it then be honest & say you thought care for the child would only be 1.5 hrs a day.
Originally Posted by :
Question for those who charge hourly...Why? It seems like it would be easier simply to charge by the day or the week...income would be more stable, less hassle to keep track of...
I find that a lot of parents like the hourly rate better then a daily/weekly rate. Most of the parent I have now is cuz I do hourly. I have to keep track of the times I have their kids no matter if they are hourly or daly rate anyway so for me it is no extra work.