Default Style Register
Daycare.com Forum
Daycare and Taxes>What Are Your Going Rates and Where Do You Live?
Unregistered 07:35 AM 06-02-2010
I just curoius as to what other providers charge what is included and where they are located. If you are lisenced or not.

When I lived in Maryland and I was unlisenced for 3 years I charged with no food included:
100 for infants and toddlers
80 for school aged before and after school care and summer care

When I lived in Maryland and had my daycare lisenced for 5 years I charged with breakfest, lunch, and afternoon snack included:
200 for infants
150 for toddlers
100 for school aged before and after school care and summer care

I now live in NC and am unlisenced ive been doing it for 2 years I charge with breakfest, lunch, and afternoon snack included:
140 for infants
120 for toddlers
50 for after school care and 100 for Summer care
Reply
dice401 09:23 AM 06-02-2010
That's it?!?!? That's dirt cheap! I'm from Canada and it costs much more here. In one province, the avg rates are (including breakfast, lunch and 2 snacks):

FT Infant - $700/mth
FT Toddler/Preschool - $600/mth

PT Infant - $550/mth
PT Toddler/Preschool - $300/mth

B&A School - $150 mth

On the west coast, I've heard of people charging $1000/mth for an infant ft!!!
Reply
Anna 09:53 AM 06-02-2010
Here in Hawaii $500 - $600 a month is typical for a full time 18 month+ child. You would think that the rates would be higher here since the cost of living is so high but they're no too bad. There are centers around here that will charge $1200+ for a child. Also we have a lot of military on Oahu so we have to make it affordable for those families. All of my daycare children are military children (gotta love military work hours).
Reply
Janet 12:33 PM 06-02-2010
I charge a daily rate of $25/day. It's been the same since I opened my doors about 6 years ago. I live in Michigan. I'm not sure what other Michiganders charge, but I do know that if you check Craig's List, there are people who are WAY cheaper than I am!
Reply
Crystal 01:23 PM 06-02-2010
$150 week over 20 hours per week
$130 week under 20 hours per week

3 hours preschool $25 per day or $100 fo 5 days

Same rate for all ages.
Reply
Daycare Mommy 01:29 PM 06-02-2010
$125-$135/wk here

BUT, if you look on Craigslist, you'd think $50-60/week including all meals and preschool program was the going rate.
Reply
nannyde 01:34 PM 06-02-2010
There's a huge range in my city of a half million people.

I live in bluecollarville so I think it's about:

115 ish for full time
25 a day for part time

It isn't unusual at ALL to see 100 a week.

The other side of town is about

135-140 a week full time
30 a day for part time

Centers on my side 185-205 full time for infants
Centers on other side 210-285 for infants

Sure THAT info didn't help.

My rates are:

Full Time Rates (2010) based upon a maximum of nine hours a day and time your child departs from day care:

3:00 p.m. departure $135.00 per week

3:15 p.m. departure $140.00 per week

3:30 p.m. departure $145.00 per week

3:45 p.m. departure $150.00 per week

4:00 p.m. departure $155.00 per week

4:15 p.m. departure $160.00 per week

4:30 p.m. departure $165.00 per week

4:45 p.m. departure $170.00 per week

5:00 p.m. departure $175.00 per week

5:15 p.m. departure $180.00 per week

5:30 p.m. departure $185.00 per week

5:45 p.m. departure $190.00 per week

6:00 p.m. departure $195.00 per week


Part Time Rates

3:00 p.m. departure $33.00 per day

3:15 p.m. departure $34.00 per day

3:30 p.m. departure $35.00 per day

3:45 p.m. departure $36.00 per day

4:00 p.m. departure $37.00 per day

4:15 p.m. departure $38.00 per day

4:30 p.m. departure $39.00 per day

4:45 p.m. departure $40.00 per day

5:00 p.m. departure $41.00 per day

5:15 p.m. departure $42.00 per day

5:30 p.m. departure $43.00 per day

5:45 p.m. departure $44.00 per day
Reply
Childminder 02:18 PM 06-02-2010
I was told by Tom Copeland that asking another provider their rates is against the law. It's called price fixing.

That being said, I charge $160 a week based on 45 hours. Everything included except diapers. Centers around me charge $225.
Reply
Janet 02:51 PM 06-02-2010
I've had people call me to check my price and they will say that they are a parent looking for care. I've been doing this for a long enough time so that I can tell when it's another provider just feeling out the prices of competition. I tell them anyway, because if they look online they'll find anyway. Based on the first couple of questions that they ask, you can totally tell!
Reply
mismatchedsocks 06:14 AM 06-03-2010
I am in Wisconsin.
$150/week for infants fulltime. (up to 45 hours)
$140/week for kids 1-3.5
$130/week for over age 3.5

$35 a day part time any age. (up to 9 hours)
Reply
originalkat 06:23 AM 06-03-2010
Kansas (Population about 450,000)
$125 ages 2-5 yrs Full Time
Reply
momma2girls 06:27 AM 06-03-2010
GOing rate here in Iowa where I live is between $100-$215.00 a week. THe large centers usually are $175-$215.00 per child.
I charge $130.00 for totally potty trained and $140.00 for infant- potty trained per week.
I charge $30.00 a day for parttime or fillin per child.
Reply
emosks 07:14 AM 06-03-2010
$40 a day or $175 per week if they are here all 5 days.

We're a group (up to 12) licensed home. I've been told my rates are high but we are pretty much full (we have 2 open spots right now but waiting for 2 lil' babies to be born from current families!!) so I think we are right on track.

We provide am snack, lunch, and pm snack as well as a curriculum.

ETA: We're in Grand Rapids, MI too.
Reply
melskids 07:29 AM 06-03-2010
i live in central NY. going rate here is $135 a week. travel 2 hours south and its almost $250 a week (thats what my cousin pays). go even closer to the city and its well over $300/wk.
Reply
MarinaVanessa 07:38 AM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I was told by Tom Copeland that asking another provider their rates is against the law. It's called price fixing.

That being said, I charge $160 a week based on 45 hours. Everything included except diapers. Centers around me charge $225.
I had a book by Tom Copeland that actually says to call daycare's and say that you are looking for daycare to get their rates . It was pretty old so maybe it was an old printing, I wish I still had that book so I could scan it and post it. This isn't the first time that I've heard of him saying this.

But when I did my orientation for licensing and when I took a workshop "The Business of Daycare" and the question was asked about what we should charge both licensing and the speakers (one was from licensing and the other was a tax consultant that specializes in daycares and centers) they both recommended calling daycare's in the area and asking what their rates were.

I want to know because I don't want to charge too little or too much for my service when compared to others of the similar kind.
Reply
Greenshadow 08:32 AM 06-03-2010
I was in California and charged $5/hr. I charged $1 more for infants and $1 less for potty trained. Here in Virginia, I charge $125/wk for full time (over 20 hours/wk) and $80/wk for part time. $5 for drop-in. No weekends. 2 snacks and 2 meals provided.
Reply
professionalmom 11:43 AM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I was told by Tom Copeland that asking another provider their rates is against the law. It's called price fixing.

That being said, I charge $160 a week based on 45 hours. Everything included except diapers. Centers around me charge $225.
First, if anyone tells you that something is legal or illegal, always ask them to show you the law regarding that. Second, Mr. Copeland is full of it on this issue, especially in Michigan. I live in Michigan, too. I called DHS to inquire about the rates in my area to ensure that I was charging a fair rate. They sent me a list of the daycares in my zip code and what their rates were. The rates were even broken down by age group, PT/FT, etc. So, I know it is NOT illegal in MI to inquire about the rates of other daycares.

Plus, if it's price fixing, what about gas stations posting their prices on those great big signs? What about stores like Wal-Mart that scope out the prices of other stores to try to offer the most competetive prices? It's part of doing business in any industry. It's only price fixing if all the providers in your area got together and said, "hey, we want to charge $200 a week for all full-time kids, so let's all raise our rates together. Then the parents won't have a choice."

I charge $130 for FT (35-50 hours) and $3.50 an hour for part time. But I am rethinking this to account for longer days, second shifts, etc.
Reply
fctjc1979 11:56 AM 06-03-2010
I live in Iowa and am open 24/7. Since I'm open all day, I let parents choose from three rate choices.

Hourly – 4.00/hr
Daily – 30.00/day – 9 hour max – anything over will be charged hourly
Full time – 135.00/week - up to 45 hours per week – anything over will be charged hourly

They might be a bit high considering the fact that I'm not licensed (not required in Iowa), but I don't really need the money. I do it because I enjoy having kids around. So my rates are a little high because I don't necessarily want to be full. It also helps offset things a bit when I help people out. I often watch kids from people in our church free of charge.
Reply
swaddlebees 11:56 AM 06-03-2010
I am in south ga (rural) and I charge $75 a week. That includes meals but no snacks. We are a natural eating, and cloth diapering daycare
Reply
momofboys 12:03 PM 06-03-2010
I charge $22/day for full-time care ($110/week). I am in the midwest. I charge $7/day for before & after school-care. That price does not include days when the kids have early release or where school is cancelled. An additional fee is added on those days. I have seen people advertise $15/day for care. When I used an in-home daycare provider when my older kids were younger (back in 2001-2003) I was paying $20/day for each. It's discouraging but for my area that still is the going rate & many providers still only charge $15/day.
Reply
TomCopeland 01:23 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by professionalmom:
First, if anyone tells you that something is legal or illegal, always ask them to show you the law regarding that. Second, Mr. Copeland is full of it on this issue, especially in Michigan. I live in Michigan, too. I called DHS to inquire about the rates in my area to ensure that I was charging a fair rate. They sent me a list of the daycares in my zip code and what their rates were. The rates were even broken down by age group, PT/FT, etc. So, I know it is NOT illegal in MI to inquire about the rates of other daycares.

Plus, if it's price fixing, what about gas stations posting their prices on those great big signs? What about stores like Wal-Mart that scope out the prices of other stores to try to offer the most competetive prices? It's part of doing business in any industry. It's only price fixing if all the providers in your area got together and said, "hey, we want to charge $200 a week for all full-time kids, so let's all raise our rates together. Then the parents won't have a choice."

I charge $130 for FT (35-50 hours) and $3.50 an hour for part time. But I am rethinking this to account for longer days, second shifts, etc.
Tom Copeland here - Federal anti-trust laws (for more info: www.justice.gov/atr/public/div_stats/1638.htm) say that it's illegal for competitors to discuss rates. When your state DHS office passes out information on rates this is not price fixing because DHS is not a competitor and they are passing out information that is available to the public. In the same way gas stations or any other business can advertise their rates to the public. But two competitors cannot sit down in a private room and tell each other what they charge or what they plan to charge for their product.
Reply
AfterSchoolMom 02:40 PM 06-03-2010
If that's the case, then it's fine here, right? After all, this forum is public, and none of us are from the same areas, so we're not competitors.
Reply
QualiTcare 03:06 PM 06-03-2010
no, it's not okay!

i'm reporting you all to the proper authorities so this insanity will stop and justice will prevail!!
Reply
melissa ann 03:21 PM 06-03-2010
Tom Copeland here - Federal anti-trust laws (for more info: www.justice.gov/atr/public/div_stats/1638.htm) say that it's illegal for competitors to discuss rates
******************************************************

Inquiring about rates is not the same comptetitors discussing rates. If someone who wants to start a childcare business, that never had children in childcare how is that person supposed to know what is a "fair" price? My children were never in childcare and I had no idea what people were charging. I called other providers, acting like a parent needing childcare and asked their rates. I've had people call me "acting" as a parent to find out my rates. I don't see anything wrong with it.
Reply
momma2girls 03:28 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by fctjc1979:
I live in Iowa and am open 24/7. Since I'm open all day, I let parents choose from three rate choices.

Hourly – 4.00/hr
Daily – 30.00/day – 9 hour max – anything over will be charged hourly
Full time – 135.00/week - up to 45 hours per week – anything over will be charged hourly

They might be a bit high considering the fact that I'm not licensed (not required in Iowa), but I don't really need the money. I do it because I enjoy having kids around. So my rates are a little high because I don't necessarily want to be full. It also helps offset things a bit when I help people out. I often watch kids from people in our church free of charge.
Hi fellow Iowan!! Where do you live? I am in Cedar Rapids. There is one from Des Moines and one from Dubuque on here as well.
Glad to see another Iowan on here!!
Reply
judytrickett 03:47 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by TomCopeland:
But two competitors cannot sit down in a private room and tell each other what they charge or what they plan to charge for their product.
Whew! Good thing there aren't just two of us sitting down in a "private room" then!

Whatever....

Every week I can look at the grocery flyers and see that THREE different stores all have Pillsbury Crescent Rolls on sale for one dollar. But, oh, no, they're not price fixing. They must just have strong mental telepathy skills to know what the competition is selling rolls for that week.

I would like to see them try to enforce that law with daycare providers.

Don't you just LOVE government?
Reply
melskids 03:58 PM 06-03-2010
how did tom copeland know we were talking about him....man gossip spreads fast on the internet...lol
Reply
originalkat 04:24 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by melskids:
how did tom copeland know we were talking about him....man gossip spreads fast on the internet...lol
LOL! That is hilarious!
Reply
fctjc1979 04:54 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by Iowa daycare:
Hi fellow Iowan!! Where do you live? I am in Cedar Rapids. There is one from Des Moines and one from Dubuque on here as well.
Glad to see another Iowan on here!!
I live just outside Des Moines in Altoona. This is just my most recent location in Iowa, though. I really need to stop moving.
Reply
Michael 05:11 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by judytrickett:
Whew! Good thing there aren't just two of us sitting down in a "private room" then!

Whatever....

Every week I can look at the grocery flyers and see that THREE different stores all have Pillsbury Crescent Rolls on sale for one dollar. But, oh, no, they're not price fixing. They must just have strong mental telepathy skills to know what the competition is selling rolls for that week.

I would like to see them try to enforce that law with daycare providers.

Don't you just LOVE government?
I think the catch word would be to "conspire" to set prices. That would need to be the intent.
Reply
professionalmom 09:27 PM 06-03-2010
Originally Posted by michael:
I think the catch word would be to "conspire" to set prices. That would need to be the intent.
Exactly! I looked through the website that Tom Copeland posted. It only mentioned "agreement".

"Price fixing occurs when two or more sellers agree that they will increase prices a certain amount, or that they won't sell below a certain price."

If 2 or more providers sit down and make an "agreement" to set their prices at a certain level, then it's price fixing. However, the question that the OP posted had nothing to do with making any agreements. The OP was just inquiring so she could have a better understanding of the "going rate" or "fair market value" of this type of service. That is NOT price fixing. It's called "market research". Whenever anyone starts a business, but is unaware of the current market value for those goods or services, the owner needs to do research to find out what is considered "fair" in that area. For example, my research told me that home daycare providers in my area charge $105-$150 per week for full time care for 1 child. Since I was considering charging $130 a week, I knew that I was on the right track and was not outside the "fair market value".

I just love how people twist the law and take it out of context. So I posted my rates. Anyone want to take me to court over it? I am very confident that I would prevail.

However, I will apologize to Tom Copeland. I did make a comment that was not fair to him. Someone (not him) posted that Mr. Copeland claims that any discussion of pricing between providers is illegal. Without questioning him myself, I claimed that he didn't know what he was talking about. I think his opinion or thoughts may have been misquoted or misunderstood. Then I jumped on that. Tom, I am sorry for assuming that you were under the belief that "market research" such as this is illegal. However, if you do interpret the law as saying that this is illegal (when someone is just inquiring but not making any agreements), then I would have to respectfully disagree. Next time, I will try to make sure I do not develop an opinion of one person based on the hearsay of another.
Reply
Michael 09:41 PM 06-03-2010
Well I hope Tom visits this forum more often. He has written several books and is considered a child care business specialist. http://www.redleafpress.org/contribu...ContribID=2064
Reply
nannyde 04:48 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by fctjc1979:
I live just outside Des Moines in Altoona. This is just my most recent location in Iowa, though. I really need to stop moving.
Wonderful. We live close to each other so don't call and ask me my price cuz you KNOW I can't tell ya.

By the way... you are getting a good rate for your area. I have friends that live in Altoona that aren't pulling that off and they have many years in the business.

We are not required to be registered for another three years. After that everyone will have to be licensed.

I don't know why you aren't registered but the food program is a really nice little check every month and the work isn't too bad. It's really worth it. Our Food Program peeps are pretty cool.
Reply
fctjc1979 06:07 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by nannyde:
Wonderful. We live close to each other so don't call and ask me my price cuz you KNOW I can't tell ya.

By the way... you are getting a good rate for your area. I have friends that live in Altoona that aren't pulling that off and they have many years in the business.

We are not required to be registered for another three years. After that everyone will have to be licensed.

I don't know why you aren't registered but the food program is a really nice little check every month and the work isn't too bad. It's really worth it. Our Food Program peeps are pretty cool.
To be honest, it wasn't really my intention to become a daycare provider. I kind of fell into it by helping some people out and it just kind of grew from there. I kind of "woke up" one day and went, "hey, I'm a daycare provider". The last time I looked at licensing requirements (and that was a while ago), they said that you have to have at least two exits out of your home. And to be registered, you had to sign that you and your house comply with all requirements (although you won't actually be checked out until you apply to be licensed). My house only has one door. I know I could sign off to be registered but I think that would be dishonest. Anyway, right at the moment I only have three sisters on Wednesdays (since I terminated my problem family) so I'm not getting payed much, but that's ok.
Reply
MrsCoffee 06:11 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by Janet:
I charge a daily rate of $25/day. It's been the same since I opened my doors about 6 years ago. I live in Michigan. I'm not sure what other Michiganders charge, but I do know that if you check Craig's List, there are people who are WAY cheaper than I am!
Where are you from in Michigan Janet?
Reply
momma2girls 06:26 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by fctjc1979:
I live just outside Des Moines in Altoona. This is just my most recent location in Iowa, though. I really need to stop moving.
Awesome we go to Adventureland at least once a yr.!! HA!!
Reply
MrsCoffee 06:26 AM 06-04-2010
I am in South East Michigan

I charge
$150.00 week for infant up to 18 months
$125.00 week for 18 months and up
$100.00 week for 1/2 day after school care
$50.00 week for after school care 3:00-5:45pm

$30.00 part time drop ins

The other daycare's in my area range 2 and up $100.00 - $150.00
For infants its outrageous $125.00 - $250.00
Weekly
Reply
MrsCoffee 06:32 AM 06-04-2010
Its crazy that licensed daycare's would charge less then that Janet! I did see that on there but I tell my families to check around and remember you will get what you pay for!! Haven't had any complaints. I have three families I care for that came from centers and love the care the children get here in comparisson. They also tell me I am very cheep compared to a center. I just figured thats a given.

I think the only way I am under is with infants. They do require a lot more attention and limit our activities since its just me, 2 infants and 2 toddlers make going on a walk a bit challenging. I also have a kindergartner 1/2 and my dd who is 4.
Reply
nannyde 07:32 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by Iowa daycare:
Awesome we go to Adventureland at least once a yr.!! HA!!
The people that own Adventureland were my very first nanny family. AWESOME family. Loved them SO much. Hardest workers and the best parents a kid could ever ask for.

Amazing experience.
Reply
TomCopeland 09:15 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
I had a book by Tom Copeland that actually says to call daycare's and say that you are looking for daycare to get their rates . It was pretty old so maybe it was an old printing, I wish I still had that book so I could scan it and post it. This isn't the first time that I've heard of him saying this.

But when I did my orientation for licensing and when I took a workshop "The Business of Daycare" and the question was asked about what we should charge both licensing and the speakers (one was from licensing and the other was a tax consultant that specializes in daycares and centers) they both recommended calling daycare's in the area and asking what their rates were.

I want to know because I don't want to charge too little or too much for my service when compared to others of the similar kind.
My book Family Child Care Marketing Guide is still in print (www.nafcc.org). It's illegal for competitors to discuss rates, but sharing rates on this forum is okay because you don't compete with someone from another state.
Reply
TomCopeland 09:16 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by AfterSchoolMom:
If that's the case, then it's fine here, right? After all, this forum is public, and none of us are from the same areas, so we're not competitors.
True. Share your rates to your heart's content here.
Reply
TomCopeland 09:21 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by judytrickett:
Whew! Good thing there aren't just two of us sitting down in a "private room" then!

Whatever....

Every week I can look at the grocery flyers and see that THREE different stores all have Pillsbury Crescent Rolls on sale for one dollar. But, oh, no, they're not price fixing. They must just have strong mental telepathy skills to know what the competition is selling rolls for that week.

I would like to see them try to enforce that law with daycare providers.

Don't you just LOVE government?
Whether you discuss rates in a private room or at a training meeting, it's still illegal . Grocery stores, like many other businesses, constantly send their people to their competitor's stores to see what they are charging. Since the posting of prices in a store is public information, anyone can see it, and therefore it's okay to do. We did have a case here in Minnesota many years ago where the state attorney general's office investigated a complaint made by someone who attended a family child care association meeting where rates were discussed. The lawyer told the association they must sign a letter saying they would not do this again or there would be a fine of $10,000. I've not heard of price fixing violations being enforced other than this one case. In general, I think providers should be most careful about violating price fixing rules when they are at association meetings or other public conferences, etc..
Reply
TomCopeland 09:23 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by melissa ann:
Tom Copeland here - Federal anti-trust laws (for more info: www.justice.gov/atr/public/div_stats/1638.htm) say that it's illegal for competitors to discuss rates
******************************************************

Inquiring about rates is not the same comptetitors discussing rates. If someone who wants to start a childcare business, that never had children in childcare how is that person supposed to know what is a "fair" price? My children were never in childcare and I had no idea what people were charging. I called other providers, acting like a parent needing childcare and asked their rates. I've had people call me "acting" as a parent to find out my rates. I don't see anything wrong with it.
You are correct. It's price fixing only when both parties know they are competitors. So, if you call another provider and ask what her rates are, and the other provider doesn't know that you are a provider, then it's not price fixing.
Reply
TomCopeland 09:24 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by michael:
I think the catch word would be to "conspire" to set prices. That would need to be the intent.
Nope, there doesn't have to be intent. Any discussion of rates by competitors who know that each other are competitors is price fixing.
Reply
melskids 09:28 AM 06-04-2010
tom...

i still want to now how you found out someone mentioned your name on here...lol
Reply
dice401 09:35 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by krogers1982:
but I tell my families to check around and remember you will get what you pay for!!
That's completely true! There are several providers in my area that are charging much less than me, and they are always posting that they have more room!! To charge $250 less a month then myself and never have anyone take you up on it, leaves me a little worried about what they're like!
Reply
TomCopeland 10:10 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by professionalmom:
Exactly! I looked through the website that Tom Copeland posted. It only mentioned "agreement".

"Price fixing occurs when two or more sellers agree that they will increase prices a certain amount, or that they won't sell below a certain price."

If 2 or more providers sit down and make an "agreement" to set their prices at a certain level, then it's price fixing. However, the question that the OP posted had nothing to do with making any agreements. The OP was just inquiring so she could have a better understanding of the "going rate" or "fair market value" of this type of service. That is NOT price fixing. It's called "market research". Whenever anyone starts a business, but is unaware of the current market value for those goods or services, the owner needs to do research to find out what is considered "fair" in that area. For example, my research told me that home daycare providers in my area charge $105-$150 per week for full time care for 1 child. Since I was considering charging $130 a week, I knew that I was on the right track and was not outside the "fair market value".

I just love how people twist the law and take it out of context. So I posted my rates. Anyone want to take me to court over it? I am very confident that I would prevail.

However, I will apologize to Tom Copeland. I did make a comment that was not fair to him. Someone (not him) posted that Mr. Copeland claims that any discussion of pricing between providers is illegal. Without questioning him myself, I claimed that he didn't know what he was talking about. I think his opinion or thoughts may have been misquoted or misunderstood. Then I jumped on that. Tom, I am sorry for assuming that you were under the belief that "market research" such as this is illegal. However, if you do interpret the law as saying that this is illegal (when someone is just inquiring but not making any agreements), then I would have to respectfully disagree. Next time, I will try to make sure I do not develop an opinion of one person based on the hearsay of another.
No need to apologize. The laws dealing with price fixing (anti-trust violation) are tricky. There is the federal law and individual state laws. Clearly, if two competitors got together and agreed to set their rates, this is illegal. But, it's also been found to be illegal if two competitors got together and discussed their rates, even though they didn't officially agree to set rates. This is what happened to a family child care association in Minnesota. The mere discussion of rates, without any formal agreement to raise rates, was determined by our state to be illegal. I can't speak for what would happen in other states, but I think providers should be sensitive to this point.

A provider who goes out to do market research by looking on websites or calling local CCRR is not violating any laws, because the information being sought is public. It's when a provider asks another provider in private about rates (when both parties know they are competitors) that there is trouble.

Posting your own rates on this website, or on your own website, or on a neon sign in your front window is perfectly okay because this information is public.
Reply
TomCopeland 10:11 AM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by melskids:
tom...

i still want to now how you found out someone mentioned your name on here...lol
I just happened to be cruising the Internet and saw this web site. I was curious and starting reading some of the entries and saw my name. I couldn't resist responding.
So..... if you think you can talk about me without me finding out about it, forget it!
Reply
Janet 12:33 PM 06-04-2010
Originally Posted by krogers1982:
Where are you from in Michigan Janet?
I live in the Grand Rapids area. I was in the Detroit area, but we moved here like 6 years ago.
Reply
happykidschildcare 11:46 PM 06-05-2010
Weekly Daycare Rates

infant to 24 mos $175
2 & up $150
b&a school $125

part time daily $35 w/ 3 day min
Reply
misol 12:19 PM 06-06-2010
Greenshadow - what part of VA are you in?

I am in Northern VA and the rates vary greatly in my area. I have seen as low as $100/wk and as high as $220/wk for in-home. I was paying $270 a week per kid at the center my kids went to.

with any new families coming in I am switching to charging the same rate regardless of age. Currently though, each of my families pay a different rate which was calculated based on the ages of the children and the number of hours in care. My rate includes 2 meals and 1 snack and we do preschool activities.

dcb 160
dcb 200
dcb 153 (includes sibling discount)
dcb $5/hr (drop in)

I charge $125 for part time (up to 22 hours) and $5/hr for drop in with a minimum of 4 hours.
Reply
Former Teacher 04:01 PM 06-06-2010
Originally Posted by TomCopeland:
My book Family Child Care Marketing Guide is still in print (www.nafcc.org). It's illegal for competitors to discuss rates, but sharing rates on this forum is okay because you don't compete with someone from another state.
Wow..a famous person right here on our forum...I am speechless
Reply
Unregistered 04:31 PM 06-06-2010
I also operate a licensed home daycare in MI and I charge $5 hr drop in,$30 per day PT or FT $140 infant,$125 Toddler,$100 school age. State of MI reimburses providers $2.90 hr.
Reply
Abigail 01:01 AM 07-26-2010
Opps, posted this is the wrong place. Can I delete this?
Reply
Unregistered 03:23 PM 11-12-2016
Originally Posted by Janet:
I charge a daily rate of $25/day. It's been the same since I opened my doors about 6 years ago. I live in Michigan. I'm not sure what other Michiganders charge, but I do know that if you check Craig's List, there are people who are WAY cheaper than I am!
any chance youre near macomb county?
Reply
TomCopeland 08:33 AM 11-13-2016
Originally Posted by professionalmom:
First, if anyone tells you that something is legal or illegal, always ask them to show you the law regarding that. Second, Mr. Copeland is full of it on this issue, especially in Michigan. I live in Michigan, too. I called DHS to inquire about the rates in my area to ensure that I was charging a fair rate. They sent me a list of the daycares in my zip code and what their rates were. The rates were even broken down by age group, PT/FT, etc. So, I know it is NOT illegal in MI to inquire about the rates of other daycares.

Plus, if it's price fixing, what about gas stations posting their prices on those great big signs? What about stores like Wal-Mart that scope out the prices of other stores to try to offer the most competetive prices? It's part of doing business in any industry. It's only price fixing if all the providers in your area got together and said, "hey, we want to charge $200 a week for all full-time kids, so let's all raise our rates together. Then the parents won't have a choice."

I charge $130 for FT (35-50 hours) and $3.50 an hour for part time. But I am rethinking this to account for longer days, second shifts, etc.
It's against federal law for competitors to discuss rates. It's called anti-trust violation or price fixing. Any business can advertise their rates to the public (gas stations) and child care agencies can share rates to the public. It's only when two or more competitors share rates privately that is against the law.
Reply
Unregistered 10:22 AM 01-03-2018
Where I live the half day preschool rates vary enormously, anywhere from 125.00 a month to 300.00 a month. The lower rates are church based and perhaps subsidized by their main organization. I am trying to open a private, family based preschool. I have a teaching degree in Early Childhood Education and taught preschool for 6 years before desiring to open my own social service licensed preschool. I will meed from 9-noon 3 days a week and I will employ an assistant. I was thinking of charging 190./month and children will provide their own snacks in original warping to avoid any allergies so they will not be allowed to bring peanuts, tree nuts, chocolate (on child whose parents want to enroll him is is servery allergic) . etc.
Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
Reply
Unregistered 10:25 AM 01-03-2018
I saw two typos. Very sorry!
Reply
TomCopeland 01:30 PM 01-04-2018
Originally Posted by Childminder:
I was told by Tom Copeland that asking another provider their rates is against the law. It's called price fixing.

That being said, I charge $160 a week based on 45 hours. Everything included except diapers. Centers around me charge $225.
It's only illegal to discuss rates with a competitor. So, if you don't live close enough to another provider to be a competitor, then sharing rate information is okay. If you only reveal on this website what state or city you are in, then it's unlikely that you will know if that person is your competitor because you don't know how close they live to you.
Reply
TomCopeland 01:32 PM 01-04-2018
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
I had a book by Tom Copeland that actually says to call daycare's and say that you are looking for daycare to get their rates . It was pretty old so maybe it was an old printing, I wish I still had that book so I could scan it and post it. This isn't the first time that I've heard of him saying this.

But when I did my orientation for licensing and when I took a workshop "The Business of Daycare" and the question was asked about what we should charge both licensing and the speakers (one was from licensing and the other was a tax consultant that specializes in daycares and centers) they both recommended calling daycare's in the area and asking what their rates were.

I want to know because I don't want to charge too little or too much for my service when compared to others of the similar kind.
My Family Child Care Marketing Guide is still in print and has a chapter about setting rates and talking about them. It's illegal to share information with a competitor (when both of you know that you are competitors). So, it's okay to call another provider and say, "I'm a parent looking for child care what do you charge?" But it's not okay to call up another provider and say, "I'm a provider in your neighborhood, what do you charge?"
Reply
TomCopeland 01:35 PM 01-04-2018
Originally Posted by professionalmom:
First, if anyone tells you that something is legal or illegal, always ask them to show you the law regarding that. Second, Mr. Copeland is full of it on this issue, especially in Michigan. I live in Michigan, too. I called DHS to inquire about the rates in my area to ensure that I was charging a fair rate. They sent me a list of the daycares in my zip code and what their rates were. The rates were even broken down by age group, PT/FT, etc. So, I know it is NOT illegal in MI to inquire about the rates of other daycares.

Plus, if it's price fixing, what about gas stations posting their prices on those great big signs? What about stores like Wal-Mart that scope out the prices of other stores to try to offer the most competetive prices? It's part of doing business in any industry. It's only price fixing if all the providers in your area got together and said, "hey, we want to charge $200 a week for all full-time kids, so let's all raise our rates together. Then the parents won't have a choice."

I charge $130 for FT (35-50 hours) and $3.50 an hour for part time. But I am rethinking this to account for longer days, second shifts, etc.
I don't think I'm full of it! It's legal to get rate information from a public source (DHS). They aren't a competitor. It's also legal to post your own rates publicly. Just like gas stations do. Price fixing is when competitors share information privately with each other. So, it is illegal for providers to get into a room and discuss their rates. It's also illegal for one provider to talk to one other provider privately about their rates. Sharing rates with the public - ok. Collecting rates that is publicly available - ok.
Reply
Tags:2010, pricing, rates, tom copeland
Reply Up