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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Hate Sitting On The Stress Ledge! Do I Lower My Rates?
Kimberli 09:05 AM 11-05-2012
So, due to very two sets of very different circumstances having nothing to do with my daycare or myself, I have lost two children 2 and up from 2 different families in the past 3 weeks.
Yes ... when it rains, it pours.
I have been advertising as best I can, but with very disappointing results ... then yesterday, I spent a while checking out other local providers (which I hadn't done in a while) and their websites. When I did, I found out two things:
1) There are suddenly about twice as many small and large daycares in my area as there were say, 6 months ago. And ...
2) Since several Preschool Centers have opened in my area and made their rates competitive with what in-home providers (including myself) have been charging for the past two years, it seems that many in-home providers have lowered their rates by $30 a week or more.
This could explain why I am having issues getting interviews and enrollments all of a sudden.
So ... I just took my prices back off of my website and I am trying to decide what to do. With only a small license, I have struggled to make ends meet even at my old rates when fully enrolled - if I cut my rates, I will really have to get creative. BUT - if I keep my rates the same as they have been, who knows how long it will take to get new children into those spots that are now paying me ZERO.
Have any of you ever had to deal with this? Yeah, yeah ... I keep hearing about how our economy is recovering, but Southern California doesn't seem to be getting the memo fast enough. Should I raise my rates? And does anyone have any great marketing ideas other than Craigslist, Pennysaver, etc.? It seems businesses here will not let you post flyers because of liability issues. There is a City Ordinance against posting signs on poles, etc. though I see others do it. (I would be the one to get a ticket though!
)
I've got to get some new little people back into my program - it's the holidays and I have so much I want to do with my kiddos. I know that dryspells always pass, but I need it done NOW!
Yes ... when it rains, it pours.
I have been advertising as best I can, but with very disappointing results ... then yesterday, I spent a while checking out other local providers (which I hadn't done in a while) and their websites. When I did, I found out two things:
1) There are suddenly about twice as many small and large daycares in my area as there were say, 6 months ago. And ...
2) Since several Preschool Centers have opened in my area and made their rates competitive with what in-home providers (including myself) have been charging for the past two years, it seems that many in-home providers have lowered their rates by $30 a week or more.
This could explain why I am having issues getting interviews and enrollments all of a sudden.
So ... I just took my prices back off of my website and I am trying to decide what to do. With only a small license, I have struggled to make ends meet even at my old rates when fully enrolled - if I cut my rates, I will really have to get creative. BUT - if I keep my rates the same as they have been, who knows how long it will take to get new children into those spots that are now paying me ZERO.
Have any of you ever had to deal with this? Yeah, yeah ... I keep hearing about how our economy is recovering, but Southern California doesn't seem to be getting the memo fast enough. Should I raise my rates? And does anyone have any great marketing ideas other than Craigslist, Pennysaver, etc.? It seems businesses here will not let you post flyers because of liability issues. There is a City Ordinance against posting signs on poles, etc. though I see others do it. (I would be the one to get a ticket though!
)I've got to get some new little people back into my program - it's the holidays and I have so much I want to do with my kiddos. I know that dryspells always pass, but I need it done NOW!