Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Update...The Real Cost Of Child Care...On The Provider
frugalmama4 05:31 PM 03-30-2012
I came across this website...I'm sharing in case anyone else need it. Theirs a lot of good read on this site.
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
Mary Poppins 06:06 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by frugalmama4:
I came across this website...I'm sharing in case anyone else need it. Theirs a lot of good read on this site.
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
I think the problem is that dcp's are only looking at THEIR bottom line and when they pay us they don't care what we are making or what our costs are, they do the mental math and think "that is more than a new car payment each month!" or, "that is almost half of our mortgage each month!". I'm not sure many of them think beyond their own checkbook, really.I came across this website...I'm sharing in case anyone else need it. Theirs a lot of good read on this site.
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
EntropyControlSpecialist 06:13 PM 03-30-2012
The amount I spent to start my in-home Preschool would make the parent's eyeballs fall out of their sockets. 
EntropyControlSpecialist 06:15 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by Mary Poppins:
I think the problem is that dcp's are only looking at THEIR bottom line and when they pay us they don't care what we are making or what our costs are, they do the mental math and think "that is more than a new car payment each month!" or, "that is almost half of our mortgage each month!". I'm not sure many of them think beyond their own checkbook, really.
The majority of my parents are really gracious and loving. They told me my rate was reasonable, when in reality it is on the higher side. I think the problem is that dcp's are only looking at THEIR bottom line and when they pay us they don't care what we are making or what our costs are, they do the mental math and think "that is more than a new car payment each month!" or, "that is almost half of our mortgage each month!". I'm not sure many of them think beyond their own checkbook, really.
I only have one that has tried to haggle ...
So far, so good. It, very likely, won't always be like this.
Mary Poppins 06:19 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by LCLC:
The majority of my parents are really gracious and loving. They told me my rate was reasonable, when in reality it is on the higher side.
I only have one that has tried to haggle ...
So far, so good. It, very likely, won't always be like this.
I never had any try to haggle but I have had several tell me my rates were too low for the quality of my program, too! So I raised them. The majority of my parents are really gracious and loving. They told me my rate was reasonable, when in reality it is on the higher side.
I only have one that has tried to haggle ...
So far, so good. It, very likely, won't always be like this.
Only for new families though. Because I'm nice that way.
EntropyControlSpecialist 06:53 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by Mary Poppins:
I never had any try to haggle but I have had several tell me my rates were too low for the quality of my program, too! So I raised them.
Only for new families though. Because I'm nice that way.
It was only haggling for absences (which is also written about quite extensively in my Parent Handbook). It helps to read the Handbook before you sign the agreement form. I never had any try to haggle but I have had several tell me my rates were too low for the quality of my program, too! So I raised them.
Only for new families though. Because I'm nice that way.
Mary Poppins 07:58 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by LCLC:
It was only haggling for absences (which is also written about quite extensively in my Parent Handbook). It helps to read the Handbook before you sign the agreement form.
Oh THAT! Ugh. Yes, I have had parents try to haggle me on time off. One dcf signed up full time and then wanted ONE WEEK A MONTH off for free afterwards. It was only haggling for absences (which is also written about quite extensively in my Parent Handbook). It helps to read the Handbook before you sign the agreement form.
They just didn't get why that wasn't going to fly with me so it ended rather badly.
I learned a trick here (again, one of the wiser members who I owe my undying gratitude to suggested it). I have a little space next to each section of my handbook where I make them initial after reading it WITH me. It has helped cut down, well actually completely cut down, on clients acting as if my policies just appeared out of thin air!
EntropyControlSpecialist 09:12 PM 03-30-2012
Originally Posted by Mary Poppins:
Oh THAT! Ugh. Yes, I have had parents try to haggle me on time off. One dcf signed up full time and then wanted ONE WEEK A MONTH off for free afterwards.
They just didn't get why that wasn't going to fly with me so it ended rather badly.
I learned a trick here (again, one of the wiser members who I owe my undying gratitude to suggested it). I have a little space next to each section of my handbook where I make them initial after reading it WITH me. It has helped cut down, well actually completely cut down, on clients acting as if my policies just appeared out of thin air!
That is beautiful. I was considering highlighting the points that are of extreme importance. Oh THAT! Ugh. Yes, I have had parents try to haggle me on time off. One dcf signed up full time and then wanted ONE WEEK A MONTH off for free afterwards.
They just didn't get why that wasn't going to fly with me so it ended rather badly.
I learned a trick here (again, one of the wiser members who I owe my undying gratitude to suggested it). I have a little space next to each section of my handbook where I make them initial after reading it WITH me. It has helped cut down, well actually completely cut down, on clients acting as if my policies just appeared out of thin air!
DBug 11:02 AM 03-31-2012
Originally Posted by frugalmama4:
I came across this website...I'm sharing in case anyone else need it. Theirs a lot of good read on this site.
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
I came across this website...I'm sharing in case anyone else need it. Theirs a lot of good read on this site.
I found an answer to my own question...How/what to put in my handbook on the subject of "The real cost of child on the provider" I hope this helps someone else also.
Daycare Providers are in it for the money. Yes, Home Daycare Providers do this job because they love children. But would you do your job if you couldn’t pay the bills with it? And Home Daycare Providers are not “raking it in”. Yes, I’ve seen parents do the mental math when they think about what they’re paying and multiply it by the number of kids in my care. Yes, we do make that amount, but then we deduct taxes (about 15%), daycare groceries and cleaning supplies (about 14%), extra insurance and utilities (about 10%), and any new toys, furniture, or outdoor equipment or repairs to our homes caused by running the daycare (5% – 20%). If you really do the math, you’ll see that we’re making much less than minimum wage.
http://beautifulchaosdotcom.wordpres...-parents-knew/
That's my blog 
! You've just made my day by quoting it 
. It's so neat to see how widely read it is . Thanks for posting it!!
frugalmama4 01:38 PM 03-31-2012
Originally Posted by DBug:
That's my blog ! You've just made my day by quoting it . It's so neat to see how widely read it is .
Thanks for posting it!!
That's my blog ! You've just made my day by quoting it . It's so neat to see how widely read it is . Thanks for posting it!!
No Thank You!
The site is awesome!!! I hope you don't mind I pulled some of your information for my "Money Matters section of my handbook" Real helpful!
DBug 05:13 PM 03-31-2012
Originally Posted by frugalmama4:
No Thank You!
The site is awesome!!! I hope you don't mind I pulled some of your information for my "Money Matters section of my handbook" Real helpful!
Not at all! I'm flattered No Thank You!
The site is awesome!!! I hope you don't mind I pulled some of your information for my "Money Matters section of my handbook" Real helpful!