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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Need Some Advice for Summer Care
Jenn 11:17 AM 05-26-2010
I am an in home childcare provider. I have two families this summer that are returning in the fall. They do not need me for the summer. Due to this I am losing about $600 each month this summer. I cannot get any fill in families for the summer so how do I recoup this money without replacing the kids whose spots I am saving for the fall? Do I ask the parents for half the rate for summer unless they give up the spot? I am running out of ideas if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.
momofboys 04:04 AM 05-27-2010
Originally Posted by Jenn:
I am an in home childcare provider. I have two families this summer that are returning in the fall. They do not need me for the summer. Due to this I am losing about $600 each month this summer. I cannot get any fill in families for the summer so how do I recoup this money without replacing the kids whose spots I am saving for the fall? Do I ask the parents for half the rate for summer unless they give up the spot? I am running out of ideas if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.
I am in the same boat. I KNOW my mom would not be happy about paying a deposit so I think I am going to have her sign her agreement before summer starts & have her pay a holding fee of $200. I know it isn't much $$$ but it assures me that she is planning to use me in the fall. There's no way my DCM won't use me if she has to pay a holding fee.I am an in home childcare provider. I have two families this summer that are returning in the fall. They do not need me for the summer. Due to this I am losing about $600 each month this summer. I cannot get any fill in families for the summer so how do I recoup this money without replacing the kids whose spots I am saving for the fall? Do I ask the parents for half the rate for summer unless they give up the spot? I am running out of ideas if anyone can help me I would appreciate it.
AfterSchoolMom 04:21 AM 05-27-2010
I would definitely charge either a deposit or a holding fee if you think you can get it. None of my families would go for it though. I knew that I'd be facing this problem this year, so I've been putting aside a portion of my pay every week into savings to be used during the summer. I figured out how much I'd need weekly for groceries, gas, some "fun money", bills, etc. and made a savings goal. We've got three weeks of school left and I'm only about $100 short of my goal. 
It's going to hurt spending the money that I've worked so hard at saving all year, but it's better than having none.
I know that's not helpful for this year, but maybe for next year?
It's going to hurt spending the money that I've worked so hard at saving all year, but it's better than having none. I know that's not helpful for this year, but maybe for next year?
momofboys 04:31 AM 05-27-2010
Originally Posted by janarae:
I am in the same boat. I KNOW my mom would not be happy about paying a deposit so I think I am going to have her sign her agreement before summer starts & have her pay a holding fee of $200. I know it isn't much $$$ but it assures me that she is planning to use me in the fall. There's no way my DCM won't use me if she has to pay a holding fee.
I should re-word this to say I am going to try to get her to pay this to hold her spot. I will tell her if she does not I will be looking for other clients this summer & if her spot is gone, it's gone. I also plan to give her 1/2 of the holding fee back toward her first week of care (I think).I am in the same boat. I KNOW my mom would not be happy about paying a deposit so I think I am going to have her sign her agreement before summer starts & have her pay a holding fee of $200. I know it isn't much $$$ but it assures me that she is planning to use me in the fall. There's no way my DCM won't use me if she has to pay a holding fee.
MarinaVanessa 01:26 PM 05-27-2010
Yup a holding fee sounds reasonable. Be careful how you word it though. If you say holding deposit that pretty much means that they are entitled to it when they come back. Kind of like when you ask for a two-weeks deposit and they decide to leave, that deposit is used towards the last two-weeks of care. a holding deposit would be used towards their fee when they come back.
You can charge a holding fee which is a fee that you charge only to hold the slot. It is unrefundable and can't be used towards the fee when they come back. There are many ways to do it. You can charge a flat fee or per week. I do both. I charge a $50 holding fee a week that doesn't ever go over $200 so your idea of a fee sounds reasonable to me since that's what I charge and think is fair.
You can charge a holding fee which is a fee that you charge only to hold the slot. It is unrefundable and can't be used towards the fee when they come back. There are many ways to do it. You can charge a flat fee or per week. I do both. I charge a $50 holding fee a week that doesn't ever go over $200 so your idea of a fee sounds reasonable to me since that's what I charge and think is fair.
mac60 03:44 AM 05-28-2010
A couple ideas......go to a 2 day rate holding fee and she can bring her child 2 days per week thru the summer. Gives her opportunity to get things done with out her child. A flat holding fee, maybe $300, or whatever based on your rates--non refundable to hold her spot till fall. I actually charge a $40 fee per week, and you can bring your child 2 days.
momma2girls 04:41 AM 05-28-2010
Originally Posted by mac60:
A couple ideas......go to a 2 day rate holding fee and she can bring her child 2 days per week thru the summer. Gives her opportunity to get things done with out her child. A flat holding fee, maybe $300, or whatever based on your rates--non refundable to hold her spot till fall. I actually charge a $40 fee per week, and you can bring your child 2 days.
Is this what other daycare providers do in your area?A couple ideas......go to a 2 day rate holding fee and she can bring her child 2 days per week thru the summer. Gives her opportunity to get things done with out her child. A flat holding fee, maybe $300, or whatever based on your rates--non refundable to hold her spot till fall. I actually charge a $40 fee per week, and you can bring your child 2 days.
I know before I moved, I used to have in my contract, to pay 1/2 the rate in the summer per week, and they could bring their child one day per week. So at least I was making something to hold that spot. I was charging $125.00 per week in a small town, and holding their spot for $63.00, and they could bring their child one time on that. So I was making like $38.00 per week. At least it was something to hold it for them.
Now I have a 2 week deposit only to hold the spot. There are many, many provders that do 1/2 the weekly rate and many do the full rate each week tol hold it!!
momma2girls 04:37 AM 05-28-2010
Originally Posted by MarinaVanessa:
Yup a holding fee sounds reasonable. Be careful how you word it though. If you say holding deposit that pretty much means that they are entitled to it when they come back. Kind of like when you ask for a two-weeks deposit and they decide to leave, that deposit is used towards the last two-weeks of care. a holding deposit would be used towards their fee when they come back.
You can charge a holding fee which is a fee that you charge only to hold the slot. It is unrefundable and can't be used towards the fee when they come back. There are many ways to do it. You can charge a flat fee or per week. I do both. I charge a $50 holding fee a week that doesn't ever go over $200 so your idea of a fee sounds reasonable to me since that's what I charge and think is fair.
Yes, I totally agree!! I have a 2 week deposit to hold the spot during the summer. THis fee is only to hold the spot, and is nonrefundable!Yup a holding fee sounds reasonable. Be careful how you word it though. If you say holding deposit that pretty much means that they are entitled to it when they come back. Kind of like when you ask for a two-weeks deposit and they decide to leave, that deposit is used towards the last two-weeks of care. a holding deposit would be used towards their fee when they come back.
You can charge a holding fee which is a fee that you charge only to hold the slot. It is unrefundable and can't be used towards the fee when they come back. There are many ways to do it. You can charge a flat fee or per week. I do both. I charge a $50 holding fee a week that doesn't ever go over $200 so your idea of a fee sounds reasonable to me since that's what I charge and think is fair.
AfterSchoolMom 04:42 AM 05-28-2010
Those of you who charge a flat $200 or 300 fee, do you apply that to the first week, or is that only to hold the spot as well?