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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>How Much Do Daycare Centers Usually Charge?
CAPA 04:55 PM 09-11-2012
Say the building is fairly new, it's newly renovated with a 50-60 child capacity. Near a park, in a middle-class neighborhood. The building has a parking lot with a lot of space for cars. The building looks good on the outside and inside. The location is in a city close to downtown (within 5 minutes) and is on a side street off a major roadway. The daycare center also provides more comprehensive care than just daycare because the director/owner is a licensed professional with a degree in k-12 education/early education/ and special education.

How much should a place like this charge? How much does the average center charge?


Thanks
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Michael 04:58 PM 09-11-2012
Here are some previous threads on rates: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=rates
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daycare 05:23 PM 09-11-2012
its really hard to say. What state are you located in? what do others charge in your area?

I am in cali SF bay area. there are preschools that range from 900 a MONTH to 1800 a month depending on where it is and what it has to offer.

I would find out what the other centers in that area are charging, then compare your programs to see what they offer vs what you will offer. Then base it off of that.
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lovemykidstoo 05:31 PM 09-11-2012
I charge per day for 10 possibe hours. I'm open from 7:30 to 5:30, so no matter how many hours in that day someone uses, they still pay $35.00 no matter what.
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CAPA 05:58 PM 09-11-2012
Originally Posted by Michael:
Here are some previous threads on rates: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=rates
Thanks, I'll check them out.
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CAPA 06:16 PM 09-11-2012
Originally Posted by daycare:
its really hard to say. What state are you located in? what do others charge in your area?

I am in cali SF bay area. there are preschools that range from 900 a MONTH to 1800 a month depending on where it is and what it has to offer.

I would find out what the other centers in that area are charging, then compare your programs to see what they offer vs what you will offer. Then base it off of that.
Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh).

I called 2 daycares that were closest to where I want to start. They charge around 32-35/ full day. But the location of these places weren't next to a park and didn't have the parking in the back along with the space inside the building. They looked ok, but not that great. The areas were not that great either. I know there are other places (like Kinder Kare) that charge more. I am looking compete with these higher-end daycare centers but I have to be mindful of the income of families in the area. The advantage of being near a main roadway is that I don't have to limit myself to the neighborhood/adjacent neighborhoods.
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daycare 06:21 PM 09-11-2012
Originally Posted by CAPA:
Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh).

I called 2 daycares that were closest to where I want to start. They charge around 32-35/ full day. But the location of these places weren't next to a park and didn't have the parking in the back along with the space inside the building. They looked ok, but not that great. The areas were not that great either. I know there are other places (like Kinder Kare) that charge more. I am looking compete with these higher-end daycare centers but I have to be mindful of the income of families in the area. The advantage of being near a main roadway is that I don't have to limit myself to the neighborhood/adjacent neighborhoods.
I would offer an attractive rate to start. Being the new kid in town is hard sometimes.

Then perhaps you can have an annual or bi-annual increase in your rates for either existing or new clients.

I had a lower starting rate when i moved from up state. That was 4 years ago. I now charge almost $10.00 more a day then when I started.

I think that with a center you could make that happen faster.
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Sugar Magnolia 03:37 AM 09-12-2012
I'm a center. $185 per week.
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DaisyMamma 03:51 AM 09-12-2012
If I were you I would go with the $35/day and raise your rates later on.

Here In CT center's range a lot between 165-250. It depends on age and location.
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ILoveTeaching 12:20 AM 03-30-2016
I'm in the Pittsburgh area and charge $30/day...I want to be lower than daycares in the area. Ido in-home daycare/prek.
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pandamom 02:29 AM 03-30-2016
I work at my military base childcare center- it's also NAEYC accredited.

Familie's pay a sliding scale based on total household income. Familie's that earn more than (I want to say off the top of my head) $100k+/year don't qualify for the subsidy and pay $220/week/child. The lowest category pays $58/week/child.

Eta: this is the second military center I've worked at. I'd say about 1/3 of the caregivers have or are working on early childhood or have an educational degree. The one I'm at now has lots of caregivers that have teaching degrees and most have a CDA. We get lots of training.
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lovemydaycare0912 04:29 AM 03-30-2016
All depends where you are. Near me, centers range from 265 to 400 a week!!!!!!! Sometimes they don't even include food or diapers. It's crazy.
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CalCare 07:56 AM 03-30-2016
As others said it just depends on your area. And, to be honest, your director's qualifications aren't really unusual and wouldn't indicate 'more comprehensive' care. The center where I sub is NAEYC accredited and the toddler teacher has a Masters in ed. BUT they charge about the same (a little lower) than our average places here. It's all supply and demand! If you can get them to want it, you can charge whatever they'll pay. This place that I sub, does great marketing. She's always full (4 classrooms from 18 months to 5yr). She likes it to feel like family and she makes everyone feel like she charges quite low for what they are getting. It is around $1000/month full time. It's more than some and less than others and it is a fully qualified staff. There are specialists coming in all the time for children because that is a free service provided by the state anyway so she doesn't need any sped herself... Just saying, I guess, set your prices high and market it, if you think there is a demand!
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Ariana 09:44 AM 03-30-2016
I think based on your location you could bump it up to $40 or close to, more for infants I assume. Being near downtown means people who live in the suburbs that commute to downtown can easily use your daycare.

The location however may just mean you are in more demand and that spaces are filled easily which is always better than charging more.
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laundrymom 10:22 AM 03-30-2016
Are you looking for honest reactions?
I feel you have a great base but have more questions.
As far as rates:
They vary so much based on location that it's hard to give a fair amount.
At 50-60 capacity you will need many staff. What will their backgrounds be? Because a directors training is great but a teacher w special Ed qualifications has focused very little on the emerging needs of the under 5 group which is what you will be catering to, correct?
Try to focus on any specialized certs and quals for the age range you enroll. I think it's great to have a k-12 educator but early education is completely different.
Little's are a whole different set of guidelines and recommendations.
In ECE we focus on getting their minds wondering and searching. We open their eyes to concepts and big, abstract ideas instead of subjects and facts.
I would publicize the ECE aspect of their background more than the k-12.

Another thing that popped out at me was the information about the nearby park. Is this the only outside pay area available or does the location have a playground as well? That would be a huge item for me both as a parent and teacher. The younger the child the more outside play they deserve. Many centers across the nation are starting to focus on the idea of outside classrooms and meals. Some even allowing room for outside napping. I follow quite a few forest schools and their popularity is astonishing. Parents want active play and will pay out the nose for the few coveted spots available.
I do think an additional outdoor play area is enriching but feel if it's only available offsite, the parents may feel it won't be offered enough.

Not trying to offend, just giving my personal opinion from the info provided.
Originally Posted by CAPA:
Say the building is fairly new, it's newly renovated with a 50-60 child capacity. Near a park, in a middle-class neighborhood. The building has a parking lot with a lot of space for cars. The building looks good on the outside and inside. The location is in a city close to downtown (within 5 minutes) and is on a side street off a major roadway. The daycare center also provides more comprehensive care than just daycare because the director/owner is a licensed professional with a degree in k-12 education/early education/ and special education.

How much should a place like this charge? How much does the average center charge?


Thanks

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Unregistered 10:45 AM 03-30-2016
Op=2012
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Ariana 11:03 AM 03-30-2016
Originally Posted by Unregistered:
Op=2012


I am sure they have figured this out in the past 4 years! I hate it when people respond to old posts
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Blackcat31 11:19 AM 03-30-2016
Originally Posted by ILoveTeaching:
I'm in the Pittsburgh area and charge $30/day...I want to be lower than daycares in the area. Ido in-home daycare/prek.
Can I ask why?

If you are thinking that it will attract more clients, it more than likely will but you have to ask yourself, will those types of clients be the type you really want in care?

I understand saving where ever you can but honestly I don't want providers to choose me based on cost/rates alone..... it should definitely factor into any family's decision to use child care but it shouldn't be a deal breaker for them and if it is, then they aren't the type I want as clients.
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Meeko 12:13 PM 03-30-2016
Originally Posted by Blackcat31:
Can I ask why?

If you are thinking that it will attract more clients, it more than likely will but you have to ask yourself, will those types of clients be the type you really want in care?

I understand saving where ever you can but honestly I don't want providers to choose me based on cost/rates alone..... it should definitely factor into any family's decision to use child care but it shouldn't be a deal breaker for them and if it is, then they aren't the type I want as clients.
Amen to this.

You will attract parents who will leave your care in a second if they find somewhere cheaper to dump their children.

That means a big turnover for you and will make caring parents wonder why people don't stay very long with you......

Ask for what you are worth. People will pay it.

I'm afraid my first thought when I see a deal that seems too good to be true is "What's wrong with it" That would be my question if I was looking for daycare too. Might not be fair....but I think we all do it to a certain extent.
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