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View Full Version : Rates? Some ideas?
MamaMia2006
10-08-2008, 10:23 AM
I am starting an in home daycare and was looking to find some ideas of rates. I am looking for 1 family because I am not licensed. I dont plan to get licensed for awhile. I wanted to just start out. I am CPR and 1st aid certified. I am a stay at home mom so I am hoping to pitch it as that. A stay at home mom , home enviroment. We will do crafts &activities daily. We also eat organic/ natural foods so I am hoping that will be a draw for families. Lots of outside time as well.
Thanks for the help ladies!
Stephanie
Thanks for the help ladies!
Stephanie
TiffanyM
10-08-2008, 03:00 PM
Rates vary by area so you need to research local rates. Do as the PP said and call around to some area providers or contact your local Child Care Resource & Referral agency for county averages.
MamaPigg
10-09-2008, 09:47 AM
I reccomend determining your costs to do business prior to deciding your rates. There are some great boks to help you with this. Even toilet paper, soap and increased utilities, self employment income taxes and licensing fees, etc.all add up.
You should also factor in vacancy, you will not be 100% full 100% of the time.
Once you figure out your cost perspace and add to that your household bills, you should do market research to determine whatis typical in your area.
When I was newer to the field,after I figured outmy costs to pay all of my business expenses and household bills, I visitedcenters-not homes-to see what they were charging and saw that Ifelt I could explain to parents and show them I offered more and I did charge more, as well. At that time, I charged 150/week or 30/day for part time-any ageand centers charged130 per week for preschool. This was back in 2000. I did that for several years.
In mid 2003 I moved to a higher cost area and all the home providers in the areawere surprisinglycharging less - 125 per week, and some provided high quality for that rate.
I found it very difficult to get people to pay me a "fair"rate. Centers in my arewere chardging 180 ish per week at that point for potty trained preschool. This was back in 2004.
This year, I helpeda friend of mine wholives in a suburb not too far from me do some telephone research by calling other providers-who were full- and found they were all charging $40-45/day for care. We also found thatmost moms in that area only use part time 3-4 day per week care and many providers were closed on 1 day every week but still making enough to cover costs. We pretended to be moms who needed care.
Depending on what you encounter, you may want to tell providers who you are and you may want to tell them you are looking for day care to obtain rate information. I reccomend visiting also, so you can see what parents "get" for their money.
You should also factor in vacancy, you will not be 100% full 100% of the time.
Once you figure out your cost perspace and add to that your household bills, you should do market research to determine whatis typical in your area.
When I was newer to the field,after I figured outmy costs to pay all of my business expenses and household bills, I visitedcenters-not homes-to see what they were charging and saw that Ifelt I could explain to parents and show them I offered more and I did charge more, as well. At that time, I charged 150/week or 30/day for part time-any ageand centers charged130 per week for preschool. This was back in 2000. I did that for several years.
In mid 2003 I moved to a higher cost area and all the home providers in the areawere surprisinglycharging less - 125 per week, and some provided high quality for that rate.
I found it very difficult to get people to pay me a "fair"rate. Centers in my arewere chardging 180 ish per week at that point for potty trained preschool. This was back in 2004.
This year, I helpeda friend of mine wholives in a suburb not too far from me do some telephone research by calling other providers-who were full- and found they were all charging $40-45/day for care. We also found thatmost moms in that area only use part time 3-4 day per week care and many providers were closed on 1 day every week but still making enough to cover costs. We pretended to be moms who needed care.
Depending on what you encounter, you may want to tell providers who you are and you may want to tell them you are looking for day care to obtain rate information. I reccomend visiting also, so you can see what parents "get" for their money.
Asprng WAHM
10-11-2008, 05:35 AM
Great information MamaPigg. Thanks