Daily Connect, Spoutary, and Kidkare, Oh My!

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

I used brightwheel for several years and it was never "quite right" so about a year ago I switched to Daily Connect. I do like it, but there is some features that I wish it had. (invoicing being the main one) I looked into sproutary, and I do like a lot of it's features too (things like automatic late pickup fees/late payment fees is amazing!)
I also looked into Kidkare, and I know it's a little different product, but I do like the tax and food program parts of it.
I was contemplating making the switch to sproutary for invoicing but keeping daily connect for communication with parents. (I don't like that it's not immediate, but takes 10 minutes for parents to get an e-mail)
Then I was looking at kidkare, and it also has invoicing, but doesn't do automatic late fees, at least not that I noticed.

Opinions? What do you use, why, and what features do you wish you had or like that you have?

*Additional question* Is there an easy communication app anyone uses to contact parents? I do not give my cellphone number to parents so I'd like to not use Text, but if I change to Sproutary I'd like a quick thing to contact parents. Would be even better if it would text them, but not from my number?

[Michael]

We have many threads on each of those software makers in our archives. Here are just a few: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...ycare+software

[Alwaysgreener]

I use the food program so I use KidKare for that. However I don't really care for kid kare so I would never purchase it.

I tried bright Wheels when they first launched, even watched them on shark tank. But I absolutely did not like them, they were more geared towards centers and in my opinion demanded a lot more communication and photos then I was willing to take.

I volunteer with my church and they use a program for their directory that has so many awesome features, group text, group email, check in check out, forms..... However the program is in towards churches and not daycares, so the cost is not comparable to a home daycare.

So when sproutary advertised on daycare.com, I was very excited on how it was compared to my church program. It was way more user friendly and it was way more me. And the cost is completely reasonable. It's got communication, invoicing and check in check out.

However since I have never found a program at that met on my needs (and I am a cheapskate) I have created a list of websites that I can use to get things done. For invoicing and reciepts I use wave ( it also does paycheck stuff and electronic payment) Venmo for electronic payment, jot form for enrollment forms, wufoo for forms like baby notes, google voice for a second phone number (parent text me when they arrive "pick up/drop off"), Weebly for website, I get all off this is free.

But if you don't want to go my route, I would recommend Sproutary. Compared to Bright Wheels they are more in home friendly versus only being center friendly. They are adding new features and if you have any questions you can contact them directly.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

Definitely not going back to Bright Wheel, was not a fan :P

[Cat Herder]

I love KidKare for my invoicing/online payments, meal counts, attendance, time/space, menu creation, immunization reminders and and all things tax related, $8 a month can't be beat. I am not on the food program, but it would be easy to join since I already use it. Also makes inspections go much faster.

I love Daily Connect for all things parent communication, child/curriculum documentation, portfolio, photo sharing, messaging and milestone/assessment related, $1.25 per child, per month.

Between these two programs, I am paper and stress free until tax time. Then, printing takes only minutes.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

You are actually the reason I switched to Daily Connect, so I'm glad you responded!
I am for sure doing KidKare, I love the ease of taxes with it!
The biggest reason I wanted to do Sproutary instead of Daily Connect was because of the automatic late fees... but I can't figure out how to even get that to work :P
CH have you tried out Sproutary at all compared to Daily Connect?

[Cat Herder]

No, I do my billing through KidKare, not Daily Connect. I add my fee's manually with comments so I don't have to explain them further. I have not tried Sproutary.

[Cat Herder]

Kidkare also automatically adds all payments, time, meal counts and expenses to my tax files for me.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

So one thing I liked about Sproutary is the ability to track an employee. Does KidKare have that option? (clock in/out can be on another app, but something to track payments and such)

Also... it's $10/month for me. Did prices recently change or are some of you "grandfathered in" ??

[GirlMomma]

Sproutary was $1/child when I signed up in July. Has it changed???

[Cat Herder]

Mine says "KidKare Business $8/monthly" under subscription type. I am not aware of any employee functions.

[ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows]

$1 for sproutary, but my kidkare says "KidKare Accounting - Monthly $9.95/monthly"

[GirlMomma]

ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows i will sit down tomorrow and get screenshots for you on how to do the automatic late fees for payment. If there are late fees for pick up, I haven’t figured that out yet. I know the developer can be reached via email, his name is Eric, and he is always open to new suggestions for improvement.

I will say, Sproutary takes time to navigate, but I do like it. I have some parents that pay for the month and some that pay for two weeks at a time. I am able to bill them accordingly.

[Blackcat31]

ItsAllSonShineAndRainbows i will sit down tomorrow and get screenshots for you on how to do the automatic late fees for payment. If there are late fees for pick up, I haven’t figured that out yet. I know the developer can be reached via email, his name is Eric, and he is always open to new suggestions for improvement.

I will say, Sproutary takes time to navigate, but I do like it. I have some parents that pay for the month and some that pay for two weeks at a time. I am able to bill them accordingly.

Here is a thread about Sproutary
https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=93978