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Do you charge differently for contract hours? I was thinking about doing this, but if i dont charge more/less for certain hours, I fear they will all put 7am-5pm just so they have the freedom to drop off/pickup whenever without repercussions. I also worry if i do charge more for pick ups after 4:30, that the parents who chose it will always pick up after 4:30 even if they get off early, just because they are paying more for it. If you dont charge differently, Do you have a late fee if they pick up after contract hours? Fee if they drop off earlier?
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My goal with contracted hours was to hold parents in my area to the time they say they need. When they interview, they’re the perfect “I only need care from 8-4:30” and that slowly changes to the child being the first one in and last one out.
I do charge for early drop offs and if I don’t receive notice, I won’t take the child past their drop off time after 15 mins. If the parents don’t pick up on or before their pick up time, I charge.
Now seeing that the first family on contracted hours has found the loop hole, I’m probably going to fill it in like Alwaysgreener said or go to a tiered pick up system with higher rates for later pick ups -
Flat weekly rate based on 3:00, 4:00 or 5:00 pick up time.
Late pick up with no notice is a BIG fee
Later pick up with prior notice AND approval is additional fee.
Don't care what time they get here in the morning, just what time they're picking up.
Families that used to stay all day suddenly figured out how to pick up early since it saved them money.
It really didn't but I told them all I was raising my rates....which I did but only for families needing me until 5:00.
The rate everyone paid previously became my 3:00 pick up rate so those families that used to stay until 5:00 even though they didn't need to are still paying the same rate but picking up earlier.
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I have been doing contract hours since day one. I advertise that the fee is based on the number of hours and number of days needed, So I can not give a family a quote until I know what hours they need.Originally posted by Momboss View Post
Current family hours and rates are...
1. 7-515 T Th $60 + school ager
2. 830-530 m-th $120
3. 7-4 MW $64*2 kids
4. 7-1 M-Th $64
5. 715-445 m-th $140
So my hours currently are 7-530. But I have worked 8-4, 7-630, and 9-5, based on what my current families needed. I now cap everyone to 9.5 hours a day, unless they can give me a valid reason why they need more hours.
My rates have gone up over the years but are not really based on hours, because each family takes a full day spot and get 3 or more meals.
When I opened, I did try a sliding scale based on hours but I couldn't always remember my prices and I was always misquoting. Any time I filled a spot under my base rate I lost money. So now if they need and can prove they need more than 9.5 hours, the price goes up.
I ask work hours, I didn't always but learned I need to. I then write the contract for 30 -45 mins before the latest and 30-45 mins after the earliest based on what they do and where they work. If they feel they need more time, I will negotiate.
If a parent tries to drop off early they are not welcomed in, (leave the door locked). I have had the parents stand in the rain waiting to come in. I have also confronted a parent that showed up early and let them know that any early arrivals must be pre-approved. My policies do include an early drop off fee of $1 a minute.
Last edited by Alwaysgreener; 03-25-2022, 08:24 PM.
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I don't do contracted hours because I don't want to watch the clock and then bill separately. I'm open 7 to 5.Comment
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Always greener: what part of the county do you live in? Your rates are very low for our area. Perhaps I interpreted your rate chart incorrectly. Were they per day or per week? The demand for childcare is so high that I don't even do part time anymore. Since I can only have 6 children and 2 school agers (don't have daily school-agers - siblings with school days off only). My income is based on the 6 children. If I discounted days and hours, the likelihood of filling the other days/hours is practically zero. Since I work about 50 hours with children here and at 5 or more per week on childcare-related tasks, I figure I work at least 55 hours per week. With the amount of time and dedication I put into this work, I deserve to make more than a fast food worker (more than $15 per hour here).Comment
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Our center in alabama is open 6am-6pm monday-friday and our parents pay weekly at either the beginning of the week or whenever their child attends in the week. -
I prefer pt, before lock down 2020, I had all PT kids and was full. I loved it. Now I have 2 full week and one rotating plus the pt. But pt is not for everyone.
My rates listed is per week and avg for my area. We are not high income but content with what we have.
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DCM: Hey, is it okay to pick up an hour and a half later so I can go to the gym…? *Rambles about why she needs to go to the gym*
Me: No.
DCM: *Confused* Aren’t you open until 5:30?
Me: I offer services until 5:30 but you have be contracted until 3:30.
This is exactly why I switched to contracted hours. Some parents will pick up at the time they said in the interview when they start. Then they will slowly drop off earlier/pick up later once the kid is comfortable.
This kid started with me in March and finally stopped crying at drop off a week and a half ago. DCM tried to drop off 30 mins earlier last week.Comment
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Many providers here have contracted hours. I offer 9.5 hours per day not to exceed 4:30.Comment
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Why is the earliest you'll take kids?
I offered nine and a half hours a day. Currently I don't want to go past 5:30 I haven't past gone as late as 6:20. The earliest I've ever gone is 6:45 except for one drop in that was like 5:00 a.m. for 3 days.Last edited by Alwaysgreener; 05-17-2022, 09:23 AM.
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