WWYD In-home DC issue

[laurad]

So I do a quasi in-home day care. I say quasi as I really just have one regular boy that is 5 days a week, work hours.

I also have a little boy and girl that I have been watching regularly for the past year but on odd ball schedules.

When I first started watching them the boy was 5 months and girl almost 2. (They are the same age as my two). I watched them on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from about 12:30pm to 7-7:30pm. It then extended to 8-8:30pm and one other day for a few hours. I originally (first schedule) told the mom $110/wk when they added the extra day I only went up $5 a week.

The mom is a Tech at a hospital and the dad works at call center. Well, their schedules totally changed as the mom went on nights (to make more money). I would have them Fri from 6:30 to about midnight, Sat and Sun 6:30 to about 9:45. Then when she was in school on Tues and Thursdays for like 2 hours during the day. I didn't change the rate at that point.

Now here is the problem I am running into now. She changed her work days to have the weekends off (to align with her DH's sched). So now come Sept I will have the kids Tues, Thurs and Friday evenings from 6:30-about midnight. PLUS she has night classes on Monday's and Weds, so I would have them 6:45-8:45 or so.

My dilemma is, I have to get up at 7am no matter what so my sleep time is being chopped for those three nights (instead of just Fri nights) and now it is more hours.

Other part of the dilemma, they are awesome in terms of paying me whether the kids come or not, ie. in August the hours were random and not as many days but they still paid me the 460. Sept I am going on a week vaca so I am not too worried about that month.

But would you raise the prices? OR? I need the extra cash for bills so I want to keep them (plus I love the kiddos!).

[Murmer]

be honest with the situation but also be realistic...I am sure they like you because you are cheaper than everyone else and they know you now. So I would sit down talk to her and raise it a reasonable but not to high amount. Hope that makes sense.

[Alexandzoesmom]

Well, if I am reading your post correctly (I just got up and I'm still a little fuzzy :giggle:), her days have increased - plus it is more "off peak" hours now so I think raising your rates is very reasonable. A week or two notice would be nice so they can adjust though.

[naughtymonkey]

I'd just sit down and be honest with her. Hours have increased and more evenings now, and you need to increase the rate to X amt/wk starting on X date. Give them a couple of weeks so that they can budget it.

[laurad]

Yeah, I think that is what I am going to do.

Meanwhile, I am thinking I may try and get some other day kids as watching kids 5 days a week from 7am to 9-midnight is just a bit much... :(

[SuzieSunshine]

I think that raising the rates right now, after they overpaid you for the summer, is kind of odd timing, kwim? I mean, if they used less hours and paid you more over the summer, then I'd wait until it's all "evened itself out" before I address rates. It just seems nicer that way :)

[Murmer]

I think that raising the rates right now, after they overpaid you for the summer, is kind of odd timing, kwim? I mean, if they used less hours and paid you more over the summer, then I'd wait until it's all "evened itself out" before I address rates. It just seems nicer that way :)

If it was a "real" daycare parents pay whether or not their child attends to hold the spot if they don't pay the kid gets kicked so I know that many parents expect to pay daycare costs over the summer even if kids don't attend.

[Treighsie]

I agree-- they should pay whether or not they come. I run into this issue a lot too.

I think you are definitely within your "rights" to raise your rates. More hours, weird hours, definitely!

[Alexandzoesmom]

I think that raising the rates right now, after they overpaid you for the summer, is kind of odd timing, kwim? I mean, if they used less hours and paid you more over the summer, then I'd wait until it's all "evened itself out" before I address rates. It just seems nicer that way :)

BUt they didn't overpay - they aid for their time. Most daycares make you pay for your spot if you are there or not - as they still have to meet expenses.

If it was a "real" daycare parents pay whether or not their child attends to hold the spot if they don't pay the kid gets kicked so I know that many parents expect to pay daycare costs over the summer even if kids don't attend.

Yeah that.... we are lucky that my sitter doesn;t want summer kids and so only watches kids of school employees. We don't pay for summer but we do pay for days we don't go during the school year. I figure it is only fair to her.

[Alexandzoesmom]

Sorry for the typo - that should be "paid" not "aid" in the first line.

[Anna1345]

be honest with the situation but also be realistic...I am sure they like you because you are cheaper than everyone else and they know you now. So I would sit down talk to her and raise it a reasonable but not to high amount. Hope that makes sense.
I totally agree! And most child care people charge more for evenings and overnights. Still keep it reasonable for her but better for you! Good luck!

[SuzieSunshine]

If it was a "real" daycare parents pay whether or not their child attends to hold the spot if they don't pay the kid gets kicked so I know that many parents expect to pay daycare costs over the summer even if kids don't attend.


I guess it just all depends then on whether this is a real daycare, or a friend watching a friend's kids to help them both out a little.

A real daycare needs insurance, needs to register with the state, etc... as well. Oh, and of course, pay taxes on earnings and whatnot.

I really thought this was more of a "friendly" situation, not a "business" one, and that the OP wants to tread lightly. Maybe I misunderstood.

[Murmer]

I guess it just all depends then on whether this is a real daycare, or a friend watching a friend's kids to help them both out a little.

A real daycare needs insurance, needs to register with the state, etc... as well. Oh, and of course, pay taxes on earnings and whatnot.

I really thought this was more of a "friendly" situation, not a "business" one, and that the OP wants to tread lightly. Maybe I misunderstood.

Nothing in the OP makes it sound like a friend situation just a daycare one. And she is a buisness owner...she does still have to pay taxes because there is a tax benefit to parents whose children are in day care of any kind so it has to be reported. My day care provider is a friend but I still expect to pay when my child is sick or not there for any reason other than previously agreed upon dates of not showing up. It the way day care works. When I said "real" I was thinking about the daycares with hundreds of children ect so that there is something to compare pricing practices too. But in home day care is better because there are less children and more attention but that doesn't mean the provider gets to lose out on what is rightfully theirs in the common day care practices merely because they are a nice in home person. I understand that your children have probably never been in day care therefore you probably don't know a lot about what is typical in a these types of situations.

[laurad]

It is a casual "at home day care" which when under a certain number of kids does not require licensing, etc.. I met these people as I posted an ad on Craig's list promoting in home day care. So definitely not just a friend watching kids.

I plan on raising the rates in October. As they are going to pay me their normal amount for Sept (they always pay one month in advance), despite the fact that I am going on vacation for a few days.
~~~~~~~
Oh and ya I pay taxes on the income etc. It all gets reported on my return :)

[SuzieSunshine]

Nothing in the OP makes it sound like a friend situation just a daycare one. And she is a buisness owner...she does still have to pay taxes because there is a tax benefit to parents whose children are in day care of any kind so it has to be reported. My day care provider is a friend but I still expect to pay when my child is sick or not there for any reason other than previously agreed upon dates of not showing up. It the way day care works. When I said "real" I was thinking about the daycares with hundreds of children ect so that there is something to compare pricing practices too. But in home day care is better because there are less children and more attention but that doesn't mean the provider gets to lose out on what is rightfully theirs in the common day care practices merely because they are a nice in home person. I understand that your children have probably never been in day care therefore you probably don't know a lot about what is typical in a these types of situations.


To clarify-- when the OP said "quasi-daycare", that's why I thought it wasn't a "real" daycare, nor a real business. I can see that it is, which is fine. It is very common for friends to offer cheap daycare for each other, and not pay taxes, report earnings, or be licensed. I doubt that I am the only one who has seen people charge $20 a day to watch the child of their hubby's coworker (fairly common in the military, btw), or to watch the child of a friend part-time.

As for the last sentence- I'm not sure how your tone is intended to be. Tough to tell online. All I can really say is that I do not think you understand my children's care history. Not sure why you would, since I certainly didn't comment on it in this thread. :shrug:

[kellybean]

definitely not saying that they are intending to... but don't let the parents take advantage of you. You provide and incredibly important service to them and you definitely should be paid reasonably. Sit down with them and tell them that you need to raise your rates. I'm sure they will completely understand! =]