a fair way to charge

[tomy12]

what is a fair way to charge for this:-
mum, has a boy 1yr and daughter at school.
so have boy week 1- tusday 12.30-3.30 no daughter
week 2 - tuesday boy 1.30-4pm daughter 3-4pm
wednesday boy 1.30-4pm daughter 3-4pm
so first week have boy on own for 1 day then following week have both on 2 days.
i understand i would have to charge something for keeping a tues on the week i only have them on a wedsnesday.
what would be a fair way to charge for all of this??
any advice welcome as they are comming to sort out contract and money on sunday

[sarahnev707]

Oh yuk that's a tricky one!

I would charge the most for the 1 year old - cos his money will last longer..... I would be tempted to put him on an hourly rate and daughter on a session (presumably you are picking her up). Depends on parents and how well off they are and whether they're prompt at picking up... you don't want a session charge on a late arriver... unless you make your overtime rates very clear at the outset and charge for every quarter hour from say a 10 minute window to allow for traffic etc

Depends on what you'd got planned for charging for other after-schoolers as well... Do you charge say £7 for after school session including tea? In which case you could ask for that - cos she's taking up a full time space

Not sure you can charge extra cos they only want bits of the week though - I never have - but then I've always taken part -timers only

Others may have more thoughts on that side of things

Sarahx

[loum]

I agree that an hourly for the 1yo and a session rate for the older would probably work best - I would also go as far as to work out over a 2 week period, the total cost, and then divide that amount by half, and thats your weekly amount - makes it easier to work out for you and for parents then.

I would also charge them for the days they don't use you, the tuesday am, ( you prob wont get another to fill that space) and also the girls time on the week you dont have her for same reasons

[tomy12]

hi all

thanks for the replys
my hourly rate is £3.50 and for siblings £.3
so i was thinking of charging week 1 tues 3.50 hr and the weds that they don't need £1.75 per hr as i only have boy this week
then week 2
tues boy £3.50 per hr and daughter £.300 for the hr after school.
or should i add up the hrs and divide by 2 to give a weekly amount?
any more advice welcome

claire

[susan]

tomy12 said:

hi all

thanks for the replys
my hourly rate is £3.50 and for siblings £.3
so i was thinking of charging week 1 tues 3.50 hr and the weds that they don't need £1.75 per hr as i only have boy this week
then week 2
tues boy £3.50 per hr and daughter £.300 for the hr after school.
or should i add up the hrs and divide by 2 to give a weekly amount?
any more advice welcome

claire

if it was me i'd agree a weekly set amount to save confusion especially when you are doing your monthly invoicing etc xxx

[sarsar3nch]

I would have set weekly amount too but it would be based on max hours (ie I would charge boy 12.30 - 4 both days and girl 3-4 both days) after all you cannot fill spaces on days they don't come.

Harsh maybe but makes it easier for billing too

Sarah