How do I work out these fees?

[lisaurry]

Hi everyone,

I wanted some advice on how to charge a new lady for her 2 children (baby and 4 year old doing 2.5 hrs at nursery)?

She works shifts at a hospital, and it will be 6:40am - 5 pm 2 to 3 days per week (dependant on her shift patterns). She has already suggested that I just charge her a full week so I don't lose out and cant have other children on my books because of her shifts - very unusual huh, for the parent to realise this, i know!!

Looking at my workings out though, its going to cost her loads (although she states that she will get 80% off tax creds).

What would you guys do? Charge actual hours or full week fees? Its a difference of £617 pm or £1210 pm! I don't know how to work it out!

thanks
Lisa x

[loum]

She is obviously more than happy to be charged a full week, maybe she wants you there as a standby for other days so she can work overtime etc? And as she says she will get a lot of it paid anyway.... but then you'd have to keep those spaces free for the week and not fill them I assume? Not that you would need to eh?!

Someone else who actually knows things will surely be along to say what they think, I'm only starting out so I am not sure really

Rather nice to hear of a parent who actually understands!

[angeldelight]

Hi Lisa

How nice you have a nice understanding parent here

She is right though she will get 80% of her fees paid for her

If she really is happy to pay the full amount and you do not feel right about it then why not show her the way you have worked it out

Use the higher amount ( not the lower one ) and then say you will do HER a favour and charge her £900 or something like that as a set fee

That way you get extra money and she saves - what could be better

Just make sure you get it all in your contract that it is a set amount and not an hourly one
Maybe if you do have a set amount like I suggest you could just work it out how much it would be for a week
Then if you do have time off for holiday or sickness you will know how much to deduct

Also make it clear that she must pay for holidays or sickness if she does not bring the children

Good luck whatever you decide to do it is your business at the end of the day so the choice is yours

Angel xx

[miffy]

I'd grab this parent with both hands!!!

It's very rare for a parent to understand how difficult it is for childminders when they (the parent) work odd shifts

I think Angel has given you a very good suggestion about what to charge

Good luck

Miffy

[lisaurry]

Thanks guys,

yes I think I will. She just emailed me again, and I'd forgotten that when she works nights I would still have the children so she can sleep! So the lower figure now bumps upto £800 anyway - will give her a set fee as suggested and work it out weekly too.
thanks for your help!

Lisa x

[june]

Lisa , set fees are really good, everyone knows where they are then . On your quieter days (when nurse is off ) you will be able to do your paperwork, planning etc. If only all working Parents were this clued up on how much we have to juggle to get a decent wage (that can fluctuate depending on Parents shift Patterns) As was said before get it all down on contract.
Good Luck
June and Carolyn

[lisaurry]

Thanks June,

I've always worked the other fees out based on hourly rates - then set as a monthly fee, so this will be different from what I normally do. But, as she works shifts like these it is going to be better for me to do it as set fees. It just threw me when she offered to pay for a full week - what a wonderful parent eh?

Haven't met her yet, as she lives 70 miles away and is relocating in January. She is due to come and see me next week sometime, so will see if she is as good as she sounds then! I hope she is though.

Lisa x

[june]

Good Luck Lisa, you may find she has used Nurseries, Childminders etc before and knows how it all works. Hope it all goes ok .
June

[susan]

sanp her hand off and thake the money, I know we do it for the love of the kids but we are a business too arent we.

What a wonderful parent, maybe this was an arangement she has had with previous minders!

Good Luck I hope it works out well for you and its genuine

xxx

[sarsar3nch]

This parent sounds great!!

If she is thinking that she can use you on other days as she is paying you anyway be careful you don't set fixed fee too low as you sould be out of pocket especially bearing in mind that you won't be able to fill gaps with another child.

Sarah

[lisaurry]

Thanks for your support everyone, she does sound great - just hope its as good as it sounds and she doesn't have a 4 year old demon child!!!!

I didn't think about if I set the fees to watch out if she tries to use me on other days too. I will have to mention that when I meet up with her, and word it into the contract about additional hours.

Lisa x

[susi513]

If she's willing to pay full fees for the week I'd go for that. And if she's only got to pay 20% But I would also say that, if she has told you you're not needed on a particular day and you are fully booked with their place being booked out to another child I would reduce their bill accordingly. I don't charge 2 parents for the same place, you see. Rarely happens though!

Another way I've done it is to charge full fees for booked hours and 1/2 fees for the remainder of the week (ie, retainer fee to reserve the place for sole use of their child). Have to agree a minimum weekly fee in case they don't book any hours and agree when they will notify which days are needed. (one lady implied she'd need 3 or 4 days care and it ended up being 1 or 2 a fortnight!) So if they don't tell you which days are NOT needed they agree to pay full fees for week. Also I put that if they agree to pay full fees for days booked even if absent and if they want to switch a day they pay full for original day booked and the newly booked day.

[lisaurry]

Thanks Susi,

Its a messy one, I know. I have given her a rough idea of a fixed fee now via email. She is due to come and see me next week - so once I've got a full shift pattern off her - I will check and see how it works out.

What I don't want is for her to start adding in days because she thinks she's paid for it. I will compare the 2 figures when I've got more info - and probably come back on to see what you all think.

Lisa x