Cazz
25-06-2010, 08:45 PM
I was registered in September 2009 and fixed my hourly rate at £3.20 so I wouldn't have to increase it for a while.
However, there are several childminders in my town and not many enquiries at the moment. All apart from one (and she is the only childminder that side of town) are charging £3.00 per hour. Also, the after school club are linking with a playgroup and going to be to be offering a breakfast club so children can go there from 8.00am - 6.00pm (school in between for some) for a really reasonable price :(
Do you think I should reduce my hourly rate to keep myself competitive?
Also, my normal working hours are set at 8.00 - 6.00pm and £2.00 per hour more outside of these hours. The majority of the other childminders offer care from 7.00am or 7.30am - so I am considering offering from 7.30am in my normal hours and charging time and a half for hours outside these times. Do you think this would be wise.
If I do reduce my hourly rate should I reduce it for the 14 month old that comes 7 hours one day a week or keep them on the higher rate?
Finally, I had someone come to see me yesterday about possible minding for their 14 month old 3 days a week. The days would be ideal for me and they were a lovely family so I'd really like to get the contract. They said they were seeing another couple of childminders - this is why I've got to thinking about charges and hours etc, I'd hate to lose out because of money!
Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them if I decide to reduce the fees and increase my working day slightly (they don't know if they need an early start yet) or would that make me sound desperate and possibly as if there's something wrong with me that I'm not getting work? As I say, this contract would fit in perfectly for me!
However, there are several childminders in my town and not many enquiries at the moment. All apart from one (and she is the only childminder that side of town) are charging £3.00 per hour. Also, the after school club are linking with a playgroup and going to be to be offering a breakfast club so children can go there from 8.00am - 6.00pm (school in between for some) for a really reasonable price :(
Do you think I should reduce my hourly rate to keep myself competitive?
Also, my normal working hours are set at 8.00 - 6.00pm and £2.00 per hour more outside of these hours. The majority of the other childminders offer care from 7.00am or 7.30am - so I am considering offering from 7.30am in my normal hours and charging time and a half for hours outside these times. Do you think this would be wise.
If I do reduce my hourly rate should I reduce it for the 14 month old that comes 7 hours one day a week or keep them on the higher rate?
Finally, I had someone come to see me yesterday about possible minding for their 14 month old 3 days a week. The days would be ideal for me and they were a lovely family so I'd really like to get the contract. They said they were seeing another couple of childminders - this is why I've got to thinking about charges and hours etc, I'd hate to lose out because of money!
Would it be unprofessional of me to contact them if I decide to reduce the fees and increase my working day slightly (they don't know if they need an early start yet) or would that make me sound desperate and possibly as if there's something wrong with me that I'm not getting work? As I say, this contract would fit in perfectly for me!