How to charge?

[Georgiepoo]

I am a new childminder and am wondering if I charge in advance so parents are paying me at the beginning of the month for their childcare? Or if I should request half payment up front for first month then payment at the end of the month there after?

How do others go about this?

[smurfette]

Hi!

Always up front and always get a deposit ., you never want to end up in a position where you have worked hours and have trouble getting it out of someone! Mine pay weekly, money due in by Friday of previous week either in cash or to hit my bank account, and if it's not in then I send a reminder text. Never been stung so far thank goodness! One of mine pays monthly so up to you and parents what works for them
With their own pay dates.

Deposits vary. I feel it's sensible to hold to end of the contract, some refund off first month. I take usually two weeks as I feel a month might put someone off but a lot of people on here do ask for and get a month

Best of luck.!

[tess1981]

Upfront is a good idea but it always handy to remember not . All parents can pay a month up front I know I could not when I was sending my lo to a cm. Maybe a deposit and weekly upfront

[shortstuff]

I get paid on 1st for that month. It works well. If I close for example last friday ds was ill I deduct the appropriate fees from the next invoice.

[Georgiepoo]

Thanks. So do you get parents to pay a full months fees up front before childcare begins then pay on goin up front on say 1st of every month?

[clare83]

I take one weeks deposit on sign up ( held against last months fees) and months fees upfront. I get paid on 28th for the following month. Parents so far have been fine with this :-)

[Georgiepoo]

I take one weeks deposit on sign up ( held against last months fees) and months fees upfront. I get paid on 28th for the following month. Parents so far have been fine with this :-)

For a new child do you request 1 weeks fees as deposit and then 1 months fees in advance?

[Nicadooby]

Always in advance, most pay monthly in the 1st

[karen2010]

Not all parents get paid monthly so I charge weekly, always in advance by direct debit. Any extra hours ie holiday care or extra hours worked are paid in arrears at the end of the working week. New parents pay a weeks deposit refundable against the first weeks care. I prefer direct debit for payments as it's always awkward holding out your hand for the money no matter how hard you have worked to earn it !

[shortstuff]

I also always charge in advance but ask parents whether weekly or monthly suits them. This gives parents a way to pay which suits them. It also safeguards your payments. Why ask for weekly if they get paid monthly? Or the opposite?

[karen2010]

I agree but getting paid weekly suits me as I can budget better !
One of my Parents pays monthly though - makes me feel rich for a short while until I spend it !!

[munch149]

I also always charge in advance but ask parents whether weekly or monthly suits them. This gives parents a way to pay which suits them. It also safeguards your payments. Why ask for weekly if they get paid monthly? Or the opposite?

I do exactly this. Means some parents pay weekly and some pay monthly which suits me as my larger payers pay monthly to cover the bills and the smaller payers tend to pay weekly which gives me money to tie me over each week

[Georgiepoo]

This is all great as I was feeling like asking for a whole months fees upfront was too much!

I am looking to only having one full timer and maybe a part timer too. So for example a full time for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week @ £5 per hour is £880 per month I should request that up front and plus a weeks fees as a holding deposit?

[clare83]

This is all great as I was feeling like asking for a whole months fees upfront was too much! I am looking to only having one full timer and maybe a part timer too. So for example a full time for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week @ £5 per hour is £880 per month I should request that up front and plus a weeks fees as a holding deposit?

This is how I do it :-)

[JCrakers]

I charge a deposit on signing the contract. Depending on how many hours the child is doing the minimum being £25, the maximum is probably £150.
I do my own contracts so on there is a space for the day they would like to pay. Most put the 1st.

When the child starts I send them an invoice for the month ahead minus the deposit. This has always worked for me although others do hold the deposit until the end.

Did you get a deposit when they signed the contract?

[Jo ward]

Sorry to interrupt but could some just explain to me how the childcare vouchers work because I am sure I have been misinformed thanks in advance x

[alwaysright]

always get paid in advance before any childcare or you could et stung big time if you mind for a month then dont get fees