Newbie Starting - Fees??

[Fairy Tanya]

Ok, I know I've been posting quite a few threads of late, but under the circumstances , when you are new to this, you feel the need to ask alot of questions.
so this time it is about fees.
I'm trying to work out my fees, keeping it as simple as possible.
so far my list looks like this (tho not sure how it works out for the tax man or for retainer fees (retainer fees - now thats an awful headache _ I think you should just have a deposit and that is it))
ok here goes:

Fees
Any amount of hours stands at £5.00ph
full or part timers care still at hours fee £5.00ph
Before & after school £5.00 ph

booking for a weeks care of hours between 8am-6pm full day (eg 7 hrs+ a day = £30 a day)
£5.00 an hour
with a 10% discount. £
anything less than a week of full time eg:4days £5.00 ph
last minute school closure days rate £4ph or £30 for over 6hrs(as was not parents fault for very short notice, and I don't think tax credits would cough up for that - or if parent takes that time off too , to stay at home , would be charged for normal setting as childs place was still open)
I think if you keep it at a basic rate, and maybe do a small discount for people who book a weeks worth over an amount of set hours (say 7 in this instance)
so let me try and set this out so it looks good

£5ph flat rate
7hrs to 10hrs £35 a day
booking a weeks worth of full days services (7hrs-10hrs) £175 discount of 10% discount = £157.50 for term & school holidays
same as above for 6hrs or less hours a day for a whole week 5% discount.
last minute school closure £4ph.
ok it still looks a bit mixed up , but I think thats not bad for a beginner.
What do you think.
please comment and give me your thoughts and feedback
Tanya
Fairy hugs
2 weeks til summer holidays Start

[The Juggler]

i would keep it simple hon.

an hourly rate (i.e. i have 4.50 or £5 for less than 20 hours per week)
a day rate (if you prefer to do this and specify the hours say 0800-1800)
a before after school rate (either hourly or sessional - your choice)
an unsocial hours rate (before 0800 and after 1800?)
an overtime hourly rate
a late pick up charge
a late payment fee.

hth

[Fairy Tanya]

that's the set up I need thank you.
I can now put my prices to that.
Thank you ever so much.
by the way - what do you think to my school closure price example, as when you think about it. if it does close for bad weather, teacher training or strikes and they need a childminder for that day. do you think that it is suitable??
Tanya

[Fairy Tanya]

I know it still looks a bit messed up, but how about this

£5ph flat rate
over 8 to 10hrs £40 a day
fully booked week of 40 hrs or more a week, 5% discount
Before & after school £5ph
unsocial hours (before 08:00 and after 18:00) £3.00 per half hour
last minute bookings eg, weather school closure, school strikes. (with school proof of closure & depending on spaces) £5 per hour plus £8 admin fee (if not on books)

still not sure if this looks okay yet.
but do have a couple more questions reguarding fees and contracts
what do you do when your client only needs a contract for
a. term time only
b. school holidays only (be it 1 week or 6 weeks)
c. last minute - one day only due to unforeseen circumstances

how do you do contracts for that.
as I will be having a couple of clients who only need term time only, as they work in a school.
and it's nice to have some info about this kind of contract of a,b or c so I can have it to hand if anyone asks.
Thank you
Tanya

[The Juggler]

I know it still looks a bit messed up, but how about this

£5ph flat rate consider higher rate for early start/late finishes)
over 8 to 10hrs £40 a dayI would specify hours for your day rate i.e. start and finish times or parents might ask for 0600 to 1600 maybe go for 0800-1800?
fully booked week of 40 hrs or more a week, 5% discount i wouldn't do a discount for working long hours hon
Before & after school £5ph i charge slightly more for after school rate say .50p
unsocial hours (before 08:00 and after 18:00) £3.00 per half hour
last minute bookings eg, weather school closure, school strikes. (with school proof of closure & depending on spaces) £5 per hour plus £8 admin fee (if not on books)sounds good.

still not sure if this looks okay yet.
but do have a couple more questions reguarding fees and contracts
what do you do when your client only needs a contract for
a. term time only i don't charge retainer as prefer not to work school hols. but if you WANT to work them charge at least a 50% retainer
b. school holidays only (be it 1 week or 6 weeks) use a booking form, booked hours are payable unless cancelled over 4 weeks before care is due. I would charge by the hour (with a min. no. of set hours
c. last minute - one day only due to unforeseen circumstancesby the hour

how do you do contracts for that.
as I will be having a couple of clients who only need term time only, as they work in a school.
and it's nice to have some info about this kind of contract of a,b or c so I can have it to hand if anyone asks.
Thank you
Tanya

hope this helps.

[Fairy Tanya]

yes that is fantastic,
I will no doubt put it back on again for anyone to check and put more pointers, it would be lovely to get it right first time, but that never happens with me, so all be patient, am trying. will do it again and see what you think.

Thank you all for your help
Tanya

[Fairy Tanya]

ok, hope this will be the last time, but if it sn't - sorry

what about this then. there are still alot of words, but I can put them in my policies

£5 ph from 08:00 to 18:00

for care during 08:00 to 18:00 for hours of between 8-10hrs a day £45 (thinking of an extra 50p wth that to make it £45 – would do you think – it's still a discount really)

before & after school £5. (I think I'll stick with that)

unsocial hours before 08:00 and after 18:00 £3 per half hour

last minute – emergency care due to unforeseen circumstances – eg school closed to bad weather or teacher strike or teacher only school day (sometimes called a baker day) or family emergency eg hospital or funeral £5 ph

still not sure about charging a retainer for during school hols when they only need term time and it's been contracted to that set of dates. Is that what most of you do?? charge a retainer fee for when they only want term times for during the school holidays??

thanks
Tanya

[aunt sally]

I don't charge a retainer as I prefer to have all the school holidays off to spend time with my own children. If you are available to work in the school holidays you can ask for a retainer. Some of my childminder friends ask for 50%.

[julie w]

I have some term time only contracts and some school holiday only contracts so I dont charge a retainer. As for emergency school closures I wouldn't charge any less, because it's not your fault either, however I discuss with parents beforehand and if they will need you to provide care for such days then normal rate applies.If they'd prefer to have them themselves then I would charge my before and after school fees. You'll most prob find that parents are happy for you to have them at the normal rate because it save them having an emergency day off themselves. It's taken me over ten years to get it just right when it comes to fees, and even then i'm sure there's room for improvement with me. xx

[The Juggler]

yes that is fantastic,
I will no doubt put it back on again for anyone to check and put more pointers, it would be lovely to get it right first time, but that never happens with me, so all be patient, am trying. will do it again and see what you think.

Thank you all for your help
Tanya

none of us do hon. I started out way too low, had no late pick up fees, late payment fees. we all learn as we go along

[Fairy Tanya]

ok here goes this is what it looks like
what do you all think
had donne this in open office (same as microsoft word) also it didn't really copy and paste very well onto this page - not sure whhat it will look like when I hit submit reply, but if you use your imagination it might work


Open Times

Daily Childminding Services
Monday – Friday
08:00 to 18:00
(8am to 6pm)
----------------------
Weekend Overnight Childminding Services
Friday 19:00 (7pm) to Saturday 10.30am
and
Saturday 19:00 (7pm) to Sunday 10.30am

*********************************

Fees and Charges
Daily (8am-6pm) Hours up to 7 hours a day £5.00 per hour

Daily (8am-6pm) Hours over 7 – up to 10 a day £45.00 flat rate

Daily (8am-6pm) Before and after school £5.00 per hour

Unsocial Hours Before 8am & after 6pm £4.00 per ½ hour
(by arrangement only)

Unforeseen Circumstances due to:
School closure – e.g. bad weather or teaching training days.
(must bring proof, school letter, school phone number) Or
Family Emergencies – e.g. hospital or funeral All £5.00 per hour
-----------------------------------------------------
Weekend Overnight Childminding Services
(Including Breakfast) £30.00 per child
per night
Sibling extra £15.00 per child
(Including Breakfast) per night

[jumpinjen]

I would charge a lot more than that for overnight care, especially at the weekend..... it really inroads on your life as you can't go out, can't have friends to stay/family that aren't CRB'd etc...... I offer an hourly fee for overnight and add a £15 weekend supplement if minding at weekend!

jen x

[Fairy Tanya]

Have spoken to an ex childminder for my village, she used to charge about £25 a night. but would suggest £30 for area.

also need to get this confirmed.
if there are NO children staying and my aunt comes down, does she need to have a crb, as there will be no children here.
Thanks
Tanya