Put my fee's up this week

**saintsue** · 10-06-2009, 08:15 AM

morning everyone

i have charged 25pound a day for the last 3 years

children get breakfast and full cooked lunch then tea,
i have put my fees up this week to 30 pound a day,
and the one parent who has loads of money is not happy

Do you think that fee is too much or not?

luv sue xxxxxx

**Polly2** · 10-06-2009, 08:20 AM

I think thats very reasonable especially if you have not had a rise in 3 yrs!

Its always the well off parents that try to take advantage and make us fee bad. Don't feel guilty - stick to your guns x

**mumof1** · 10-06-2009, 08:22 AM

I think 30 per day is very reasonable, as they r getting full meals etc.

As for the parent who has a problem, it is usually the parents with the money that always have problems lol I bet nobody else has a problem with it!

Stick to your new fee as it is reasonable, and at the end of the day its yours business and you have to do wats best

**Tired** · 10-06-2009, 08:52 AM

how many hours is that for?
Personally I think 5 pounds a day is quite a big increase in one go. its 20%, and thats a lot at any time, and even more so in a recession with people getting pay freezes and cuts.

However, if you have not had an increase for 3 years, you were probably falling behind, so I think you should stick to it, and make small rises each year, to avoid large ones like this.

**saintsue** · 10-06-2009, 09:03 AM

That is for a 10 hour day
what does everyone else charge for a full day

luv sue xxxx

**Tired** · 10-06-2009, 09:12 AM

Im in Hampshire, and charge 3.60 an hour, so 10 hours would be 36pounds.

I certainly don't think your 30pounds is a lot, just a big increase in one go.
I increase my fees by 10p an hour each year, so I don't get left behind, and I don't have to impose such big increases. Also, the parents come to expect it, and don't really mind.
Saying that, not sure if I will do an increase this year, cos of the economic climate, it might not go down too well.

And one prospective customer did not come to me cos I was 10p more expensive than some other local CMs. So might leave them as they are this year.

**CherryBlossom** · 10-06-2009, 09:22 AM

10 hours is a long day if anything you were being under paid before!
Maybe go through everything you do again with parent, and stress how you feed their child every single meal as well as look after them.
You have to earn some money otherwise you are working for nothing.
x

**cuddlybunny38** · 10-06-2009, 09:24 AM

Im in herts and I charge £4ph so my 10 hours who I have 1 day a week its £40 a day. If I had them full time I might charge a cheaper price as that would be £200 a week but I only have them 1 day. The going rate here is £4/£4.50 ph

**angeldelight** · 10-06-2009, 09:40 AM

Originally Posted by saintsue

That is for a 10 hour day
what does everyone else charge for a full day

luv sue xxxx

I think its up to you

I have just put my fees up £20 a week extra and had no complaints

Just ignore the parent you deserve it for 10 hours a day and it sounds about right to me

Angel xx

**Jen4Kids** · 10-06-2009, 09:43 AM

Hi, i charge £3.50 p/hr or £31.50 for 9.5hrs - i then knock this down to £30.00 for the day if i feel the parents are hesitating, this swung my last mindee to sign up. Ive got someone signing next week for full time at my starting price

I dont feel its too high, but i can understand what 'Tired' means by saying its a bit of a jump, but they were probably expecting it but still want to try and make you feel bad.

**wellybelly** · 10-06-2009, 11:29 AM

Well done you! I wish I had the courgae to do it. It doesnt surprise me its the one with the money making the most noise. Reiterate the 80% tax credit and the current economic situation for EVERYONE at the minute. Id love to buy branded food and have nice clothes for myself but that just aint possible anymore. If shes not happy tell to call Mr Brown, at 10 Downing street!

**wellybelly** · 10-06-2009, 11:30 AM

I charge £3.50 per hour and £25 a day inclusive of all meals and snacks

**Tippy Toes** · 10-06-2009, 11:36 AM

Hi I dont charge daily, I have a set hourly rate of £3.50. If parents want me to provide meals and snacks I charge and extra £2 a day.

I think your fees seem extremely reasonable, cant believe you were working 10 hrs a day and provide meals for £25 - sounds like a bargain.

**cabby** · 10-06-2009, 11:43 AM

i charge £3PH, but am about to tell existing parents that fees are going up to £3.50ph, which is the going rate here, all my new parents are on the higher rate, just not sure if 50p is quite a big jump.....ive been minding for 8 years and have only ever had one pay rise.

**rickysmiths** · 10-06-2009, 01:18 PM

Originally Posted by wellybelly

I charge £3.50 per hour and £25 a day inclusive of all meals and snacks

I charge an hourly rate at the moment £4.50 per hour for over 20hrs week and £5 per hour for under 20hrs. So a 10 hour day would be £45 or 50

Why do you give potentially such a large discount for a day? At £3.50 per hour 10 hours would be £35 are you only charging £25? £10 a day is a big %.

**nemo97** · 10-06-2009, 02:00 PM

I think the daily rate is reasonable I just think that an increase of £5 per day is a lot. I tend to increase mine by 25p per hour yearly so its not a big increase in one go.

**Playmate** · 10-06-2009, 02:21 PM

we are in Herts and have just put ours up to £4.50 an hr for part day and £40 for a full 10 hr day. We have so many children doing funny short hours which is disruptive to our day and not cost effective to our business as we have so many gaps we can't fill! this year we have had 3 sets of parents who have stated they want full days and then when they have signed contracts have asked to reduce hours, we always seem to say yes to everyone's individual needs which is fine but sometimes I think you have to look out for number 1!

**sarahstanbridge** · 10-06-2009, 02:55 PM

£30 a day sounds fine to me. i charge £4 per hour so i f i have an 8 hour day comes in at £32.

**Helen79** · 10-06-2009, 03:11 PM

I put my fees up in May by 50p an hour, I now charge £4 an hour

If I worked a 10 hour day that would be an increase in £5 a day so I don't think your prices are unreasonable, especially if you include all food.

**Mollymop** · 10-06-2009, 03:17 PM

Gosh don't feel bad that about putting your fees up to £30 a day for a 10 hour day! That equates to £3 an hour which is about standard for most childminders isn't it? £25 is very cheap without the meals included, but it is very very cheap with meals included.

Don't let the parent make you feel guilty!!

I charge £3 per hour and £1.50 per meal. Other childminders near me have increased their fees to £3.25 an hour, some are £3.50. So i will be upping my fees by 0.25p in September.