Retainer & Fees

[Lily1971]

Hi

I'm looking for a bit of advice from you lovely ladies out there!

I have been asked to provide 3.5 days care per week to an 8 month old. The half day is always on a Friday 3.00pm-6.30pm but the other three days change each week although the times would be 7.00am-6.30pm.

I would normally work from 8.00am-5.30pm so I was wondering whether it would be acceptable to charge an extra £2.50 per 15 minutes for 'unsociable' hours ie. before 8.00am and after 5.30pm?

Also, I need to work a full week but as the 3 days would change on a weekly basis, I wouldn't be able to fill the other day I don't look after her child. Therefore, I was wondering whether I could charge the 3.5 days plus a 'retainer' fee for 1 day as I am available to her Monday-Friday? I presume a nursery would charge her for 4 days plus an afternoon session for the Friday afternoon?

It's so hard to know what to charge and I don't want to take the mick but I can't afford not to earn a full week as I can't offer the days to another child!

Many thanks
Lily

[The Juggler]

i just have a higher hourly rate for before 0800 and after 1800. therefore instead of 4.50 i charge 5.00/hour. So only 50p more/hour. Probably not enough really :rolleyes:

However, £2.50 per 15 mins sounds steep as for 0700 to 0800 that is £10/hour on top of your normal hourly fee.

What about charging double time before 0700 (if you are really trying to put them off the early start. So if your normal fee is £4.00 charge £8.00 and the same for 5.30-6.30.

[rickysmiths]

I don't charge any extra before 8am or after 5.30pm I charge my hourly rate for whatever Contracted hours I agree to do. I do charge 50p an hour more for 0-20hours.

If they as for hours oustide the Contracted hours then the rate is time and a half.

For this flexibility I would probably expect to be paid for the whole extra day as it couldn't be used for anyone else.