Fee increase

[Joannechildmind]

Hi to everyone im new!!

Ok i have been childminding 2 yrs and care for a child who i have had 2 yrs, the parent works full time i care for the child for 11 hours a day. The parent used to work less hours but has slowly crept up, she got a job in london which she says was only temp until she found something else. 2yrs on she is still there- I know she pays @80 per week train and £20 per week bus.

Anyway the parent drop her off at 7.10am and collects her at 6.15pm if trains are running ok (also the parent also visits a supermarket via her way home)
She pays £21 per day thats including breakfast and lunch. I know it is alot less than other childminders and its only when i sat and worked it out that i realised. I used to charge £3.00 per hour when she first started 2 yrs ago and she has been a pain to pay sometimes late sometimes excuses, lately she has been ok be it a few days late sometimes, £290 of the money is paid by Accor which the dad pays through work i think. The parent pays the rest when her money goes in.
I feel like i being taken for a ride.I want to increase the fee but how can i implement this?
Any advice?

[Bushpig]

That does sound really low to me. Does she have a contract renewal coming up soon? Otherwise maybe implement a fee increase in the New Year (Jan)?

[Joannechildmind]

Yes renewal end of the month

[angeldelight]

Hello and welcome

Dont forget to say hello in the " hello " section so we know who we are chatting to

I would also renew contract .......

With regards to fee increase think I would give out letters to all parents soon saying that my fees are going up in the new year - from Jan 1st 2009
The cost of food alone has gone up so much - plus heating bills etc so maybe you could mention this that your prices are going up to match inflation

I would also say that from the 1st Jan you are changing your policy with regards to fees and that they must be paid in advance on a Monday morning - failing to do so the parent must pay a late fee of £5 a day for every day after that they are late

This way you will be giving them enough notice to sort themselves out and at the same time Jan will soon be here so you wont have long to wait

Good luck

Angel xx

[yummymummy]

£21 for 11 hours is less than £2 an hour! You really deserve an increase, I would send out a fee increase letter as soon as possible with increase amount and date applicable from. You can also say that you have not increased for two years and due to increased costs etc etc you need to increase your fees to cover extra costs.
As they have had it so good for so long they probably won't like it but you are running a business and you need to make a profit!
Be brave and go for it! good luck

[Paula J]

Give her warning now that due to every increasing costs of living you are going to have to raise your fees give her the new hourly rate she has planty of time to come and talk to you before you re-new her contract lets be right if she has a full time job in London and dad obviousley works full time too they are on a good wage and you should be paid fairly for what you do and I dont think £1.90 and hour including meals is fair Paula

[Joannechildmind]

the other child i care for part time i charge £3.00 per hour. So it only applies to this one child. Do you think it would be ok if as contract is up for renew to as of next month charge an extra 30 p per hour that would be £2.20 per hour then after christmas put it up another 20p per hour?

What do others do if caring for a child for 11 hours a day do u offer a reduction?

[yummymummy]

I think I would put my full increase in force from new contract. It really depends on how much you need this work. I do not offer any discounts because in my experience parents talk to each other, many of my children go to same church etc and if everyone pays the same rate there are no problems.
If anything as you do such unsociable hours many childminders would charge an enhanced rate rather than give a discount.

[Joannechildmind]

yes i really do need the money, and im not sure if i did it in one go the parents would be able to pay it. I suppose i need to talk to the parents.

Thanks for the advice

[Heaven Scent]

Why has she not been paying you more and more as her hours increased as she is paying you hourly????

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Review your contract and hike up the rate to £3.00+ per hour. Do it from 8am - 6pm and anything outside these hours bill at £4.50 per hour and she should come back quicker.

[Chatterbox Childcare]

and... put a late fee in the contract and charge it

[Joannechildmind]

She pays me daily £21 not for much longer though tonight i have put a letter in her bag telling her as of begining of October fees have increase to £2.30 with a view to increase them further in January i can then increase them to £2.50 by then. Its a start though isnt it?
I will let you know how i get on.

Thanks for all your help.

i didnt put it as bluntly as that tho lol

[Chatterbox Childcare]

Hope all goes well. I cannot see her leaving...

[Joannechildmind]

thankyou i am hoping i can gradually get it up to £3.00 per hour. other childminders in my area charge between £3.50 and £5.00 per hour

[Pipsqueak]

My goodness - I think you have been very generous in not hiking your prices up to at least £3 p hour. I am guessing you are SE area if mum works in London and I thought prices down there were way over the £3 mark.

Fair dos - put your prices up October but I would put them up again to come into line with your area. Give her fair warning.

Don't feel guilty about it - this is your living and you work hard for it too. Think mum must know she has been onto a winner so far!

[breezy]

Dont under value yourself, she wont get cheaper childcare so you wont lose her, if other minders in your area charge £3- £5 per hour you should at least be getting the lower end of that and her train fares arent your problem!

If she works in London she's raking it in.

[Rubybubbles]

sorry but I wouldn't get out bed for that

hope she takes her new fee okay she better, is your rate the local rate? it seems very low

[cloud9]

Im in the surrey area and charge £5 per hour i think you are being way to generous. I would implement the increase at the contract renewal but i would find out what others in your area charge for such hours and match them,

[Chatterbox Childcare]

I agree with the other posts and would put my prices up to match other childminders.