Is this reasonable?

[heatherw]

Ive had an enquiry from a mum who wants me to have her 6 month old from 12 - 4pm. My normally rate is £3.50 per hour but as its an under 5 space im going to set a minimum daily fee of £20. Does this sound reasonable and does anyone else do a minimum daily fee for part-timers?

[ManicMum]

not thought about that as not had such an enquiry. I see what you mean as eats iinto your after school time. Where I live, it's fairly economically deprived so I have to bear that in mind. Depends how much you need income, how likely you are to get somone else etc. I suppose they may then leave them iin your care til 6pm if you are charging for it so bear that in mind.

sure others will advise too. xx

[The Juggler]

I charge for a mininum of 5 hours care for under 5's so I would say £20 is more than fair.

[rickysmiths]

I would only charge for the hours required.

I have always felt it a little unfair to charge for more. It is your choice wether you have the space or you wait for someone who wants more hours and I think that as childminders we are able to offer flexibility to parents that day Nurseries don't.

[misst104]

Hiya. I have a minimum daily fee which is for 5 hours or under ie. they pay that amount for anything up to and including 5 hours and then after that I have an hourly rate. If the parent isn't happy with that then they can find someone who only charges for the time they want, like rickysmiths does. Not worth taking up a space for less than 5 hours I don't think but i have had parents who really want me to have the child so are happy to pay for 5 hours when only using 3

x jo

[Katiecate]

Hi, if I was to take on a 6m old 4 hours a day I think £20 is more than reasonable. It only works out £5 an hour (plus babies are harder work in theory) & in hindsight is taking up a full time place, even if u got another enquiry the other parent might want 8am-1pm for example so there would be a cross over for an hour to make up a full time place.

[Chatterbox Childcare]

My minimum daily fee is £25 so I think yours is more than generous

[clio0602]

I have a minimum daily fee of £20 for under 5's

[Daftbat]

I would just charge for the hours used but it depends on your own circumstances.

[gegele]

£20 mean that you're actually charging £5 an hour!

i as a mother wouldn't be happy with this unless you had my child for a whole session do you know what i mean.
if you want to charge per session then do so but advertise yourself as so.: under 5 £20 a session : session between 12 and 5 or whatever you do.

advertising £3.50 an hour then offering a £5 hour is not really fair no.

[PixiePetal]

I am £4.50/hr minimum of 5 hours (or pay the £22.50 if they only need 4 hrs for example - like misst104 says)

[Allie]

I feel a bit mean seeing what everyone else does, but I have always charged for a minimum of eight hours and have in the past had no problem getting parents to agree to this. Don't know how it would go down in a recession though


Allie

[clairelou]

i think i am seriously undercharging!!! i charge £3 hour whether it be 1 hour or 10!!