Overtime charges.

[DCMom]

Hi,
I am in the process of starting a new home daycare and am wondering what you'd recommend for overtime charges to put in a contract. I am charging my area average of $40/day (full-time weekly rate of $200) and have hours of 7-5 with 9-hour days (8-5, 7-4). I want something that is high enough to deter parents from late pickups, but not too late as to scare people off?
Thanks, Ariel

[Momof4]

My maximum day for the regular rate is 9 hours with an early fee of $5/half hour before my opening time of 7:30am and a late fee of $5/half hour after 5 pm and $5/half hour over 9 hours. Hope that helps. Even if they are only 5 minutes late they have to pay the $5.

[Starshine]

My late fee is $5 for each 15 minutes, per child.

[Play and Learn]

Grace period of 5 minutes, then $1/minute up to 20 minutes. After the first 20 minutes it then becomes $5/minute.

IF they contact me early enough to say they're running late (ie snow storm, and there's an accident on the highway), I'll give them a 10-15 minute grace period, and then after the 10-15 min, it becomes $1/minute for 10 minutes, then $5/minute afterwards.

Then....if they become to abuse it, they get a strike (I have a 3-strikes you're gone policy). It's a great way to regulate the system.

Good luck!

[kidlove]

I charge a 10$ late fee for anything after close. however, for anything over 9 hours (parents who work 10-12 hour shifts) I charge 2.75 per hour. (dont forget, I am U.S. our exchange I'm sure is different)

[kidlove]

like you 3 strikes your gone policy, I should try that.....I tend to get abused, then never know when to draw the line. i let them get away with so much i get to a point of....would be totally out of left field (no pun intended:)) to let them go now after letting them abuse me for so long. By the 3rd strike you dont even have to explain, just let them know its their 3rd offense. :)