Teacher fees

[littlefish]

Hi everyone, I need your advice on fees for teachers, I have a potential client and we are in the early stage of communicating she wants to know my fees, I had teachers clients before but I feel that when it comes to July, August I don't have an income. What should I do? is a full time, any advice is much appreciated thanks.

[Busy ECE mommy]

Many providers have different ways of dealing with this. I'm assuming you don't do exclusively teachers? You could charge them a higher daily rate, and then they don't pay for Xmas/March Break/summer, and take a 2 week deposit in june, for september. You could charge them the higher daily rate and make them pay for Xmas and march break, but not summer, but take a 2 week deposit for september before the end of june. You could say they have to come part-time at least 3 days a week during the summer months, or pay 1/2 the FT fees for July/Aug to hold it open, but not use the spot. You might request them to be FT only. Not sure what your contract says. The variations are endless... What is the norm in your area? Ask a few other providers. Most teachers are very well paid, so it irritates me when they want special favours at my financial expense. I have 2 teachers in my care, and one came PT in the summer(3 days), and one kept their child in FT. They both paid full fees for all of the school breaks.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I charge year round. I not base my fees on client profession. A place is a place. They can come in Summer because they be paying. Teacher get paid year round. All client charged based on day reserved not day attended. Just because teacher get more time off than most, that not mean they should be bill free in Summer. If they go on vacation for month, they still have pay mortgage. If they not need use their daycare place, they still pay for it. I have 2 teachers too. One child comes daily all summer, other child come some days and parent tell me on Sunday when their son be here for next week.

Some provider here target teacher child because they close for summer. They not charge because they closed and want summer with own family.

Some provider here charge 50% retainer to hold place for next September because they want reduced numbers as own children count so they need lower daycare children when own children home from school.

Most who assign a place for teacher child, charge 100%. If teacher not want pay, they can go somewhere else.

[babydom]

I charge yr. round. I can't afford a lower income for two mths especially when I can fill with a non teachers kid

[BlueRose]

I give them 3 different payment options.
1) pay a higher rate between Sept and April (college/university)
2) pay higher rate between Sept and June (elem. or high school)
3) pay my regular rate year round.

they end up paying me the same amount no matter which option the choose. I put X amount aside from option 1 & 2 payments to cover over the summer. they still pay for March break and christmas. I basically have a "summer holding fee" build into their tuition. The holding fee is non refundable and ONLY goes towards holding the spot. if they want care over the summer they have to either pay $10/day scheduled or pay option 3 and pay all year round.

[mickyc]

I have a teacher. I charge for all holidays but for summer. I have an older sibling that I take for summer. The teacher knows that in the event I cannot fill the spot for July and August that they must pay it.

[5 Little Monkeys]

A space is a space. If they don't want to pay for summer that's up to them....but they terminate their spot than and risk not having one available come September.

I used to try hard to find a summer only child for teachers but now I don't. I'll post the opening but I don't look hardcore. They are welcome to find someone though, so long as it's a good fit for me too!

[littlefish]

Thank you so much for all the great advices, now I have to decided which one I'll put in place,
but all of them gave me a lot of help on how to organize the fees specially for teachers. :)

[littlefish]

hi again, I have a difficult issue with parents fee this client is making me explain my fees and for some reason I think she isn't believing my rate which I'm charging her more due to the two months and because she is a teacher but now I think she is trying to find out from other parents my actual fee what can say now!

[babydom]

What ur fees for other parents is not her business.

U say this is your fee. Xx$ Per day. It's a few dollars more then my normal daily fee to compensate for the two Summer mths that you will be off and I will be without pay.

Period. Move on if she is being to difficult! :)

[Lee-Bee]

hi again, I have a difficult issue with parents fee this client is making me explain my fees and for some reason I think she isn't believing my rate which I'm charging her more due to the two months and because she is a teacher but now I think she is trying to find out from other parents my actual fee what can say now!

It is not uncommon for different families to pay different rates within one home daycare. A common strategy is for caregivers to raise their rates for new incoming families but keep their current families at the rate listed in their contract.

Regardless, if you are choosing to charge them more for their days with you then you need to strongly and firmly stand behind this decision. Have a few straightforward reasons for your decision and should they question you, answer them in a confident, non-confrontational manner and don't get emotional about it. It is what it is, it is your business. If they are the type to start asking other families what they are paying and then confronting you and trying to make you change your rate for them then they need to be shown the door. You are in charge, you are running this business they do not get to challenge you. BUT, they DO deserve to have all the information. If they question your rate then they need to be given the breakdown of why their rate is what it is. Then they decide to stay or go.

[torontokids]

I don't understand what her issue is. You told her the fee and she was agreeable to it, it shouldn't matter what others are paying.

[littlefish]

Thank you again, I don't understand either I think in this case is that she is looking for a special cheaper daily rate she loved my place and she she said it she was happy to found me so in this case money shouldn't matter in just an extra bucks still a good deal compare to centers, I hope I hear from her today or then I have to move on this is stressing me out!
Thanks

[Van]

I had 2 teachers and it can be a headache when it comes to their summer off -one took the summer off without paying and came back in Sept as I did not fill the spot which suited me to have fewer kids in the summer and the other paid for part-time in the summer

but this client is being difficult before she starts .........move on to next one

[littlefish]

I have one family who just started on September and by searching the job, I found out the mom works in a school setting so not sure if she is a teacher, she never mention it and I didn't bother asking, anyway I gave her the regular fee rate for non teacher, so next year on July and August what should I do, it always confuse me regarding teachers. What should I charge for July and August 2017 if she stays until then. thank you for your input and I don't have specific policy for teachers on my agreement.

[bright sparks]

I have one family who just started on September and by searching the job, I found out the mom works in a school setting so not sure if she is a teacher, she never mention it and I didn't bother asking, anyway I gave her the regular fee rate for non teacher, so next year on July and August what should I do, it always confuse me regarding teachers. What should I charge for July and August 2017 if she stays until then. thank you for your input and I don't have specific policy for teachers on my agreement.

Can you clarify to us what your "regular teacher rate" is versus just your "regular rate"? Not just the fact that there may be a difference in fee, but the theory behind charging teachers and non-teacher a different rate. I'm just trying to understand where you are coming from so I can answer your question more accurately. Thanks

[Van]

I have one family who just started on September and by searching the job, I found out the mom works in a school setting so not sure if she is a teacher, she never mention it and I didn't bother asking, anyway I gave her the regular fee rate for non teacher, so next year on July and August what should I do, it always confuse me regarding teachers. What should I charge for July and August 2017 if she stays until then. thank you for your input and I don't have specific policy for teachers on my agreement.

For now be happy you have filled the spot and don;t worry about next summer yet as she may be happy to keep the child in daycare for next summer but you could also talk to her about it in April 2017 so you know where you stand and still have time to find a new client if needed.

[5 Little Monkeys]

I have one family who just started on September and by searching the job, I found out the mom works in a school setting so not sure if she is a teacher, she never mention it and I didn't bother asking, anyway I gave her the regular fee rate for non teacher, so next year on July and August what should I do, it always confuse me regarding teachers. What should I charge for July and August 2017 if she stays until then. thank you for your input and I don't have specific policy for teachers on my agreement.

I only have one fee. It doesn't matter to me if you're a teacher, Doctor, waitress or superman....only one fee. I charge for the space and if they don't want to use it in the summer (or whenever) that's fine but they will still need to pay to secure their spot.

I'm not sure if it's like this everywhere (but I assume so) but teachers get paid 12 months just like everyone else. They may get paid 10 months out of the year but it's still the salary for 12. It's up to them to budget for summer.

[mickyc]

Yes I only have 1 rate too regardless of their occupation. If they don't need care for summer and I can fill the spot with another child in care's sibling then I will and they don't pay but if not they pay for the spot all summer.

I currently have a EA parent. Her child is away on any school closure days but still pays for them. I have an older sibling of a different child that comes those days and they pay for those days so I get double pay on those days. During summer the EA gets July/Aug with no fees as the older sibling attends. Both families understand that if the situation changes that I can no longer offer this deal. They are both families I have had for 4 years.

[littlefish]

Thank you for your inputs, I like the ideas, I'll stick to that I'll charge all year long, no matter the occupation.

[littlefish]

Can you clarify to us what your "regular teacher rate" is versus just your "regular rate"? Not just the fact that there may be a difference in fee, but the theory behind charging teachers and non-teacher a different rate. I'm just trying to understand where you are coming from so I can answer your question more accurately. Thanks

my regular rate is $ 38.00 a day vs. teachers fees $43.00 I have this in place with only one family the other one has it regular rate because she didn't mention she's a teacher. Thanks