What do you charge when you close early?

I would like to know if I am wrong charging parents their daily rate, if I close early for an appointment?

I am open 7 to 6, mon thru fri. I don't charge late fees and don't charge if you need an earlier morning drop off. I do not charge days that I am off or my vacation. I do not give discounts for early pick ups and I charge half price for any scheduled days off and their vacation time off. I always make appointments away daycare hours, but I couldn't for this one. It's at the hospital, so they give you the time. I will still open, but close at 2 pm. Parents asked me if they still had to pay me full daily price because of the early closure and I said yes. Am I being unfair?

Thanks in advance

I don't change my rate for any reason. I have it set up that they pay the same every two weeks. It doesn't matter if they are away, I am closed or if I close early. Basically they pay a tuition.

I don't feel that you are being unfair. Do you have anything in your contract that states you will give a discount if you close early?

I am like you....pretty much, except...I charge for every day they take off...for WHATEVER reason their child does not come...they pay..including if they go on vacation. if they take 2 weeks vacation....they have to put up 3 weeks at once (current week plus 2 weeks) BEFORE THEY GO ON VACATION, I have helped parents out if they need to come a little early....so YES....I would certainly charge the full day rate in this case (you don't make this a habit obviously)...

If I close at noon, it's half day. If I close after noon, it's full rate. They've had snack, lunch and I've been open more than half my hours

BlueRose....if you don't mind me asking...where in Ontario are you?

The ministry says that a full day rate is for six hours or more of care. Your open 7-2. That's 7hrs. I'd charge full rate. I personally charge full rate after 2pm and half day rate if I close before 2

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Originally Posted by BlueRose

I don't change my rate for any reason. I have it set up that they pay the same every two weeks. It doesn't matter if they are away, I am closed or if I close early. Basically they pay a tuition.

I don't feel that you are being unfair. Do you have anything in your contract that states you will give a discount if you close early?

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I have a sentence in my payment policy that states "no discounts will be given for late drop off and early pick ups. " I think that is covers all points, or do I need to be specific (their could be numerous reasons) .

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Originally Posted by sandylynn

I am like you....pretty much, except...I charge for every day they take off...for WHATEVER reason their child does not come...they pay..including if they go on vacation. if they take 2 weeks vacation....they have to put up 3 weeks at once (current week plus 2 weeks) BEFORE THEY GO ON VACATION, I have helped parents out if they need to come a little early....so YES....I would certainly charge the full day rate in this case (you don't make this a habit obviously)...

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No I don't, in fact I am having this exam because of not going to the doctors for many years. I see now that I am only human and my job shouldn't come before me.

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Originally Posted by sandylynn

BlueRose....if you don't mind me asking...where in Ontario are you?

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I am in the Ottawa area

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Originally Posted by suzydominguez

I have a sentence in my payment policy that states "no discounts will be given for late drop off and early pick ups. " I think that is covers all points, or do I need to be specific (their could be numerous reasons) .

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The way I read it is that if the client is dropping off late or picking up early they don't get a discount. As in they have decided to do this. It would also mean if you close early or open late, put it is left up to interpretation. Anything that is left up to interpretation, if you end up in court over it, you will loss and your client will win. You have to be very clear so there is no misunderstanding.

For now I would show them the contract and state that your contract states........ and see what they say. If they argue then I would give them a small discount. If they don't and are willing to still pay for the full day, then I would just take the money (trust me you have earned it) and fix your contract at renewal time to be on the safe side in the future.

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Originally Posted by BlueRose

The way I read it is that if the client is dropping off late or picking up early they don't get a discount. As in they have decided to do this. It would also mean if you close early or open late, put it is left up to interpretation. Anything that is left up to interpretation, if you end up in court over it, you will loss and your client will win. You have to be very clear so there is no misunderstanding.

For now I would show them the contract and state that your contract states........ and see what they say. If they argue then I would give them a small discount. If they don't and are willing to still pay for the full day, then I would just take the money (trust me you have earned it) and fix your contract at renewal time to be on the safe side in the future.

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Wow ! You are amazing blue rose !! Thank you, you are so right. I will do that and in May when the contract is up, I will re write it, would you be able to help me word it ?

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Originally Posted by suzydominguez

Wow ! You are amazing blue rose !! Thank you, you are so right. I will do that and in May when the contract is up, I will re write it, would you be able to help me word it ?

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check out my site www.homedaycarebusiness.weebly.com It has a copy of an older version of my contract, handbook and forms. If you want you can contact me through the site with any question. Just remind me that we talked on here.

I did not give any families discounts for when I closed early for an appointment that allowed me to still be opened for the best part of the day. But I did feel a little unfair about the fact that I had to close so I gave parents I O U's in daycare services in the amount of time I closed to use for that calendar year. So if I closed an hour or 2 early then they could use it towards an early drop of or late picky up if they ever needed one. They did have to give me a 24 hour notice before. Anyway my parents appreciated it but if I remember correctly only one family ever used an early drop off.

I would charge full rate at that point. You have served am snack and lunch, and run the core part of the programming in the morning. I revised my contract, so that even if I close at the 1/2 day point, I am paid about 75% of my daily rate. After that, the day is paid in full. I found I was bankrupting myself to get to an appointment, which is rediculous, as it is next to impossible to get to any appointments with a 10hr workday. My parents all understood when I revised the contract.
I too, have put my health as a second priority, as I didn't want to inconvenience parents, and now I have several things to deal with health-wise. You are human, and are entitled to do the normal appointments that people do. All of my parents do it before or after work, or on their lunchbreak, obviously we don't get that luxury of time flexibility.
Full rate, all the way!

I can see why there confusion if you charge a day rate and they not getting full day care. I agree that contract has to be clearer and I agree that since you give them your time outside hours without charge, why you think it only fair not to be deducted. I see both sides.

Problem is, your contract not clear that X hours = full day rate so even if closing little early, same rate apply.

I find when I first opened, over time, situation happen where my contract not clear enough to cover and so I amend each time this happen. I think you too should amend contract to say if you need close early, because you not charge for early drop or late pick up, that there expectation for full day fee still. Of course, you will get one family who will always drop early or pick up late once your contract permit this so you have decide if it worth it or if it better to just give slight discount when asked.

I have it in my contract that full days fee is due if I close early for appointments. I let them know that I do my best to get the last appointment of the day so I can be available for the majority of the day versus closing for a half day on them. It has never been an issue.

I would still charge a full day fee in your case...though I would generally do my best not to have to close right in the middle of nap time (I assume you didn't pick this time slot). It's life you do need to take care of yourself and you can only do that by making the occasional appointment during daycare hours. It is a part of choosing home daycare.

Thank you everyone for your advice and support. I was pretty confident that I was in the right of charging full rate, but sometimes when I am questioned I start to doubt myself and think that maybe I am being unfair. I only recently started to treat my daycare more as a business rather than being too nice and bending over just a little too much for clients and in the end feeling like you've been taken for granted. Thank you again.

I closed for a week at xmas and still charged for the days off. If parents are going to make a big deal about 4 hours, then maybe next time you should just take the whole day off. Your health comes first. A lady in my area just recently closed because of health reasons. You are already open 11 hours per day, don't let parents take advantage of you and take care of yourself. Also, if you tell them you have an appointment at the hospital, I'm sure they are not going to demand a discount and be understanding.

I charge $15 if I close at noon. Anything after that is full rate.