ASK for what you're worth!!!

[Not Mommy]

Am currently advertising to fill one space and I am SOOOO frustrated with the number of home daycares in the area seeking to undercut each other by offering ridiculously cheap prices and degrading options to parents.

Home daycares operating in this day in age (regardless of where you are located and I am only referring to full-time, year-round care) should be asking for a MINIMUM of the following:

-atleast $40/day (most areas should be $42-$45), including one lunch and 2 snacks... more food is more money, more than 9-10 hours/day is MORE MONEY... you see where I'm going with this...
-stat holidays PAID!
-some personal days off paid (most should have a week atleast if not more per year)
-some vacation time (you NEED time off, whether you choose to take this paid or unpaid.... you MUST take time off!)
-overtime... if parents are dropping off earlier or picking up later with or without warning... CHARGE THEM!
-additional hours... if clients ask you to open earlier or later for their child, CHARGE THEM EXTRA!

This is my first post on this forum and I have read MANY posts as to how devalued people feel doing this... hold your heads high ladies... THIS IS A TOUGH JOB. The only way we will gain more respect is to DEMAND it. For those of us going above and beyond for our job we should be acknowledged for it. When asked what I do I will proudly state "I have a home daycare!". This is not something to be ashamed of as if we are some kind of failure at "real life" or as if we couldn't get a "real job".

And to the daycare providers in my area letting parents get away with paying $30/day AND not taking any kind of vacay pay AND letting parents get away with non-payment or not paying for days their child should have attended... shame on you! Yup, I said it... you're bringing us all down (and likely you'll be closed in 3 months anyway when you realize how tough this job is). I realize this is a competitive market but by undervaluing yourselves you are undervaluing ALLL of us.

Ladies (and gentleman if you are out there!) ASK FOR WHAT YOU ARE WORTH!!

[jammiesandtea]

VERY WELL SAID! Welcome to the forum! I like you already.

[Judy Trickett]

Well, you're preaching to the choir, here, with me reading your post. Lord knows I have said your exact words a thousand times over.

My question to providers is always: Why do you feel you are not worthy of being respected and paid fairly? Why do you feel that your dcparents are more worthy of keeping their money than pay you what you are owed and earned? What is it inside of YOU that devalues who you are and what you do?

Every provider needs to take a moment and reflect on those questions. WE teach people how to treat us. WE teach people what our value is.

You can not sell what you do not own.

If YOU don't value yourself or see your worth than how is anyone else supposed to?

[FunnyFarm]

Amen!!!!! You reflect my feelings exactly today! I am in the midst of finding new kids for all of my spots (life happens) and it is not, I repeat NOT, easy! Thankyou for sharing your thoughts. I am encountering the same thing! Thanks again!

[momofnerds]

but you have to remember where you live. No one in my city that is a home daycare provider charges 40 dollars or more. The most people charge is 35 dollars and thats only a few. So really I'm not disgracing myself, I'm proud for what I do and I charge accordingly.

[playfelt]

Just as everyone starts out with a basic salary at work they earn promotions and bonus incentives for performance or taking additional training courses etc. and the same is true in daycare. Yes those starting out do not feel they are on the same level playing field as those that have been in the business for many years and the truth is they are not. Don't care what experience you bring o to the table home daycare is not the same as any other job out there. You start, you learn, you train and you move up the ladder like everyone else in every other job.

As to the perks you offer yourself well that is the privilege of being self employed.

You also have to be very careful. What you have just proposed is against the law. No group can conspire to fix the price in the marketplace - ie decide to all charge a certain rate with the same perks.

[jammiesandtea]

but you have to remember where you live. No one in my city that is a home daycare provider charges 40 dollars or more. The most people charge is 35 dollars and thats only a few. So really I'm not disgracing myself, I'm proud for what I do and I charge accordingly.

Edited to remove evidence of my own lack of knowledge about the subject I was discussing! lol

[jammiesandtea]

Just as everyone starts out with a basic salary at work they earn promotions and bonus incentives for performance or taking additional training courses etc. and the same is true in daycare. Yes those starting out do not feel they are on the same level playing field as those that have been in the business for many years and the truth is they are not. Don't care what experience you bring o to the table home daycare is not the same as any other job out there. You start, you learn, you train and you move up the ladder like everyone else in every other job.

As to the perks you offer yourself well that is the privilege of being self employed.

You also have to be very careful. What you have just proposed is against the law. No group can conspire to fix the price in the marketplace - ie decide to all charge a certain rate with the same perks.

I do not know this for sure, and I may end up being educated on this issue before this day is out, but I do not think the price-fixing laws apply to every type of business or service. I think it's only for the gas companies and bigger industries like that. If I am wrong and someone can show me proof of that, I will change my tune and admit to being incorrect.

Later edited to add: A quick search indicates you were correct, playfelt, and I was wrong. Apparently price-fixing is a big legal no-no not just in big industries like gas companies but in any type of business. So therefore, I am NOT publicly recommending y'all do that! lol

[playfelt]

We were warned - years ago now so not sure changes - about discussing prices at provider meetings because it could be construed as attempting to fix the price.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Price_fixing

[apples and bananas]

My area has not yet creeped up to the $40.00 mark yet.

Price Fixing aside...

I don't think every provider is worth the same. I am not an ECE. I believe that the provider down the street has every right to charge more then I am as they are ECE trained.

I do not take the kids off site or include entrance fees to indoor playgrounds etc., so I don't feel that I can fairly charge the same rate as the lady across the street that does.

I think, like in every business, there are advantages and disadvantages to each and every person/product. You pay for what you get.

I understand your frustration in other providers making your fee's seem expensive. I think if we find a way to promote what we do, rather then how much we charge, we will attract the kind of clients that we want. And not just clients that are looking for a cheaper price.