Start Up Questions

[Suzie_Homemaker]

- I understand the new ratio rules under Bill 10 (or at least I think I do), but does that include my Foster child(ren)? I am open to receiving 1-2 school age Foster children, so they would be here before and after school. Will that affect my ratios, or will they be included as my own children (and not affect my ratios if over the age of 6?)

All children in the household count. Foster children effectively are your children until they move on. Here in PEI, our own children count until they are 12 years old even if at school the whole time.

- There are a lot of "under the table" babysitters in my area (small town), and I want to stay competitive with them, but offer the added benefits of being a business and issuing tax receipts, proper contracts, etc. I am thinking of charging $2 or $3/day more (they charge $25/day, so I would charge $27 or 28/day) in order to cover the taxes I'll have to pay. Does that seem reasonable? Or will I have issues finding families?

Lot of under table carers everywhere. I don't worry about what they are doing since if they breaking one rule, likely to break others like ratios. Charging just a couple dollar more is more than reasonable. I am about $10 more than cash carers.

- Do you usually offer family discounts? My mother only charges half price for additional children in the same family, and is just something she has always done, but I think that will be a big hit to my income if I only get families. What do you do? I was thinking of a smaller discount, but not half price. (maybe $5/day off for fulltimers)

Up to you. I not offer discount. My income isn't great after expenses barely min wage if full. Here it full price for all. If they not want pay full price, they can go someone else.

- Are there any other benefits to registering as a business rather than just using the BIN instead of SIN on receipts? Or should I start as unregistered and then maybe next year register a business name? I am fine with just running it under my personal name.

Unregistered day home not same as unregistered business. Dayhome don't need business reg but you right, without business reg number, you will be expected to provide SIN on receipt. Some do register business so not have to give out SIN.

- Do you HAVE to have a playroom? We live in a one-floor 3bedroom/2bath ranch-style home and do not have the space for a separate play room. We have always used the living room as our play area (and kept the majority of the toys in bedrooms). One day when I can afford it I would like to finish our basement, but right now it is an unfinished cement cold land down there. Is that okay? (I do have a large fenced in backyard that will be used often).

For unregistered home, not need a separate playroom. For registered, it depend on provinces regs. Here we must have sleeping area separate from activities and under 2's separate from older when napping but if unregistered home, not needed. Fenced in yard is only required if registered too but check regs for your province.

- Other than Registering a Business name if you choose to, is there anything else to Register for? Or can you just start issuing tax receipts under your own name without registering anything (and just submit this as income on your taxes)?

Yes - unregistered business day home can just issue receipt under own name and submit as income on taxes but you will be required to give SIN on your receipt.

[Fun&care]

I am in ontario and not registered as a business nor with an agency. I claim my income every year and have never had to hand out my SIN to my clients.

You don't necessarily need a playroom but I think you do need a play area and have age appropriate toys and equipment etc. that is appealing.

I would never give a sibling discount. It's kinda like showing up at the gas station and asking for 1/2 off your tank of gas because, hey, you own two cars. Ummmmm.....no. It isn't any cheaper to care for a sibling and in fact puts you out not one, but TWO spots at once when they leave do it actually makes them higher risk clients.