Can ECE's charge more?

[5 Little Monkeys]

I think the more experience and schooling you have that directly applies to Childcare the more you will be able to charge. Now maybe not $5+ more but I think $2-$5/day more is reasonable and justified.

I also left centre care due to issues I had with the way they operated and I started at $2-$5 more than the average hdc in my area. I've since increased it another $2 and I'm noticing more and more hdc's are charging my old rate and a handful are even charging more than me now so I think it benefited us all. Daycare fee's are one service that very very rarely increase but when a hdc increases it usually prompts others in the area to as well which I view as a good thing.

Don't overprice yourself though, stay within a reasonable amount and you will do fine! Good luck

[playfelt]

As to your other questions - school age care is one of the hardest groups to get extra money out of the parents as they don't want to pay more than the school programs. Also kids who have been in school all day and especially one that struggled all day is not going to want to sit down and do more work - they need to eat a snack and move their muscles. If you are asking about being licensed going to assume you don't live in Ontario since a home daycare can not be licensed in Ontario so on that you would have to check with your province/city to find out what the rules are about the ages and number of children you can have in care.