Daily Rates for Long/Short Days

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I would charge more than normal hourly equivalent for extended hour if I was going to do it. During business hour, I have all children paying that rate so I not earning "fees divide by hour open" but "fees divide by hour open times all children". That would by my hourly rate.

My fees = $38 day. My hours = 7.30am to 4.30pm which 9 hours. We allowed 7 children but take 6. My hourly rate would be $4.22 each child so $25 an hour.

I have two come at 7am and parent each pay extra $10 a day to drop 30 min early. Their contact say care available 7am to 4.30pm for $48 day. This make clear that fee is extra even if not here as rate was given for having two children both come early.

[Frogsandrabbits]

Thanks for all the input. More and more I get told to stay within my set policies and not stray. I understand why, simply because one thing leads to another. This inquiry for daycare would be for 8-9 days a month and some days would start 630am and others 8ish-am. My new policy as of sept 1 is 3day minimum because of our governments new childcare bill coming into effect aug 31. I am trying to fill spots but am having a bit of trouble because all my kids are part time and I fear that I will have a conflict with the total of kids per day let alone the under two year olds. I don't want a parent to lose out because I get over booked. So taking this client could potentially cause me more issue than just the early arrival. And that the child is under two.
I appreciate everyone's input!!

[Lee-Bee]

Sounds like it might not be a good fit. The early hours is one thing, but the erratic schedule and the child being under 2 makes it not a good match.

In my opinion with the new bill any one under age 2 needs to be full time. Otherwise long run you'll end up with empty spaces. The over 2 spaces will be harder to fill so you can be more flexible with part time or different hours but those under 2 spots should be saved for full time clients.