Opening in a new Province

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I understand - and I not saying you should change your way. I just saying that it will be harder to establish daycare because of the historic mindset of islander and explain why.

I agree it not overboard ask for deposit - I do - but if no one agree or willing to pay it, it not matter if you and I think it reasonable requirement, if your community not in agreement, it not going to happen, until you have proven reputation, especial if you only one with deposit it in your area. This why I suggest it key to know what your competition doing. When you know what others do and charge, it easier to explain why your fee different because you know what in your service is different. But you have to explain it in way not to belittle lower fee provider and their service because chance are, they have connection to other person and not like implication of friend or family providing lower service.

I agree it not far to compare the casual $20 day people to others but again, it not matter what you and I think, if your community has 20 people charging $20 day and that's what the market value is seemed to be. It take time to educate people about differences and even then, some not really care. That their choice as the parent.

I charge $35 a day. I charge based on day registered not attend. I charge deposit that go toward last week of care. I charge 10 personal day each year. I charge for all stat and public holiday and closed. I not take short term client and I do much what you want do. I take 5 client children. I have private daycare page for document, photo, activity plan, and I have public page for general public too.

But my point is this not happen overnight. Whether or not I like it, people want know me, people want proven track record, some people would never pay my fee.

I just trying explain to you what challenges might be - I not saying you wrong want to do things way you want do them. Since you have wide network of young parent, lived here before and know what island life is like, offer more than centres - then you have to assess why you finding hard to fill places - and that might mean either some bending toward parent expectation. My husband would say - Do you want to be right or do you want vacancy fill? It fine to have standard, policies, boundaries, expectation, but if your business model is such you have no customer, maybe time to see if you are fitting your market. That all I mean.

[Lee-Bee]

I think Suzie is right. What is your goal here.

Are you looking to be full or are you looking to stand by the policies you have in your last province? If you want to fill up quickly then you will need to adapt to the local ways. It doesn't how right you are in requesting a deposit if this is not the norm for your new area then you will struggle to find families willing to pay a deposit. If your local area is all accustomed to easy, unhealthy food then most likely won't pay extra for healthier meals. Some will, but it will mean long time to fill up.

So, do you NEED to be full NOW? If so, adjust your ways...build that reputation of being a home daycare parents trust then make the changes you want to get back to how you ran in your old province.

It is MUCH easier to justify to parents that you want a deposit if you have been full and are filling a future spot then if you are new and empty.

It sucks...but it is the reality of your new area.
If you do not need to be full right away then just wait it out.

[islander]

I am not asking for a deposit from every family, as stated I only enforced it for the family who wants to hold a spot for a year.

As stated in my comments, the policies I am referring to are boundaries and not adding people to my personal Facebook, which again isn't a rule that needs to be bent.

I am not charging more because I provide healthy meals, I was stating what I was providing for care. I charge $30/day, which is five dollars cheaper than a centre for under two.

My opinion of full is three children, I do not go to the mass,. So I am looking to be full for me, not for the provincial ratio.

Just to add, I haven't made mention of a deposit to any of the parents in PEI except this lady and I've lowered my price by $20/day to be competitive in this area. I have no idea what other providers charge in this area, other than the ones that advertise. These people are not comparable to me because they're looking at making a few extra bucks and not proving group childcare. That's what I was trying to get across.

[islander]

I understand - and I not saying you should change your way. I just saying that it will be harder to establish daycare because of the historic mindset of islander and explain why.

I agree it not overboard ask for deposit - I do - but if no one agree or willing to pay it, it not matter if you and I think it reasonable requirement, if your community not in agreement, it not going to happen, until you have proven reputation, especial if you only one with deposit it in your area. This why I suggest it key to know what your competition doing. When you know what others do and charge, it easier to explain why your fee different because you know what in your service is different. But you have to explain it in way not to belittle lower fee provider and their service because chance are, they have connection to other person and not like implication of friend or family providing lower service.

I agree it not far to compare the casual $20 day people to others but again, it not matter what you and I think, if your community has 20 people charging $20 day and that's what the market value is seemed to be. It take time to educate people about differences and even then, some not really care. That their choice as the parent.

I charge $35 a day. I charge based on day registered not attend. I charge deposit that go toward last week of care. I charge 10 personal day each year. I charge for all stat and public holiday and closed. I not take short term client and I do much what you want do. I take 5 client children. I have private daycare page for document, photo, activity plan, and I have public page for general public too.

But my point is this not happen overnight. Whether or not I like it, people want know me, people want proven track record, some people would never pay my fee.

I just trying explain to you what challenges might be - I not saying you wrong want to do things way you want do them. Since you have wide network of young parent, lived here before and know what island life is like, offer more than centres - then you have to assess why you finding hard to fill places - and that might mean either some bending toward parent expectation. My husband would say - Do you want to be right or do you want vacancy fill? It fine to have standard, policies, boundaries, expectation, but if your business model is such you have no customer, maybe time to see if you are fitting your market. That all I mean.

Thank you, Suzie!

I appreciate all of your feedback and completely agree
I think I am a bit defensive, because in my personal experience there has been a lack of professionalism and boundaries here. The excuse is always "they're islanders and it's laid back". Don't get me wrong, I love it here and have amazing friends from the island, but I also feel that's a blunt statement for the island.

I really do want to increase my enrollement, but I guess what I was trying to say, I will not sacrifice quality, boundaries or substantial income to be competitive. I know my name has been passed around a few times for care, but to part-timers.
I will have to wait and ride it out

Do you mind me asking what part of the island your in?

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Thank you, Suzie!

I appreciate all of your feedback and completely agree
I think I am a bit defensive, because in my personal experience there has been a lack of professionalism and boundaries here. The excuse is always "they're islanders and it's laid back". Don't get me wrong, I love it here and have amazing friends from the island, but I also feel that's a blunt statement for the island.

I really do want to increase my enrollement, but I guess what I was trying to say, I will not sacrifice quality, boundaries or substantial income to be competitive. I know my name has been passed around a few times for care, but to part-timers.
I will have to wait and ride it out

Do you mind me asking what part of the island your in?

There will always be lack of boundaries in smaller communities but don't confuse lack of formal process as always being lack of professionalism. It not that people islanders and laid back is blunt statement - it reality that we rely on each other so friendship extended to all and for non business owners it can seem overly formal having paperwork trail for our friends and neighbors. It very blurred line so easy for people confuse formal process as offhandness.

I am in Kings county.