Is it fair to charge a weekly rate for childcare?

I think you are giving them a very fair rate. What you could do is pull some rates yourself, from other childcare providers and give parents a copy of it next time they start to whine. That is just crazy. I had a lady once I only charged 10.00 a week for 5 days of watching her child. These were full days, 8+ hours and do you know SHE complained? I told her I would be more than happy to let her go & find someone cheaper. She dropped it.

Wow, I think you are working way too cheap. Are you licensed? Cause I run a license home daycare and I chare 535.00 a month for one child. I also get reimbursed for meals. I recieve one weeks paid vacation every year and all sick days are also paid for. If the parent does not bring thier child for any reason they still pay cause it is holding a post in my daycare for thier child. You deserve to be appreciated for your hard work. And sometimes parents need to be reminded of this!!! Good luck to you!

Sweety, it is not only fair, I think it is super cheap!! Overhere in the Netherlands parents pay about € 5,- an hour for child day care!!! Excluding food, beverages and daipers and stuff! So 50 dollars, which is about €45,-, equals 9 hours!! Which is pretty normal for one day daycare, because most people work 8 hours a day..

That's quite inexpensive I guess....what's the normal rate? Perhaps you could give those that only come a day or a few days a daily rate of say $15 per day. The choice can be theirs.

Your rates sound great to me! I dn't know why parents would complain, unless they were only briging their child to you one day a week all the time. But then they should be looking for someone that just charges by the hour. If I had been able to find someone that I would trust with my child for $55/week, I would still be working. lol Daycare prices are outrageous here. To take our son to the daycare center on base, it would cost us over $1000 per month, whether he was there 1 hour a week, or 50. There are a few in home daycares that charge $5 or 6 an hour, or do around $200 a week. We found one that would take him PART time (only from 12-5, and only 3 or 4 days per week) for $75 each week. But when we met her, her house was not real clean. It was a little after noon, and she had dishes piled up around her sink from at least two days. The kids were running around screaming, and she wasn't making any real effort to control them, so we decided I would just say home with my son instead. lol Your rates are definitely reasonable.

all the places around here it like 20$ canadian a day. so for 5 days that would be 100 a week. so i think your rate is really resonable.

I think that is more than reasonable.It's hard work to care for children. If you were my babysitter I would pay you a tip if that's all I had to pay. You can barely get two weeks of gas for $55/week.

I think what you charge is very reasonable. But if you are in doubt, ask others in your area what their rates are. I think you will find that they are higher than what you charge.

Most daycares in my area charge $100/ week or more. You pay if your child is there and you also pay if your child is not there. You pay for the spot not the actual care. Have your parents look around at other prices - they'll realize they are getting a bargain.

More then reasonable. I'm going to ask the three parents I will sit for vouchers - they qualify. I'll get 370 or around there for each full time child - two kids and a bit for two older girls who may not be there a full thirty hours. ITs supposed to include a co-pay the parents pay but they may not be able to afford that much. One is a massage therapist though - and couple is beginning a bread making business. So I'm hoping to be paid in other ways! I'm trying to get equipment from freecycle, I'll see if there are any yard sales these days.

I think it's reasonable. 3 days per week at a daily rate is going to be pretty close to that amount, if not more.

Your rates are very reasonable. I used to charge according to income. One paid $20.00 per day while others might have only paid $50.00 or less per week. The more expense one was because I had the kids over 12 hours a day.

Wow. I was doing childcare for one little one for 3 days a week and started out charging $60. I upped it to $75 because to be honest, it was a lot of hours for not much pay. I had her for 10 hours a day! Most licensed care centers or center based (franchised) ones charge much more, more than twice as much for a week.

I think this is a very fair rate. I agree that you should poll area centers and show this to the parents that complain. Also you could break down your charges and show the parents your hourly rate and cheap it really is.

I think $55 a week is an awsome deal. When we were trying to get my son in to a daycare when i was working a full time job, there was one place that wanted $200 a week because he was still in diapers at the time. I dont know anyone who can survive on paying that. I think it sounds like you are doing a good job with charging people. I would pay that...its very reasonable and affordable in my opinion. It is much more around here.

Well i dont think that is to much at all . definatly if you are certified through the state. i dont know what state you live in but i live in north carolina. and i pay cloase to 400 a month for a 5 star daycare...i would so rather pay 55 a week for a wonderful day.

I think you are really giving the parents a good deal atthe price you are charging and they should be grateful to you for that.Your prices sound if anything a bit low and as I say your customers should be very happy with you It sound as if you have a nice set up for the children too. good luck and bestwishes.

WOW! We are charged $50 a day and alwasy get charges whether he goes or not! I think it is fair as long as the parents know when they sign up with you what your policies are.

Wow!! That is really cheap! My babysitter charges $80 per week plus I buy the food for her to make because my daughter loves her cooking. As for the days off, I still have to pay. You need to up your price. I can't believe people actually complain about what you charge. Have they looked around lately!

If anyone tries to say it's not reasonable (the amount you are charging), I find that completely ridiculous! I would have loved to have someone charge me $55 per week to watch my children. Instead it was like $168 the lowest. People are always trying to scam someone. People know the rules of daycare - you pay for the week - if you don't use all days, then that's your bad - you still have to pay. No - your rate is extremely better than fair and if they don't want to use you, I'm sure you'll have no problems finding new customers.