Home Daycare Rates/Provider

[Malibustyle23]

I have been mulling over the idea of opening up a home daycare for over awhile now. I think what's holding me back is feeling like a prisoner so to speak in my own house. Not being able to volunteer at DS6 school or do outings during the day, etc. Although I am already home with DD1 most of the time anyways. I am getting closer to throwing my towel in and going for it. I always wanted to be a teacher but now turning 30 next month and with two little ones at home and no college degree that dream is slowly vanishing so I need to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up.

If you are a home daycare provider any tips, regrets, thoughts, etc, etc you could offer? How did you get started and where did you go to get liscensed through? I know it varies by region but what do you charge per
child?

Also in the meantime (of me getting certified) my stepfathers niece has asked how much I would charge to watch her infant during the week. Can anyone suggest what would be a good amount to charge as an unliscensed provider in Maryland. She would be the only one in my care and would start at 6-8 weeks old.

Thanks for any help.

 

[mistysue]

Get out your phone book and start calling places. I can move 10 miles away and the rates change dramatically, so you need to find out what places are charging right where you are.
Also ask their hours and if they include meals or snacks so you are competitive and offering similar services.

 

[left210]

I am in Southern Indiana and pay $25 per day or $110 per week for in home daycare.

 

[bootleg89]

I am in Southern Indiana and pay $25 per day or $110 per week for in home daycare.

WOW! I live in northern IL and the going rate is $40 per day for home care. I called several home daycares and they all charged about the same. With 1 child full time and 1 before and after school care, I decided to stay home myself.

OP, I agree with PP, call around your local home daycares and see what the going rate is and what is included. Sometimes charging $10 less a week then every one else will attract more customers.

 

[disny_luvr]

I live in southcentral PA, right outside of Hershey, and I pay $27.50 per day for each child. My children only go to her three days a week so I pay $165 for the week. Their provider feeds them breakfast, but I supply the food, and then she supplies their lunch and two snacks a day. She also does crafts with them each day, does circle time, story time, etc. I think she is really reasonably priced for the area. HTH.

 

[ccgirl]

Man...I need to move! I pay $45 a day for a 2 year old and that is to my mother!!!! It would be $45 a day if I brought him to a center. She also watches other kids out of my house as well. Infants are $50 a day around here. I do get mad because my mom/daycare provider will make a hair appt during the day and be gone for 2 hours and pay a high schooler to watch the kids. I did say something but she said it was the only time she could go. Umm...no...what about the weekends when I have to go. I can't just take 2 hours out of my day.

If you decide to do it; I would be up front about how many days of vacation you get, how many days sick, holidays etc. None of this was worked out prior to my mom watching my kids. She just decided to take 2 days of vacation next week and I don't have any vacation time left so have to take it unpaid or find alternate daycare.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

I have been doing home childcare for over 17 years and I love it!! You do not have to be a prisoner to your home - I tell parents upfront that we go on outings and sometimes that include errands (that I can do through a drive through!) I take the kids to the park, library, zoo etc. If the parents do agree with me driving the child around, then we are not a good match and I don't keep the child. From the time my oldest was in kindergarten I have been an active PTA board member. I took the little ones to school when it awards day, field day, etc and they loved it. Other times I would actually get paid to keep other volunteers kids while they were at school volunteering. I basically treat the children like they are my own - if I would take my own kids to do something, then I take the others.
I do run my childcare just like a business. I have a contract that states my hours, the pay, when it is due, late fees, vacation for myself as well as vacation policy for them. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
Ellen

 

[wbn36]

I am a provider 30 minutes south of Boston Ma. The average pay here is $60 per day ($300 per week). Right now I have approx 5 kids per day.

It was a great decision. I had twins and decided to stay home. I started daycare when they were two. Your state will have their own regs that you must abide by.

If you are concerned by having to stay home, this may not be the job for you. Most parents do not want their kids carted around. There is no sponteneity (sp). I have not had a sick day in 6 six years (but have been sick) all your vacations must be planned at least 6 months in advance. People will still want to bring their kids when yours are throwing up.

On the plus side, I nobody has to decide who stays home when someone is sick. I am here when they wake up and right after school. I have made some great money the last several years as well as great tax deductions. And I have been a great provider, besides the parents, I will know your child like nobody else.

Please PM me if you have any specific questions.

Oh Yeah, 3 weeks paid vacation and 13 paid holidays. If my clients children are sick or they go on vacation, they still pay. I can't fill the slot.

 

[deawd]

If you are watching a child other than your own in your home, you have to be licensed in Maryland. If you are watching the child in their home, you don't have to be licensed. You can get more information from MSDE's website. I pay my college-aged sitter $10/hour and nannies make $13-$18/hour. The good licensed child care centers in Anne Arundel County charge over $300/week for infants.

 

[My2BabiesLexis&Dill]

I am a provider 30 minutes south of Boston Ma. The average pay here is $60 per day ($300 per week). Right now I have approx 5 kids per day.

And here I've been complaining about paying 300.00 every 2 weeks for my 2 (ages 8,7) kids this summer. She provides breakfast, lunch and one snack. I drop them off at 7:45am and pick them up at 5:30.

When they are in school, she charges me 75.00 a week for both kids.

 

[ccgirl]

I am a provider 30 minutes south of Boston Ma. The average pay here is $60 per day ($300 per week). Right now I have approx 5 kids per day.

It was a great decision. I had twins and decided to stay home. I started daycare when they were two. Your state will have their own regs that you must abide by.

If you are concerned by having to stay home, this may not be the job for you. Most parents do not want their kids carted around. There is no sponteneity (sp). I have not had a sick day in 6 six years (but have been sick) all your vacations must be planned at least 6 months in advance. People will still want to bring their kids when yours are throwing up.

On the plus side, I nobody has to decide who stays home when someone is sick. I am here when they wake up and right after school. I have made some great money the last several years as well as great tax deductions. And I have been a great provider, besides the parents, I will know your child like nobody else.

Please PM me if you have any specific questions.

Oh Yeah, 3 weeks paid vacation and 13 paid holidays. If my clients children are sick or they go on vacation, they still pay. I can't fill the slot.

Man...I'm thinking I should have looked into home daycare. I could have made more money and had a lot more time off. Out of curiosity; are you certified?

 

[BabyTigger99]

I have a 6 month old, and I pay my sitter $25 a day, and she is very flexible (my mom is going part time at work, so at the beginning of the week, I let my sitter know what days my son will be there each week). I provide his formula and baby food, but when he starts on regular food, she will provide breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

 

[reagan75]

I pay $50 for 4 days a week (7:50 am-12:15 pm) for my 4 yo and that includes breakfast & lunch.

 

[mommy23kids]

I am an in home daycare provider in Arkansas. I wish I could charge what some of you are having to pay. LOL. I just recently raised my rates for new families starting with me from $15 to $20 a day. I do give discounts for multiple children. etc. $18 is the average for the town I live in. A town 20 miles from here the avg. is more like $30 a day. It varies from town to town.
I charge if the kids are scheduled to be here and not for the days I take off.

I currently watch 7 different kids but 5 are part-time. I don't watch anymore than 5 on any given day which is the most I can watch without being licensed here in Arkansas. Its a good number for me. I only keep one infant at a time.

I do dislikes the fact that I can't just come and go when I please and I sometimes miss field trips etc. But I let the parents know up front that I will take off some days off through out the year to attend school functions for the kids. DH sometimes takes off and watches the kids if I need to help with a class party etc. It can be difficult to schedule drs appointments for myself and the kids sometimes especially when it is short notice.

I watch mostly teachers kids and am usually finished by 4pm which is really nice because it still allows me to get my 3 kids to their after school activities. All in all though it was a good decision for me and I really enjoy it.

 

[justintime]

Wow. I am surprised at how much some pay for in home care. Due to varying reasons, I prefer a state licensed day care center, and that is $31 a day near me (up to 9 hours per day with snacks included). I would think that an in home provider would be cheaper than that since there isn't the rent involved like with a daycare center. I guess it just depends on the area.

 

[bettymae1121]

I'm in the NW Chicago burbs and my friends pay $35 per day per child, but they use an unlicesned provider (she's great, she just flies under the radar for some reason). Licensed in-home providers charge a bit more, I think.

 

[ccgirl]

Wow. I am surprised at how much some pay for in home care. Due to varying reasons, I prefer a state licensed day care center, and that is $31 a day near me (up to 9 hours per day with snacks included). I would think that an in home provider would be cheaper than that since there isn't the rent involved like with a daycare center. I guess it just depends on the area.

Definitely depends on where. I am an hour outside of Boston and Daycare Centers are $50 a day with nothing provided. I had to send all food/snacks/drinks for the day. That was for one child. For two it would have been like $90 a day. It is more expenseive in Boston. I had friends paying $2,000 a month for 2 kids. There is really no "discount" when it is in home. At least for a licensed provider.

 

[BabyTigger99]

When I was looking for care for my son, I called to several centers. Most had part time considered under 30 hours a week (which I would not fall under), so looking at full time was around $220 a week. With my in-home sitter, most weeks I pay $100, because he is only there 4 days.

 

[indimom]

I have been mulling over the idea of opening up a home daycare for over awhile now. I think what's holding me back is feeling like a prisoner so to speak in my own house. Not being able to volunteer at DS6 school or do outings during the day, etc. Although I am already home with DD1 most of the time anyways. I am getting closer to throwing my towel in and going for it. I always wanted to be a teacher but now turning 30 next month and with two little ones at home and no college degree that dream is slowly vanishing so I need to figure out what I wanna be when I grow up.
Whether or not you'll be a prisoner is sort of "up to you." We live in town, so I take walks with my day care kids, go to the park, library, movie theatre, school playground (during the summer), etc. Depending on how many children you take on or whether you find a trustworty aide, you may still be able to volunteer for school parties/field trips.

If you are a home daycare provider any tips, regrets, thoughts, etc, etc you could offer? How did you get started and where did you go to get liscensed through? I know it varies by region but what do you charge per
child?
I'm licensed through the state of Indiana. I also received my child development associates degree (for free) through the state. I'm licensed to care for up to 12 children. I charge $90 a day for full time and $20 a day for part time. But, I haven't raised my rates in years. I'm looking to raise them in January to $110 full-time and $25 part-time.

I don't have any real regrets. I'm always here for my kids and saved us a ton of money on day care/commuting costs/gas/wardrobe had I worked outside the home. I'm also able to keep up with my house better working from home (yep, even with 10 or 12 children here).

As far as tips, Make sure you create some "personal space" for your family. Having to share you and your home with other children could be a difficult adjustment especially if your children have always had you to themselves. I declared my kids' rooms off-limits to the day care so there is a place in the house that is entirely "theirs" and where their special belongings are safe.

Only other tips would be to take any and all training you can get from your state, look online for sample contracts/handbooks/medical forms/emergency contact forms/daily report sheets/sign-in sheets/every other form of paperwork you can imagine . Also: meet with an accountant so you know what to track for write-offs on your taxes, and make sure you are properly insured.

Also in the meantime (of me getting certified) my stepfathers niece has asked how much I would charge to watch her infant during the week. Can anyone suggest what would be a good amount to charge as an unliscensed provider in Maryland. She would be the only one in my care and would start at 6-8 weeks old.

Thanks for any help.

Hope that helped a little. It's not that difficult once you get going and if your area is anything like mine, you'll have all the help you need. Indiana is really pushing for qualified home day care providers and I get more support/information/updates/training than I need at times!!

 

[wbn36]

Man...I'm thinking I should have looked into home daycare. I could have made more money and had a lot more time off. Out of curiosity; are you certified?

Yes, I am licensed. I also pay for a separate insurance policy and there are a lot of expenses. It is not all fun. There is a lot to it. I work a 10 hour day. My first client comes at 7:30, my last pick up is 5:30. Your house is always on display. People walk across your floor and don't wipe their feet etc. You need to keep it pretty clean. If you have pets, that is not great. Most people don't want dogs espcially around their children. We cannot smoke ( Not that I do) You need to organize your whole home. Medications, Cleaning products, small toys.

However, it is very rewarding. The best thing I ever did.