Do you think I am charging too much?

Question

I watch my friends 2yr old 5 days week 10hrs or more a day. I also have two kids of my own a 2yr old and 5yr old. My friend is paying me $80 a week to watch her child and she deducts from my pay if she doesnt come or holiday. My mom says shes using me and should be paying more for those kind of hours and I even take care of her child when shes sick and sometimes she comes to pick her up late because she stops at the grocery store. So I recently told her that I was gonna charge her $90 a week and that she was gonna have to pay every week whether or not she comes or if its a holiday. And also that she had to pick her up by 5pm..(she drops her between 7-7:30 am). So her reaction to this is "well if I have to pay weekly for this I want to claim this on my taxes or I'll use a childcare facility!" So am I charging to much for this because I called around average is $105-$120 a week and some do not even provide lunch? She acted like she got mad I just wanted to see if I was being fair.

Answer 1

I think your mother is right and the fact that your friend got angry about it just proves that she was taking advantage of you. I have a day care in my home and I charge $125 a week, 50 hours, regardless if the child is in attendance or not. I do take personal days that are included in the fees, but if I go on vacation for a week, obviously I don't charge fees then. I also have contracts that the parents must sign before I will agree to watch their children, that way if they ever argue with me over fees or policies it's already written down with their signature attached to it. I think you are being more than fair, $90 a week is a bargain and if she doesn't think so let her go shopping around to other day cares and see for herself how much money she would be saving, not to mention that fact that most day cares have a zero tolerance policy for late parents and after 3 late pick ups they will kick her rear end to the curb. Stick to your guns, if she leaves, oh well, you don't need the stress. And if you are worried about losing the income, there are A LOT of people out there looking for childcare.
Good luck and take care.

Answer 2

I watch one child from 8 to 5:30, a 8 month old for 20 a day. For two children I charge 30 a day. However, I do allow them to claim it on their taxes. I used to work at a childcare center and we charged 120 a week. I think 80 a week is not enough at all!!! i would charge 100 a week because if her child was in daycare, every single time that child had the slightest cough or runny nose she would have to go home. And most daycares charge a two weeks notice if you want you r child to stop going and you have to pay if they come or not! So I really think you should charge more

Answer 3

Oh, I feel so bad for you, it's a tough situation, watching a friend's child. You want to be a good friend, but you don't want to be taken advantage of either. Do not feel bad at all for charging $90.00 a week! That's a bargain for childcare these days! I paid $150.00 a week to send my 3 year old to daycare for only 8 hours a day! And if I was late picking her up (I never was), but they would have charged me $2.00 for every minute that I was late! My advice to you is, if she wants to go elsewhere, let her go. My best friend asked if I would watch her 10 month old daughter while she went back to work. I am a stay at home mom with my own 3 kids to take care of, but I said that I would. She was paying me only $80.00 a week for 12 hours a day and she was always late as well. Then there were times when she would say that she didn't have the money to pay me at all. I feel she did this because she knew I was her friend and she figured she could get away with it. I finally had to put my foot down. I told her the same things that you told your friend. I told her that if she were watching my child, she wouldn't appreciate being treated that way either. I told her that watching her child was my job and I needed to be paid accordingly for doing that job. She didn't like my terms, so she stopped bringing her to me. She was mad and didn't want to talk to me, but that only lasted about 3 weeks, then she was fine. You will have to decide under what terms you will watch her child and stick to your guns!! If she gets mad, let her go to a daycare, I guarantee within 2 weeks she'll be wishing she was paying you the $90.00!! And trust me, I know, the tax break she will get for childcare costs is meager!! Best of luck to you!!!

Answer 4

I agree that she is using you. I pay $140 a week, and that is very reasonable for around here, and I don't use the daycare for more than 6 hours per day. You definately should charge more. Don't feel bad. She should feel guilty. Go higher than $90, too! Those are longer hours than average, plus you have to buy food and activities. Maybe paying the holidays is a little much to ask becasue you are a home person (not unreasonable, though, don't sweat it, but maybe that's an area to compromise). And she won't find a daycare to keep the child past 5:30!!! She got mad because she realized her little easy-street was over. Chin up - you are in the right.

Answer 5

Well, you are more than fair. That is a fantastic price. She has a friend (you), who she knows and can trust & that is a big plus. Let's face it, if she goes somewhere else, she is then going to have to do research for the best price, the best references, the cleanest facility with good employees & enough activities to occupy her child. I don't think she will find a better price with you & she has one-on-one for her child with you, so I think she should be grateful. I just wanted to point something out to you, though. Anyone who pays for child care can use this as a deduction. I am not the deduction police & actually I do clean homes sometimes for cash money or they pay by check. If they pay by check I feel I have to claim it. If the dwelling I clean happens to have a home office, they can deduct it, so I had better claim it. You didn't say whether or not you were getting paid from her by check or not. If she pays you by check, she may be claiming it and not telling you. If she is paying you by check I would be leary of the situation and cross my T's & dot my I's since she is getting a little attitude with you. Good luck.

Answer 6

You are charging too little. I paid $135/week for someone who wasn't licensed and $160/week for someone who was. I kind of agree with the whole not paying you for days you don't watch her child. Chances are likely that she doesn't get paid when she misses work, too. In fact, most employers don't pay for missed days. However, if you charge enough to begin with, you should be able to offset those missed days. Most daycare providers, however, do charge the same regardless. Daycare facilities certainly do. Let her go to a daycare facility if this is such an issue for her. I'll guarantee you she'll have to pay more. That'll free you up to watch another child and get paid better in the process.

Answer 7

I paid $242.00 a week for 2 kids age 2yrs and 4yrs (that was with a multiple child discount) It was $140.00 a week for one. I had to pay every week, whether or not there was a holiday or if they got sick and I couldn't take them (no children with a fever or diarrhea could be at daycare). $90.00 for one is very reasonable. She's just mad because she won't have her freedom to do as she pleases while her kid is with you. She'll have to be on a schedule. Which she would have to be with any other child care provider. I could only leave my kids there for 10 hours a day, not a minute more or else I was charged $5.00 a minute for every minute I was late (luckily I was never late).

Answer 8

it all depends on where you live. I am in Utah and the average is 2.50 an hour. If the kid is still in diapers then it is about 3.00 an hour. I think you are being fair. you are getting paid $!1.00 an hour. that sucks. I think you are right for asking a little more, but keep in mind this is your friend. It is a tough situation. But I would not let her run you over. I think a $10 raise is nothing compaired to the hundreds she would pay at the center. good luck

Answer 9

I used to work in a daycare and we charged 130 for a 2 year old So if she wants to go somewhere else and you dont depend on that money for something else then let her take her child somewhere else. And why should stay at home moms always get stuck watching there friends kids just because they stay home? It can ruin a friendship!!

Answer 10

Yes you are being fair. Childcare is expensive. You are giving her a deal here. You are feeding her child and watching her child at her convenience. Tell her that if she doesn't like it then to take her child to a daycare and pay $120 a week.