Am I charging too much, too little, or just right for my babysitting services?

Question

I am 20, a college student, and I have been babysitting since I was fourteen. I have only three references, (aside from once or twice sittings) and I babysat long-term for these families. One family had one son (I babysat him for a year, from 3 to 4). Another family had two children (8 and 10) and I babysat them for about a year, maybe a little more. I babysat a small girl (from age 2 to 4, and now I babysit her at the age of 5 going on 6). I charge $7.00 an hour, with an additional dollar per child (2 children: $8.00, 3 children $9.00). I do not babysit more than three children by myself (I recruit a friend - we don't charge extra, and we split the money equally). I usually babysit on the East sideof Cleveland. While babysitting, I do light cleaning, I cook or serve snacks, I can take the children to the park (with parent's permission) and I carry a notebook with all important emergency & medical info in it. Am I charging too little, too much, or just right?

Answer 1

I think that you are charging about right. Try getting CPR certified and licensed and up it to $10.00 an hour.

Answer 2

WOW! Hard choice! If I was the one paying it - I say TOO MUCH!! However, I DO know daycares charge MORE than your car and house put together (exaggerating - but not by much) so you might be right on the money. When I was caring for two kids just one family which included - light housekeeping, laundry, errands and kids to the park and/or pool - I got paid $7.00 an hour total for both kids. Maybe you should 'pretend to be a mom' and call some more ads on babysitting to see what they charge and what it includes - then you'll know. Good luck and most of all - enjoy the kids!! Remember you were one once!!

Answer 3

It sounds about right. But I also feel that the amount you charge depends on a number of things. Lets be honest, you want to babysit good kids, you want to have a good relationship with the parents, you want the parents to pay fairly and give a little extra on the side during the holidays or any other special occasion, those are some of the things that make your life and your job much more comfortable. If you are content with your current situation, then the price is more than right.

Answer 4

I think your rates are very reasonable. I am a father of a 3 and 5 year old and 8 dollars per hour sounds about right. Its not to little but not too much especially if your doing light cleaning. I have paid more. As the parent I want my babysitter to be happy and would even sometimes throw in a little extra to make them happy. If my babysitter is happy then she will be happy taking care of my kids.

Answer 5

Wow, you sound like a really responsible babysitter. I think that $7/hour is reasonable for JUST the babysitting - light housework (besides cleaning up the messes the kids make while you are there) should be extra.

You could probably get away with charging more, though, if you wanted to.

Answer 6

Um, properly I babysit for plenty of little ones, yet as you, i cannotcontinual little ones around, yet i will stay with them. each and every so often the mothers and dads stay out the abode purely in case. they each and every so often call me purely by using fact they must get relax. I oftentimes can charge 5 funds an hour, yet that's while the mothers and dads are abode. in the event that they are no longer, i might say possibly 6 or 7 funds an hour....you do no longer choose to can charge it too extreme, or they are going to locate somebody else that's older and has extra no longer costly expenses. wish I helped! Bella

Answer 7

For me, that is low, but that could just be my area.
Check out www.sittercity.com . It's a great site that helps babysitters, nannies and parents to connect. There is also a section called "Tips & Resorces" with a Rate Calculator. You put in your zip code, and other factors like number of children, expierence, etc. It will give you the average hourly rate for what you put in. It's great. This will show you if what your charging is normal for your area.
It's free for babysitters/nannies, but parents have to pay to sign up.
Good luck!
-Brit

Answer 8

If you come to California, I'll pay you $15 to watch my 3 kids. That is what I pay now...some sitters charge a 3 or 4 hour minimum too.

Answer 9

My sister-in-law told me the going rate now is $10 an hour for high school students here in NYC and $15 for college students. It sounds like you might be undercharging.

Answer 10

I think that's a fair price! I used to get paid $1/hour, but I'm much older than you!! That was back in the Stone Age!