How much to pay a babysitter for daily care?

Question

I am planning on doing home childcare, unlicensed. I will watch just 1 family of children as well as my own so it is perfectly legal. I am experienced, CPR certified etc. I have done this before, years ago and plan to again to help afford the cost of a bigger home.

If you were to place your child in this type of home care, what would you expect to pay weekly? What about sick days? vacations? Would you expect that food is included? What about taxes, would you claim this on your taxes? Would you expect the babysitter to claim it on hers?

What other opinions do you have on the matter?

at 7.00 an hour for sometimes a 10 hour day (7 am to 5 pm) thats 70.00 a day, completly out of the question! I said "babysitter" because I am not a licesnsed child care provider, but really it would be "child care provider"

I am NOT saying I would not claim it on my taxes, I am not stupid. I am tyring to see what other arrangements people have made and why.
Like I said, i have done this before, but I am starting again and want to reevaluate my rates and rules.

Again people, I FULLY INTEND to pay my taxes, I have never evaded taxes in my life! I was just trying to get an idea of what everyone else is doing.
I have worked as an independant contractor doing childcare for over 4 years and paid every dime I owed the IRS. Please don;t assume that just because I ask about taxes I inted to evade them.

Answer 1

I am a childcare provider, license-exempt. I watch only one child, and I get paid about $45 a day, if it's an eight-hour workday. Anything below that, I charge $5 an hour. (I know, I'm cheap.) It really adds up though.
For sick days, I usually call the mother of the child the night before and tell her, so that she can call for another person to watch her child. I think that you should have at least three sick days a year. It sounds reasonable. For vacations, call the family two weeks before you plan on going on your vacation. I plan mine a month before and let her know then, but two weeks is sufficient.
As for food, I have the mother bring her own because the child I watch is 8 months old. For older children, the mother should bring snacks. Talk with her about her child's diet and what she expects of it, so you have an idea of what to buy. Also, you can save your grocery reciepts and mark the child's food, as a tax write-off. She cannot claim the food you buy for the child on her taxes, but she can claim your services. She does pay for your services.

Answer 2

Well, a lot of this depends on your market. If you are in New York City, you could probably charge upward of $20 an hour off the books (which means no taxes, except you could, you know, get arrested). If you live in nowhere, Alabama, you might only be able to charge $5 an hour. In legal terms, the babysitter is required to report all income. That's not a theory; that's reality. If you want to earn $20 an hour net (after taxes), you need to figure out how much you'd have to pay in taxes to still make $20 an hour. If you are hired as an independent contractor, this is your total responsibility. If you are hired as a full-time employee, this is both your responsibility and your employer's responsibility.

You want to avoid the whole tax thing, go for cash money. (The IRS still may catch up with you, in which case life will be awful). You want to go for vacation time, health care, benefits? Go with on the books, which means you need to pay taxes on your income.

Answer 3

I have often thought about doing the same thing. I think a full week should be between 65 to 80 dollers a week. you provide the meals.(you waist plenty on your own kids probably) Ask them to bring in a healthy snack at least once once a week. If there is a picky eater than you should learn to feed him/her accordingly.
I would not claim taxes if you are just making enough to help with the extra house hold things. Especially if you are not going to be unlicensed.

You have an advantage to charge what you want and be flex able without getting screwed. You should look into some insurance though. What if something happens to a child and the parents decide to press charges?

Make sure you know what you are doing before you do it.

GOOD LUCK AND HAVE FUN.

I LOVE KIDS MYSELF.

Answer 4

I am a nanny and I make $800 a month taking care of two boys. If you claim it on your taxes you need to charge at least $10 an hour or you will basically only be making less than minimum wage by the time Uncle Sam gets his paws on it.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would want at least seven dollars an hour. You probabaly should claim it on your taxes and it is the babysitters responsibility to claim it on their own taxes.

Answer 6

well im a babysitter and i get paid 7 bucks an hour