Do You Post Your Rates On Your Website?

[Kimberli]

Curious as to others' thoughts on posting vs. not posting rates on your website.

I always have posted mine until this past week, and I decided to take them off as an experiment.

I am wondering if it increases the chance of signing a family when they have to contact you to discuss your rates and therefore, you get a chance to connect with them in real time rather than them looking at your site and jotting down your prices but speaking with other providers who don't post rates and being persuaded into setting an interview appointment.

Of course, the downside is that there will be a lot more fielding phone calls from other providers posing as interested parents, but ...

What do you do? Post or not? What has been your experience from either side?

[Lilbutterflie]

I post my rates. I am in the middle of the field with my rates and have no reason to keep that info to myself until they tour. Plus, I feel that my website is really good compared to what some other providers websites are like in my area; so the parents really understand on my website what they get for their money.

[Blackcat31]

I don't post them on my website but I have no issue telling anyone calling or asking what they are.

I don't post them on my website because they aren't set.

Everyone's rate is based off THEIR individual family's needs.

[Lyss]

I post my rates. I am in the middle of the field with my rates and have no reason to keep that info to myself until they tour. Plus, I feel that my website is really good compared to what some other providers websites are like in my area; so the parents really understand on my website what they get for their money.

I feel the same about my website and i'm middle of the road on rates for my area as well!

For awhile I didn't, and I did get a lot more inquiries but they were often just emails saying "how much," "what's you rate?" or "I can only afford 200/mo can you do that" So I finally just decided to put them back up. I kinda felt like I was wasting time responding to people that didn't want to pay what I was asking (which isn't high for my area) and never emailed/called back.

[Kimberli]

I don't post them on my website but I have no issue telling anyone calling or asking what they are.

I don't post them on my website because they aren't set.

Everyone's rate is based off THEIR individual family's needs.

Interesting! I love your individuality.

So if you don't mind me asking, how do you determine what each family's needs are? Do they discuss what they are comfortable paying or what their combined income is? I'm not sure how I would be able to determine that without being intrusive.

[Kimberli]

I thought my rates too were middle of the road until several recent interviews have led me to believe I may be undervaluing my services slightly! Considering raising ... but not by much.

[Blackcat31]

Interesting! I love your individuality.

So if you don't mind me asking, how do you determine what each family's needs are? Do they discuss what they are comfortable paying or what their combined income is? I'm not sure how I would be able to determine that without being intrusive.

Oh it isn't complicated at all. I have a base rate I want to earn per day. As an example let's say that amount is $30.

So $30 is what I charge for an 8.5 hour day.

I add $5.00 for each hour they would need on top the 8.5 hours.

I have a certain set of hours I am willing to work inside of and hours I am not willing to work outside of.

I set my $30 per day charge for parents who pick up at 3:30 (I am available beginning at 7:00 a.m daily) so 3:30 is an 8.5 hour day for me.

Ultimately pick ups at 3:30 means a rate of $30 daily
Pick up at 4:30 means a rate of $35 daily
Pick up at 5:30 means a rate of $40 daily.

This is all adjusted too if you need 3, 4 or 5 days of care each week.

It sounds complicated I suppose but really it is simple.

The more care you need the more expensive the rate.

I don't think families using care M-F for 6 hours per day should have the same rate as families who use 10 hours per day M-F.

[daycare]

Oh it isn't complicated at all. I have a base rate I want to earn per day. As an example let's say that amount is $30.

So $30 is what I charge for an 8.5 hour day.

I add $5.00 for each hour they would need on top the 8.5 hours.

I have a certain set of hours I am willing to work inside of and hours I am not willing to work outside of.

I set my $30 per day charge for parents who pick up at 3:30 (I am available beginning at 7:00 a.m daily) so 3:30 is an 8.5 hour day for me.

Ultimately pick ups at 3:30 means a rate of $30 daily
Pick up at 4:30 means a rate of $35 daily
Pick up at 5:30 means a rate of $40 daily.

This is all adjusted too if you need 3, 4 or 5 days of care each week.

It sounds complicated I suppose but really it is simple.

The more care you need the more expensive the rate.

I don't think families using care M-F for 6 hours per day should have the same rate as families who use 10 hours per day M-F.

BC I am still trying to figure out how to implement this with my DC.... I want to sooooo bad. BUT I can already see the war zone flaming up from the parents........

[Crazy8]

no, I don't post them on my website and I don't give them out until an interview. I feel I am middle of the road - less than most centers, more than the SAHM who "just wants to earn extra money" and will probably quit doing daycare a year or two from now. I know posting my rates would cut down on a few calls but I also don't want every daycare wannabe to have them either.

[Kimberli]

no, I don't post them on my website and I don't give them out until an interview. I feel I am middle of the road - less than most centers, more than the SAHM who "just wants to earn extra money" and will probably quit doing daycare a year or two from now. I know posting my rates would cut down on a few calls but I also don't want every daycare wannabe to have them either.

So when they call to inquire about your services and ask your rates, is your reply "That is something I will be happy to discuss in person during our interview"? Does that put some people off? Do they ever ask you "Why won't you just tell me your rates over the phone?"

I have to say that as frustrated as I am over some aspects of the childcare industry at the moment, I DO love how much freedom we have pertaining to the choices we get to make in running our businesses!

[Kimberli]

Oh it isn't complicated at all. I have a base rate I want to earn per day. As an example let's say that amount is $30.

So $30 is what I charge for an 8.5 hour day.

I add $5.00 for each hour they would need on top the 8.5 hours.

I have a certain set of hours I am willing to work inside of and hours I am not willing to work outside of.

I set my $30 per day charge for parents who pick up at 3:30 (I am available beginning at 7:00 a.m daily) so 3:30 is an 8.5 hour day for me.

Ultimately pick ups at 3:30 means a rate of $30 daily
Pick up at 4:30 means a rate of $35 daily
Pick up at 5:30 means a rate of $40 daily.

This is all adjusted too if you need 3, 4 or 5 days of care each week.

It sounds complicated I suppose but really it is simple.

The more care you need the more expensive the rate.

I don't think families using care M-F for 6 hours per day should have the same rate as families who use 10 hours per day M-F.

Okay, I understand now. I just know that most of my families use 11 hours or more of childcare a day (I'm open 6a-6p because everyone in the town I live in commutes to work!), so in that scenario my parents would be paying over $200 a week ... and that would certainly price me right out of the market - although I absolutely think we are all worth many times that amount! Love the concept though and I'm so glad it works well for you!

[Blackcat31]

BC I am still trying to figure out how to implement this with my DC.... I want to sooooo bad. BUT I can already see the war zone flaming up from the parents........

But that is only because you are viewing it from only one angle. You are seeing it as the parents hearing "The more you use, the more your rate would be" How about if you view it from the opposite end and say it to your parents like this:

"You will receive a discount from my normal daily rates the earlier yo pick up your child."

When they ask what you mean, you can explain to them that the earlier in the day they pick up, the cheaper their rate will be.

If parents still need to use the entire day, so be it but the ones who don't need the entire day have the option of making their rate a bit less expensive.

Cheaper for earlier or more expensive for later. Means the same thing, just stated in the opposite way.

[Blackcat31]

Okay, I understand now. I just know that most of my families use 11 hours or more of childcare a day (I'm open 6a-6p because everyone in the town I live in commutes to work!), so in that scenario my parents would be paying over $200 a week ... and that would certainly price me right out of the market - although I absolutely think we are all worth many times that amount! Love the concept though and I'm so glad it works well for you!

I do it because I have already done 18+ years of childcare working from open to close with every kid I had staying that long every day.

I do child care in a home in which I do not live. My own children have flown the coop. My personal needs have definitely changed since I first opened my doors.

Knowing when I need to be at work and when I can leave makes a big difference to me now. Much more than it did a few years ago.

Nannyde (a wonderful mentor and forum member) taught me to structure my rates in a way that rewarded parents for earlier pick ups and thus be more in control of the length of my day and number of hours I put in each week.

Best advice I ever got.

[Kimberli]

I do it because I have already done 18+ years of childcare working from open to close with every kid I had staying that long every day.

I do child care in a home in which I do not live. My own children have flown the coop. My personal needs have definitely changed since I first opened my doors.

Knowing when I need to be at work and when I can leave makes a big difference to me now. Much more than it did a few years ago.

Nannyde (a wonderful mentor and forum member) taught me to structure my rates in a way that rewarded parents for earlier pick ups and thus be more in control of the length of my day and number of hours I put in each week.

Best advice I ever got.

Besides having Rockin' business philosophies, I admire your empowerment and you inspire me ... sometimes my overgiving self needs a little kick in the butt! Thanks for sharing your wealth!

[daycare]

I do it because I have already done 18+ years of childcare working from open to close with every kid I had staying that long every day.

I do child care in a home in which I do not live. My own children have flown the coop. My personal needs have definitely changed since I first opened my doors.

Knowing when I need to be at work and when I can leave makes a big difference to me now. Much more than it did a few years ago.

Nannyde (a wonderful mentor and forum member) taught me to structure my rates in a way that rewarded parents for earlier pick ups and thus be more in control of the length of my day and number of hours I put in each week.

Best advice I ever got.

sigh.I miss nannyde.............................