8 Months and Still No Real Income. Is It Worth It???

[Pestle]

It seems like the kids and the parents are causing you stress you don't want to keep dealing with forever. Do you want small-picture advice (how to work to solve the individual problems you're having), or big-picture advice (career counseling)?

"the children end up being so bad that I have to terminate them."

Behavioral problems come with the territory. If you're thinking of the kids as "bad" and you believe you need to get rid of "bad" kids, this might not be the best lifelong career for you.

"Somebody brought this dang Hand Foot and Mouth Disease up in my house a couple weeks ago, and I know it didn't come from my house or my boys."

Germs also come with the territory. If frequent sickness is a huge source of stress or if it makes you come into conflict with the parents/try to assign blame, this might not be the best lifelong career for you.

If dependence on your ex is something you want to be free from, this might not be the best lifelong career for you.

If this frustration is swallowing you up every day and affecting your life with your family, this might not be the best lifelong career for you.

If you feel like you need to keep going because of all the time, money, and energy you've already sunk into it--stop! You'll only sink further and further in as you go.

[TXhomedaycare]

:hug: sorry to hear that. Some of the things you just said is a learning curve (kids with no manners for example). You will get to teach them how to act at your home and get use to some of the things you won't be able to change but it can still be annoying. I would first call and see how much you competition is charging and see how much competition you have and what they offer. I'm not sure where you live in Texas but in some areas there are a ton of daycare homes (i'm talking like a few on a single street). I would put together a strong handbook and contract before you enroll anyone else and review your interview process to make sure you are weeding out the problem families. I only take kids 18 months to 5 years so I can take more and have kids that are at an age where the are not as needy as infants (I love infants but I will never take them again unless I take only infants). Decide what kind of program you have to offer and what will make it special and go from there. I took store bought cupcakes and treats to the school around the corner from my house and hung up signs anywhere I could and handed out business cards like crazy. I am registered with the state of Texas so I can take 6 kids and I could never afford an assistant (I also don't need one since the age group I have is easy). I am enrolled in the food program, use coupons and shop at costco for things that I can buy in bulk to save money. Over the past 2 years the only things I have done is keep changing my program to make sure it works well for me first, kids second and parents last . If you offer a good program they will eventually come and stay. I am glad you use this forum since it will benefit you greatly. This job is for resourceful, resilient people who understand that constantly assessing yourself and your program is beneficial to all parties. When I started my 2 sons were my motivation that kept me going. It will get better, don't give up.

[Controlled Chaos]

I'm confused.

I added up the tuition you listed x 52 weeks a year / 12 months a year and that =$2,665. That number should be your monthly gross.

How are you having no money left at the end? What are you spending on food and supplies? Are you on the food program?

How I started making money - Let's say I need a minimum of $2000 a month in profit to make ends meet.
$2000 + $500 in food + $400 in est taxes + $100 misc +$100 daycare insurance = $3100
I want to watch 6 additional children so 3100/6 = $516.67
So I am going to round up and say I need to charge $520 per month per child. That is $120 a week.

Then I am going to enforce my policies and treat myself like a successful business owner and treat my clients like clients. Be fair, consistent and value yourself and your services. NO PAY NO STAY.

What makes your program special? Market yourself wisely. Make a website and a FB page. Get yourself listed online. Share what makes you awesome with your parents daily - "We read so many books today! Sara's favorite was ___". Once you get more interest, more calls and even a wait list you can relax a bit.

[daycarediva]

Ugh, I am sorry! I started out slow which helped tremendously. I also lucked out in getting great kids from a retiring great (strict!) provider. She had them trained!

But I don't think I really started making good money until after my own kids went to school, and I could fill their spaces with paying clients. Then I got bumped to Tier 1 on the food program which was a major jump.

A few things I did to make life easier for me and make me feel better about my program:

My kids rooms/toys were off limits. I bought day care toys for day care. This leveled the playing field by giving my kids the same rights as the day care kids - the right to their own space/things.

I get paid, no matter what. If I'm sick, if a dck kid is out sick, if I am off for a major holiday, etc etc etc. Doesn't matter. I get paid. I need to make a steady income to run a reliable program.

Having ONE day care area, with all other things inaccessible to the dck's. It makes my day so much more relaxing/stress free if I'm not worried that Sammy is going somewhere I don't want him to be to while I'm changing a diaper or making lunch.

Learned to handle minor issues without involving parents. I don't know your situation, but unless the behavior is completely inappropriate or dangerous, I handle it. If it becomes an ongoing issue, I will say something to the parent. But that rarely happens. I found that when I was too chatty, parents interpreted that as me not knowing what I was doing

But at the end of the day, only you know what you can handle. If you have an issue with changing jobs frequently, maybe look at some training you can take to land a job that you'd enjoy more?

great advice!

I also recommend really advertising/interviewing and RAISING YOUR RATES. You will make more money, and get parents who can afford to pay you.

[Unregistered]

1. You have bills just like your parents do and it appears as if she's also getting a discount. I would implement the no pay no stay rule because no matter how much you love children you're doing this to make money just like how mom is doing her job to make money. 2. Get rid of the sibling discount because you're the one taking a loss in income. 3. Set your hours based on how many hours you think you can work without losing your sanity. 4. I clean up throughout the day. Most of my kitchen is cleaned during lunch time so when I lay everyone down for nap all I have to do is clean high chairs and sweep what ever food up around the high chair. Even if the little ones are fussy I still make sure all of the dishes are washed prior to me letting everyone out of there chairs to go start cleaning them up and changing diapers. I'm sorry but I need nap time to take a breather and get myself in the right frame of mind for the second part of the day. I also make sure everything is clean before everyone leaves for the day.5. I charge when I'm sick and when my dck's are out sick. Because like someone said I need to have reliable income in order to be a reliable daycare provider. 6. This to me is the most important of all. When I'm off I'm off. With the exception of grocery shopping on the weekends I don't think about daycare. I even started scheduling all of my interviews during daycare hours. I've only been open a little over a year and one of the reasons I opened was so I can spend as much time with my kids as possible but I was always too tired or stressed out to do that very thing. My family was the ones suffering. I refuse to neglect my own kids because I'm stressed out worrying about this daycare. I hope this helps and good luck.

[Kayschildcare]

I'm confused.

I added up the tuition you listed x 52 weeks a year / 12 months a year and that =$2,665. That number should be your monthly gross.

How are you having no money left at the end? What are you spending on food and supplies? Are you on the food program?

How I started making money - Let's say I need a minimum of $2000 a month in profit to make ends meet.
$2000 + $500 in food + $400 in est taxes + $100 misc +$100 daycare insurance = $3100
I want to watch 6 additional children so 3100/6 = $516.67
So I am going to round up and say I need to charge $520 per month per child. That is $120 a week.

Then I am going to enforce my policies and treat myself like a successful business owner and treat my clients like clients. Be fair, consistent and value yourself and your services. NO PAY NO STAY.

What makes your program special? Market yourself wisely. Make a website and a FB page. Get yourself listed online. Share what makes you awesome with your parents daily - "We read so many books today! Sara's favorite was ___". Once you get more interest, more calls and even a wait list you can relax a bit.

Good tips especially about figuring out how much you need to make a profilt.

[DestinyAja]

Is the sibling set by chance your own children? (I noticed the ages were exactly the same)

No those aren't my own children. Me and the parents were both very excited that our children were the exact same age. I guess that's why now she thinks she can walk in here with only a partial payment and promise to pay it next week.

[DestinyAja]

Ugh, I am sorry! I started out slow which helped tremendously. I also lucked out in getting great kids from a retiring great (strict!) provider. She had them trained!

But I don't think I really started making good money until after my own kids went to school, and I could fill their spaces with paying clients. Then I got bumped to Tier 1 on the food program which was a major jump.

A few things I did to make life easier for me and make me feel better about my program:

My kids rooms/toys were off limits. I bought day care toys for day care. This leveled the playing field by giving my kids the same rights as the day care kids - the right to their own space/things.

I get paid, no matter what. If I'm sick, if a dck kid is out sick, if I am off for a major holiday, etc etc etc. Doesn't matter. I get paid. I need to make a steady income to run a reliable program.

Having ONE day care area, with all other things inaccessible to the dck's. It makes my day so much more relaxing/stress free if I'm not worried that Sammy is going somewhere I don't want him to be to while I'm changing a diaper or making lunch.

Learned to handle minor issues without involving parents. I don't know your situation, but unless the behavior is completely inappropriate or dangerous, I handle it. If it becomes an ongoing issue, I will say something to the parent. But that rarely happens. I found that when I was too chatty, parents interpreted that as me not knowing what I was doing

But at the end of the day, only you know what you can handle. If you have an issue with changing jobs frequently, maybe look at some training you can take to land a job that you'd enjoy more?

What exactly do you mean by "handle"? I do timeouts. Are there some other methods???

[DestinyAja]

I feel like you described my first year in daycare. I was so broke, tired and stressed (and I have put on 40 pounds ). I had families that I didn't really want but needed the money. I put their schedules and needs ahead of my own.

I can say, from experience, the only way I was able to stay in business was to put myself and my business first. I set hours that became non negotiable. I made a handbook - it is now 13 pages long - and I ENFORCE my handbook. Any extra service comes with a fee. I LEARNED TO SAY NO. I changed my mindset from thinking "I have to do xyz otherwise the family will leave" to "This is how I do things, if they leave, another family will come that is a better fit." I stopped doing above and beyond crafts and activities that cost a fortune and simplified our daily routine.

I am going into my third year in business. I am happier, my families are all amazing, I no longer just take anyone just to fill a spot. It didn't all happen at once, it was uncomfortable to be honest. But you need to do it otherwise you will be closing your doors!

You can do it! start tonight by writing down how you want your business to be set up, and then make a to do list with steps to get your from where you are today tow where you ultimately want to be. Each week make one change until you are happy! Best of luck!

Thank you! I admit that I have been extremely leanient thinking that I need the money and afraid I won't be able to fill the spot. Afraid of doing it all over again, or I guess just lazy not wanting to do it all over again.

[DestinyAja]

Is food/supplies your only expense? Do you have car pymt or cell phone bill, ect? If not, then you need to find ways to cut the food cost way down. $500 a week is outrageously high for a family of 3, even with the daycare kids.

No that's not my only expense. I have to buy diapers, clothes, auto insurance, cell phone bill, gas, the regular daily expenses of myself and 2 young boys, I had a couple traffic tickets to pay, etc. But that's the thing, I'm not making a consistent $500/week. One week it will be $500, the next week it will be $250, then maybe $300, so it always seems like I'm playing catchup whenever I finally do get the full amount.

[daycare]

No that's not my only expense. I have to buy diapers, clothes, auto insurance, cell phone bill, gas, the regular daily expenses of myself and 2 young boys, I had a couple traffic tickets to pay, etc. But that's the thing, I'm not making a consistent $500/week. One week it will be $500, the next week it will be $250, then maybe $300, so it always seems like I'm playing catchup whenever I finally do get the full amount.

how are you billing your clients?
example. I require payment if your child is in care or not. My contracts states:


your payment is due every friday in advance and will be deposited when received. Your payment is securing your child's spot, NOT based on the time that it is used.

Checks will not be held for any reason and must be paid by closing. Should the preschool be closed or owner is out on a payment due date, a new payment due date will be posted.

ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL. PARTIAL PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. FULL Payments is due regardless if your child is in attendance or not. There will be no day transfers or credits for days your child does not attend due to illness, vacation or otherwise.

Any payment that is not paid in full will be subject to a late fee as follows:

1st late fee $50
2nd late fee $100
3rd late fee $150 and termination of contract without refund.

NO PAY NO STAY: If you fail to make payment, your child will not be able to return , until payment has been made in full. Failing to contact the childcare after 3 days without payment, will result in immediate termination of contract without refund.

I know a lot of us require payment no matter if the child attends or not. It's too hard to forecast a budget otherwise.

Its like renting a house. you can't go on vacation for 3 weeks and turn around, tell your landlord, I was gone for 3 weeks so here is payment for one full week. If you want your spot to come home to, payment is required in full.

[DestinyAja]

how are you billing your clients?
example. I require payment if your child is in care or not. My contracts states:


your payment is due every friday in advance and will be deposited when received. Your payment is securing your child's spot, NOT based on the time that it is used.

Checks will not be held for any reason and must be paid by closing. Should the preschool be closed or owner is out on a payment due date, a new payment due date will be posted.

ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL. PARTIAL PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. FULL Payments is due regardless if your child is in attendance or not. There will be no day transfers or credits for days your child does not attend due to illness, vacation or otherwise.

Any payment that is not paid in full will be subject to a late fee as follows:

1st late fee $50
2nd late fee $100
3rd late fee $150 and termination of contract without refund.

NO PAY NO STAY: If you fail to make payment, your child will not be able to return , until payment has been made in full. Failing to contact the childcare after 3 days without payment, will result in immediate termination of contract without refund.

I know a lot of us require payment no matter if the child attends or not. It's too hard to forecast a budget otherwise.

Its like renting a house. you can't go on vacation for 3 weeks and turn around, tell your landlord, I was gone for 3 weeks so here is payment for one full week. If you want your spot to come home to, payment is required in full.

Payments are due on Mondays at the time of drop off. My contract states that tuition is based on holding your child's spot and not on attendance. Therefore there is no reduction for illness, vacation, or other reasons. I just thought I was supposed to credit them because it was my child who was sick and my decision to close. One of my parents did complain saying that they had to pay double for me being closed because they had to pay someone else to watch the child while I was closed. So I thought I was being considerate and understanding to their needs.

[DestinyAja]

ALL PAYMENTS MUST BE PAID IN FULL. PARTIAL PAYMENTS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. FULL Payments is due regardless if your child is in attendance or not. There will be no day transfers or credits for days your child does not attend due to illness, vacation or otherwise.

What do you do when they show up at the door, dropping off their kids on the way to work and say "all I have is $95, here you go" do you just turn them and their kids away right then and there at 7:45am??

[daycare]

Payments are due on Mondays at the time of drop off. My contract states that tuition is based on holding your child's spot and not on attendance. Therefore there is no reduction for illness, vacation, or other reasons. I just thought I was supposed to credit them because it was my child who was sick and my decision to close. One of my parents did complain saying that they had to pay double for me being closed because they had to pay someone else to watch the child while I was closed. So I thought I was being considerate and understanding to their needs.

I guess I thought you were not charging on days when kids didn't attend do to the huge pay difference from week to week.

I would have done the same as you and gave a credit in the past. NOW I build that in to my rate that I have 3 sick days each year that I can use//close my business if I need to. I can use it to take care of myself or my children.

[daycare]

What do you do when they show up at the door, dropping off their kids on the way to work and say "all I have is $95, here you go" do you just turn them and their kids away right then and there at 7:45am??

so my payments are due on friday by closing. This way I buy the groceries and supplies needed for the week and I am not out of pocket any money.
if they show up on monday, yes they not only have to have payment in full, but they also have to have the late fee as well. I will send them a text reminder first thing in the AM so that they don't even try to show up without out. If they do, I will say, I really wish I could let little johnny stay, however, I need payment before he can. I will see you soon...smile and close the door.

If they ask to drop later and this is the first time, have been with me awhile and have good standing with me sure, but if that is not the case, then no. so it is a case by case situation based on payment history.