First Clients

[BrynleeJean]

How long do you wait when starting up and after advertising to lower rates

[Blackcat31]

How long do you wait when starting up and after advertising to lower rates

I wouldn't lower rates if they are the rates you set for your business. Rates should meet your financial needs.

I understand not having clients but if you lower your rate to get them, you'll risk losing them every time you do anything they might not like. kwim?

If your rates are competitive and on par with other child care's in the area, don't change them. Instead maybe rethink how you are advertising....

What have you done/not done thus far to get families interested and kids enrolled?

[BrynleeJean]

I wouldn't lower rates if they are the rates you set for your business. Rates should meet your financial needs.

I understand not having clients but if you lower your rate to get them, you'll risk losing them every time you do anything they might not like. kwim?

If your rates are competitive and on par with other child care's in the area, don't change them. Instead maybe rethink how you are advertising....

What have you done/not done thus far to get families interested and kids enrolled?

Posted on my Nextdoor app for my neighborhood and surrounding areas and Facebook. It’s only been a few weeks but those inquiry seem to stray at mention of my pricing
I’ll only be open 4 days and plan to take infants and an assistant. The only two other daycares in town don’t take infants and have a wait list for 1 year olds up to two years. I was hoping for a little niche here

The four day thing is only because I have two young children of my own and hope to not burn out and wanted to see if it could work. If I started off with Fridays I couldn’t go backwards, and heard Fridays off was a game changer.

[Cat Herder]

Even after 24 years in my community, with word of mouth references, I could not stay full only offering 4 days per week.

That requires parents who don't work 5 days a week. Those typically have more fad demands and are unreliable income longterm since they often change providers on a whim. They don't generally need childcare and will remind you of that often for loopholes. They also enjoy writing bad references online.

High risk.

[Blackcat31]

Even after 24 years in my community, with word of mouth references, I could not stay full only offering 4 days per week.

That requires parents who don't work 5 days a week. Those typically have more fad demands and are unreliable income longterm since they often change providers on a whim. They don't generally need childcare and will remind you of that often for loopholes. They also enjoy writing bad references online.

High risk.

This is true. 4 days a week immediately limits people and if you aren't already "known" in the child care community, that often just comes across as an obstacle parents would rather avoid.

I know many providers that do work limited work weeks but those providers have been in business for decades and some actually run a very limited program taking only 3 or 4 kids (we can have up to 14 here) so I agree with Cat Herder about that probably being your biggest obstacle.

As for not wanting to burn out, I'd think about just closing one Friday a month and having family time/day. Or limit your daily hours so you arent working 14 hour days...
Build your clientele and then start tweaking your program hours.

[Cat Herder]

Even just giving yourself paid federal holidays gives you plenty of three day weekends. The majority are Mondays.

I also add in two weeks "paid" vacation by basing my tuition on 50 weeks, instead of 52.

[BrynleeJean]

Even just giving yourself paid federal holidays gives you plenty of three day weekends. The majority are Mondays.

I also add in two weeks "paid" vacation by basing my tuition on 50 weeks, instead of 52.

Oh I do definely I’m more so thinking about spending my saturdays catching up on cleaning or paperwork not spending time with my littles or shopping for the daycare or peeping for week to come. And dr appointments for my littles can’t be done on holidays

One Friday a month may help though.

[Cat Herder]

Oh I do definely I’m more so thinking about spending my saturdays catching up on cleaning or paperwork not spending time with my littles or shopping for the daycare or peeping for week to come. And dr appointments for my littles can’t be done on holidays

One Friday a month may help though.

Fully understood. My DH generally took the kids to their appointments since he never had to take days off for school closures, summer or sick days. Paperwork, cooking and cleaning I do before opening and during nap. Getting up early saved my nights and weekends with the fam and allowed breakfast with them before DCK's arrival. lovethis

It is a delicate balance of being available to your clients and your family. It is worth it at the end of the day, though. Mine are grown now and I am grateful I did not miss anything.

I wish you good luck on your new adventure. :hug:

[Pestle]

People who are looking to sign up ASAP are usually people with low income and an unstable job/family situation. If you told them it cost three dollars a day, they'd gasp and say "That's so expensive! Will you do it for two?"

It took me a year to get up to 4 kids daily (max for legally unlicensed in my state). That's also what DHS said at the orientation meeting: Budget for having only one or two kids for the first year. It's going to take time, but you'll find people willing to pay what you're charging, as long as they like your program. I have three kids who don't use Fridays but they're all 1-3 days a week and have the most erratic schedules and the most frequent cancellations, so I couldn't depend on those families for my income (I do have part-time families, but I found families whose schedules neatly nested together AFTER I took full-time kids). My bread and butter comes from people who pay for five days a week.

I'm 2 1/2 years in so I can't speak to burnout, but I have an active social life going on nights and weekends through a Meetup group I organize and through my church. That's what keeps me chipper and grounded. Keeping my own kid in the daycare turned out to be a horror show, so my mother's paying for private school.

[BrynleeJean]

People who are looking to sign up ASAP are usually people with low income and an unstable job/family situation. If you told them it cost three dollars a day, they'd gasp and say "That's so expensive! Will you do it for two?"

It took me a year to get up to 4 kids daily (max for legally unlicensed in my state). That's also what DHS said at the orientation meeting: Budget for having only one or two kids for the first year. It's going to take time, but you'll find people willing to pay what you're charging, as long as they like your program. I have three kids who don't use Fridays but they're all 1-3 days a week and have the most erratic schedules and the most frequent cancellations, so I couldn't depend on those families for my income (I do have part-time families, but I found families whose schedules neatly nested together AFTER I took full-time kids). My bread and butter comes from people who pay for five days a week.

I'm 2 1/2 years in so I can't speak to burnout, but I have an active social life going on nights and weekends through a Meetup group I organize and through my church. That's what keeps me chipper and grounded. Keeping my own kid in the daycare turned out to be a horror show, so my mother's paying for private school.

Good point

Thanks for that

[boy_mom]

If you can hold out, and maybe jazz up your advertising, I highly recommend a 4 day schedule! I agree, try not to lower your rates, if they are in the right range for your area.

I offered part time, infant/toddler care because there were few places near me that took infants, and offered flexible scheduling. It can work! I had a lot of families with grandparent who picked up the 5th day, or SAHM who just wanted 2 days of care for a break at home.

It was a great schedule, since my boys were young at the time. I really hope you can make it work!

[daycarediva]

If you're already going to have an assistant, I would stay open for the 5 days and try to run errands/work less on those days that have fewer children naturally. Eg. My day is Mondays, and I can often leave early. It wasn't enough for me (haha) and assistant and I do one Friday off a month but we have someone cover so it doesn't affect families.

If your rates are competitive, don't lower. Lower rates attracts the wrong kind of clientele, imho. When I RAISED rates, and found my niche, I was full with a waiting list in a MONTH.

[BrynleeJean]

I actually feel the days drags more when I have less kids. I’d prefer long days with lots of kids with occasional off but no the assistant would be counted in my ratio daily, not really a sub.

But I guess my question is how long should I wait. Being that I only started advertising a few weeks ago, before I give in and do the 5th day (ugh that 10.5 hour more a week is taunting)

[storybookending]

I guess the question is are you receiving calls for FT care? Does your as flat out say Monday-Thursday care?

As for how long you’re willing to wait that’s up to you. Are you comfortable not making money right now? Also in turn will you grow to resent the kids you take on if you bend and offer a FT space?

I personally feel 4 days a week can work. The woman who watched me only worked 4 days a week and the odd thing was her off day was always on Thursdays. She still operates this way. Many kids have grandparents willing to watch the children for a day that just can’t handle a week. Many professions don’t work 4 days a week. Every hair dresser I know doesn’t work Mondays for example. It’s just a matter on if you’re willing and able to wait for the right clients.

[Jupadia]

I waited 6 months and dropped my frees but made sure not to advertise the prices online. Once I enrolled 2 kids then I was no longer a daycare without kids (which I think k was a draw back for some parents because though I have a background in childcare I was not established as
A daycare yet ) then raised them back up for any one else that started.