Daycare Provider Paid Time Off

[mac60]

I am not arguing that a daycare home business does not offer good tax incentives. We all know that it does. What I am trying to say is,.........people/mainly parents do not realize the week to week cost of operating a home daycare or a center daycare. They think that the $400 we earn each week is ours to put in our pockets. Well, it is not. Just go buy groceries for the week and my $400 is already down to $300 or less. That is my point here, there are expenses to operating a home daycare and many people do not realize or want to believe it.

[jen]

I am not arguing that a daycare home business does not offer good tax incentives. We all know that it does. What I am trying to say is,.........people/mainly parents do not realize the week to week cost of operating a home daycare or a center daycare. They think that the $400 we earn each week is ours to put in our pockets. Well, it is not. Just go buy groceries for the week and my $400 is already down to $300 or less. That is my point here, there are expenses to operating a home daycare and many people do not realize or want to believe it.

True enough! Do you use the food program?

[mac60]

True enough! Do you use the food program?

We don't have one. I just use the standard deduction at tax time, which yes, drops your income right down quite quickly.

[TTOTS]

hi,
in regards to the post from:

Frustrated in ny
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
it doesn't seem confusing to me, every business that pays their employees vacation or sick leave and every business that doesn't pay for it, every one of the businesses have to get someone to replace each employee while they are gone (sick or on vacation) and pay the replacements salary from the businesses own money (not from their employee that is gone), or they have to split up the work between other workers, who then can't do all of their own work, while taking on extra work from the employee who is gone.

Providers do not work for parents, we are not employed by parents. Our daycare is our own business, we make our own policies, we make our own contract, we decide what we want to charge. There is no legal guideline as to what we charge, because we can charge whatever we want. In my state, daycare and cost of living is expensive. Infant rates range from as low as $500 (stay at home moms) to as high as $1200 (and even higher). There are providers (private-stay at home moms) that even charge more and they get it, i think that is crazy, but parents do pay that and if they want to pay that, it is their choice. Licensed (and unlicensed-stay at home moms) providers can charge any amount (i'm pretty sure in every state), we can take off as many days as we want. I can take off

the thing parents forget is when a parent takes vacation, sick days, etc... We can't just fill that spot so we don't lose money. If a parent takes 2 weeks, that will be about $250-$300 (depending on what state you live in), a provider can just add $25 a month and get paid for the vacation time after all. At home daycares and centers, they charge a flat rate (in my state and most or all others), to keep your childs spot reserved for you, most do not give you your money back (for full time flat rates) and keep your spot vacant, while losing money.

It is up to each provider to choose what they want to charge and take off. I have had my daycare for 10 years (with manylong term parents). My daughters run it with me (one goes to full time college-luckily a few miles away and the other will go sometime soon). So, our daycare has an advantage of 3 family members, for more one on one attention. We provide more than just about any other daycare or center.
In the last 10 years, we have provided or done the following:

We have never called in sick (even though it's in our covtract).
We have never taken or charged for any vacation (and 2 weeks paid is in our covtract).
We have rarely sent a sick child home, maybe 12 times (even though it's in our covtract).
We used to be open for many years, 365 days a year with 0 time off, many, many times for more than 300, 400 and even 500 hours a month (even though it's in our covtract).
We used to let low income parents keep their co-payment up to $70, provide free over time, free nights out, paid for b-day parties for low income parents, given many rides (due to no car, break downs, etc...), many times we provided long term care (for parents out of state vacations-aslong as 2 full weeks, hospitalizations for surgeries and accidents, c-sectons, broken neck, etc...), we have bought countless thousands of $ for clothes, coats, shoes, etc..., paid rent, toys, bikes and more. We used to spend $50-$100 on each child for every b-day and christmas, as well as for my own children and then like many providers, their dad skipped out. We still do all the other non financial things and all the free nights out, overtime, late fees...........until a parent abuses me, then i charge.

This is our business and we decide what we charge, what hours we work, what we let slide and when we have had enough abuse.

We fix so many problem children (enotionally, physically, biying, eating and anger problems, etc..), children that are 3 1/2-5. Now we have a 4 1/2 yr old that was wetting and pooping in pull ups, literal drooling (flowing constantly, all day long, every day), walking like a much younger child (like a special need child on his toes, with hands dangling) couldn't say more than a couple understandable words. It took two days to teach him how to keep swallowing, it took 1 statement of no more going in your pants at my house and he never did again, but he did for 6 more months at home (parents even acknowledged he did it intentionally). Some parents won't try or help us out. We get so many children like that, it's unbelievable, it is extremely hard, so time consuming, tedious, frustrating that these parents let this go, don't know better, but don't get help or are lazy. I can't not take these children, i don't want them to slip through the cracks. I have three of these children (delayed due to parents) in my care. I get many parents that won't accept there is something wrong with their child/ren (it is extremely obvious) and they fight me or the system or the steps needed and we have to fix them ourselves.we have gone through so many children with problems, i want to start insisting on getting special needs pay (i never have). Sorry, just venting. I'm serious, it happens a lot.
I used to do a daycare network, hooking up parents and providers, helping parents feel comfortable and at ease. I don't do it anymore (very time consuming), i had tons of parents wanting to use my daycare. Sometimes i want to quit and take the easy kids, i used to hear how hard it was to find daycare.

Thanks for reading, have a great christmas

very well said! I am a mother and daycare provider. I have been on both ends of the stick.

[ConcernedMotherof2]

What?

Or you could remember that providers make $16-$30 a DAY! Which makes $80 -$150 a week. Out of that money that is made is expenses for proper care. How many people make it on the amount of money that providers make a week/day?

Okay, so when my children were attending full time dc, I was paying anywhere from $200-$250 per week, for my two children. If my two were the only kids in care, that provider would be making only about $200/week, right? However, *most* daycares have more children in attendance. If you have 5 children in care, at that rate, you're clearing $500/week, (going along with what Chickenhauler said about healthy attendance) which is more than I make working outside the home. I don't get paid vacation or paid holidays and somehow, as a single parent without state assistance, I am making it hmmm... (thinking maybe I should open a daycare)

Yes, I agree that a signed contract constitutes agreement with the terms, whatever those terms may be. However, sometimes parents are in a spot to get care so that they can work and have to agree to the terms of the dc whatever those terms may be. And the question here is, is it even fair to *demand* paid vacations, causing the parents to either take time off of work or pay double for that week so that they can work?? Paid holidays that fall within the week are fair. A day or two here and there, I can handle because this person takes care of my child and is therefore worth the little extra that I can muster to give, but I do not believe paid vacation is appropriate. I've said it before and I'll say it again--yes, you deserve paid vacation more than any other profession I can think of, but no, I cannot afford to finance it.

[jen]

And the question here is, is it even fair to *demand* paid vacations, causing the parents to either take time off of work or pay double for that week so that they can work?? Paid holidays that fall within the week are fair. A day or two here and there, I can handle because this person takes care of my child and is therefore worth the little extra that I can muster to give, but I do not believe paid vacation is appropriate. I've said it before and I'll say it again--yes, you deserve paid vacation more than any other profession I can think of, but no, I cannot afford to finance it.

On one had you are saying it is unfair, on the other hand you are saying we deserve a paid vacation...it really can't be both.

As for fair...of course it is "fair." It is OUR business and we determine the rules--that is how operating ones own business works. It is equally "fair" for you to determine that you won't patronize a business because it doesn't fall in your price range.

It is a little bit like saying, "is it fair for BMW to charge $50,000+ for a vehicle? Of course its fair, I just won't be buying one. Many people can and do afford a BMW and can and do affort to pay for a more expensive daycare. It's not about being fair, it is just business.

And yes, you probably would do better financially by opening up your own daycare. I began mine as a single parent and it was the best thing I ever did for my kids.

Oh, I should add that I, myself do not charge for vacation. I build the cost of my vacation in to my rates...I am still being paid and it makes people feel good that they "aren't paying" me when I'm not open!

[Liliya]

I do not charge for my vacation,but I do charge if child on vacation,sick or just not here plus 5 paid holidays/year.
Parents should understand that even if their child not here I am still here working,even if I have one child here. I would not mind to have not paid day off ones in a while,if all families agree to keep kids home on a same day.But it is just not possible. I am doing childcare in my home for almost three years now,and I never had a complaing from parents about that.
Plus you should read policy and see if you can afford this provider before her paid off times comes.

[tymaboy]

Everyone looks at the amount of money they think we are bringing in each week before taxes. But no one is thinking of the extra hours that we put in per day/week. I have kids in care for 11 hours a day. Parents pay for the time the kid is in care but no one thinks of the extra hours that we put in when kids are not incare. When you think of the amount of hours you work & make compared to the hours we put in makes a huge difference. People do not get into child care because of the money they can make they get into it because they enjoy being with kids (atleast me anyway) DH would not mind me getting a job outside of the home due to the fact that he would not mind having to get this or that for the daycare, fix this or that for the daycare, & not have kids here when he leaves for work & gets home from work. Unless you are a provider you will never understand & just see the $$ signs that you do for the simple reason that you have no clue & no amount of trying to explain it will you get it unless you have been or are a provider.

[ConcernedMotherof2]

You're right, as a parent who has never run a daycare out of my home, I really don't have an inside perspective on how much time and money you put into your business. However, expecting payment for a service that is not rendered is simply ludacris. (forgive my spelling, please) Paid vacations are for employees, not small business owners. The only time a small business owner turns a profit while they are away on vacation is if they have employees who are working to provide the product or service that brings in the profit while the owner is on vacation.

On the note of what is fair, what I meant was it just doesn't make any sense at all to be paid for services you did not provide. When I said that dc providers deserve a paid vacation, I meant that I understand how taxing your job can be. In a perfect world, everyone would work for a living, we would all have paid vacation and affordable health care and the list goes on... but it just doesn't work that way.

[jen]

You're right, as a parent who has never run a daycare out of my home, I really don't have an inside perspective on how much time and money you put into your business. However, expecting payment for a service that is not rendered is simply ludacris. (forgive my spelling, please) Paid vacations are for employees, not small business owners. The only time a small business owner turns a profit while they are away on vacation is if they have employees who are working to provide the product or service that brings in the profit while the owner is on vacation.

On the note of what is fair, what I meant was it just doesn't make any sense at all to be paid for services you did not provide. When I said that dc providers deserve a paid vacation, I meant that I understand how taxing your job can be. In a perfect world, everyone would work for a living, we would all have paid vacation and affordable health care and the list goes on... but it just doesn't work that way.

I really enjoy reading your posts and mostly agree with you...except on this one...and I don't even charge for vacation! Anyway, my final point is this...

You may not like it, you may not agree with it, but for every parent that has a problem paying for vacation there are two more who are able and happy to do so. There are parents who are fortunate enough to look first at the program and the provider and put costs second. I know not everyone is that fortunate, but for providers who cater to the group that can, more power to them!

[Chickenhauler]

Everyone looks at the amount of money they think we are bringing in each week before taxes. But no one is thinking of the extra hours that we put in per day/week. I have kids in care for 11 hours a day. Parents pay for the time the kid is in care but no one thinks of the extra hours that we put in when kids are not incare. When you think of the amount of hours you work & make compared to the hours we put in makes a huge difference. People do not get into child care because of the money they can make they get into it because they enjoy being with kids (atleast me anyway) DH would not mind me getting a job outside of the home due to the fact that he would not mind having to get this or that for the daycare, fix this or that for the daycare, & not have kids here when he leaves for work & gets home from work. Unless you are a provider you will never understand & just see the $$ signs that you do for the simple reason that you have no clue & no amount of trying to explain it will you get it unless you have been or are a provider.

What you described is called "owning and operating a small business".

I challenge you to find me any successful small business operator who doesn't deal with these same things every day.

If you really want to feel sorry for someone, take a look at farming....especially dairy operations. They can't "close"....those cows gotta be milked, every morning, every evening, regardless of personal plans, weather, emergencies, etc.

[momofboys]

You're right, as a parent who has never run a daycare out of my home, I really don't have an inside perspective on how much time and money you put into your business. However, expecting payment for a service that is not rendered is simply ludacris. (forgive my spelling, please) Paid vacations are for employees, not small business owners. The only time a small business owner turns a profit while they are away on vacation is if they have employees who are working to provide the product or service that brings in the profit while the owner is on vacation.

On the note of what is fair, what I meant was it just doesn't make any sense at all to be paid for services you did not provide. When I said that dc providers deserve a paid vacation, I meant that I understand how taxing your job can be. In a perfect world, everyone would work for a living, we would all have paid vacation and affordable health care and the list goes on... but it just doesn't work that way.

Whether you think it is ludicrous or not is completely your opinion. However, if a parent signed a form stating they would pay for holidays it seems quite immature to complain about it now. I am a childcare provider & I don't charge for holidays or vacations & the parents I provide care for do get paid for those holidays (they are teachers).

[momma2girls]

I agree to things on here, except for the paid vacation. I left a job after 5 yrs. and had 5 weeks vac. paid, it was 20 days and I only worked 4 days a week.
Everyone deserves and earns a paid vacation, no matter what type of job you do. Being a daycare provider, we have no sick days, 401 K, insurance, bonuses, personal days, etc......
I always have daycare friends as back up if they need good care, when I am gone!!!
Happy Holidays to everyone!!!

[Unregistered]

Food and utilities aren't the only big expenses. I don't know about most of you, but I spend quite a bit every month on new toys and activities plus art supplies. We go through paint and paper around here like there is no tomorrow. It really adds up.

Also, the wear and tear on the house is insane. Forget about having anything nice unless it's in a room where the daycare kids aren't allowed access.

[momma2girls]

I totally agree with you!!! I go thru one black and white, and one color ink every month!!! One ream of printer paper, one pkg. scrapbook paper, one pkg. const. paper, all the craft supplies, paint, markers, colors, coloring books, pencils, erasers, one box of kleenex at least once a month, sometimes twice a month, hand sanitizer, soap one a month, toilet paper at least one huge bag of double rolls once a month- the list goes on and on>>>>
Plus all the food, wear and tear on toys, books, on your house period!!!!!