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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think its possible to earn a decent living from Childminding

21 replies

slipperandpjsmum · 06/05/2012 10:38

I know the word decent means different things to different people, however, my friend who CM ft has just told me she earns £30,000+ as a result her dh has decided to give up work and they are going to do it together.

Is this quite unusual or do other people know of childminders who are earning this kind of money?

I was under the impression it was difficult to earn a good income from CM.

Just curious.

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 06/05/2012 10:41

You mean he's decided to change career and train as a childminder?

Original poster
slipperandpjsmum · 06/05/2012 10:44

Yes, he has. Which is great as they will be able to spend more time together and increase their numbers.

OP posts:
HappyMummyOfOne · 06/05/2012 10:46

Self employed people can set aside lots against tax so paper earnings may look far smaller than they actually are.

Given the ratios childminders can have are very high, the fact they will have no own childcare costs and can offset some gas/electricity etc I am sure it can be very lucrative.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 06/05/2012 10:46

I've known childminders on a very good income. As long as they charge enough and all their places are full, it is possible. I think it probably depend a lot on the area you live in, as I also know a couple of childminders who are struggling to fill their places at the moment, and they were turning people away a few years ago.

trixymalixy · 06/05/2012 10:47

I thought the same as you OP!

takingiteasy · 06/05/2012 10:48

It does seem like a lot for childminding but I suppose it depends on what they charge and capacity etc

hatesponge · 06/05/2012 10:48

Depends on your area, demand and supply etc.

My old CM has made a LOT of money. She has the max no of mindees, 2 or 3 of which are FT, Mon-Fri 8-6. She has the rest, plus a lot of over 8s (which I think dont count in numbers) before and after school, and in school hols. IIRC she used to charge me £150 a week for FT care. In the hols she had 8-10 children at those rates.

You have to work for your money certainly, but there is a potential to earn if you are one of a few CMs in your area.

Original poster
slipperandpjsmum · 06/05/2012 10:49

If I had known we were talking these figures I would have done it years ago trixy!!! Smile

OP posts:
imnotmymum · 06/05/2012 10:55

yes my friend earns loads but the hours she puts in and sometimes the effect on her family is a lot. However great if you like it

WorraLiberty · 06/05/2012 10:57

I reckon it's way harder than it looks to be honest.

I know a few people who thought it wouldn't be too different to looking after their own kids and a few of their mates.

Boy were they wrong! Grin

imnotmymum · 06/05/2012 11:02

Yes and Ofstedded now loads of paperwork

laughlovelife · 06/05/2012 11:07

its going to get easier, as ofsted are changing the EYFS, and the husband does not need to train to be a childminder also, he can be her assistant and all he needs is a CRB.

Yes you can make a good living, I have a few friends, who have 2 child and get £400 per week.

ImperialBlether · 06/05/2012 11:07

I think her dh might be foolish to give up his job. If she struggles to attract parents to her business, then they need a back up salary.

It wouldn't take much for parents to pull out of a childminder's - just one nasty accident or an accusation would do it.

CharltonHairstyle · 06/05/2012 11:10

I hope all good child-minders earn a good wage.

I am pretty sure it's a hard job, I couldn't do it...and I can do lots if things Grin

imnotmymum · 06/05/2012 11:13

Also is it not the size of house etc that depends on how many kids have ?? Not how many adults there are

Imnotbatman · 06/05/2012 11:15

I have a friend who gave up nursing for cm nd says she has a higher income now (and only works 4 days a week)

gamerwidow · 06/05/2012 11:23

You can earn a good living but only if all of your full time places are filled. It is not a secure profession though due to the high turnover of children and you have to be good at recruiting new parents in order to keep your income constant.
It is very long hours as well and by no way an easy way to earn money. My CM works 5 days a week from 7.30am - 7pm sometimes later and only gets 4 weeks holiday a year.

tinkerbel72 · 06/05/2012 11:39

I am not surprised by that. It's the only job you can do without having to pay out childcare for your own children, which is instantly going to give you a lot more money in real terms. If you work things so you get older children before/ after school and in the hols I am sure it can be quite good earnings. HOWEVER most cms I've known have been happy to do it while they're own kids are young but don't see it as a permanent 'career' so I would personally be a bit wary of both mum and dad giving up work to become cms. If things change locally ( eg if a nursery opens up, or there's a lack of young kids which happens periodically with birth rates) then you're stuffed.

I think cm is really hard work too (if you do it well) and I wouldn't underestimate that.

LeeCoakley · 06/05/2012 11:44

Good luck to them. There's not many of us workers who have to have that sort of responsibility for 10 hours every day without a real break. The only other people are parents and we all know how draining THAT can be!

BonnieBumble · 06/05/2012 11:49

I know a few childminders who earn around £24,000k pre tax but they aren't actually paying any tax because they are offsetting everything. So their monthly income is more like someone earning about £36K. It doesn't sound right to me and I am sure they will end up with a hefty tax bill one day...

trixymalixy · 06/05/2012 11:51

It's quite a lot of responsibility looking after other people's children and blooming hard work.

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