Twins?

[juliaemma]

I have had someone enquire with twins, asking my rates for twins. What does everyone else do? Would it be the reduced cost of a sibling? Or as its twins, is it different??

Also i have always charged a deposit of £40 for future starting charges, and taken it off the first pay packet. If it is starting way in advance and she wants to hold the place, do you ask for a retainer fee? And how much? is it refundable to them??

Thanks.xxx

Some childminders charge less for siblings, some just charge normal hourly rate x2, it's up to you. I look after 2 brothers (age 1 and 2.5) for 20 hours per week and I charge slightly less for them (think it works out at a saving of 25p per hour per child), I only did this cos their mum would have taken them to nursery if I didn't, and I wanted the work, so guess you have to look at each individual case.

If she wants you to keep the space open then it is a retainer you charge and again the rate is up to you, personally I charge 1/2 rate for retainer (not refundable to them), but when you charge a retainer you have to keep the place open and they are entitled to use the place if they want to, however their full rate would apply if they did. Does that make sense?

how far in advance would you charge a retainer for? For example, if someone wanted a place for September, would you charge a deposit or a retainer???

Hello

I offer a reduction od 25p per hour for siblings, but also becuase she is a friend!

For a place in september, if the space was available now, I would charge a retainer (and I charge full fee) from now until september. if a space was coming up in september, to be used by this new child then i charge a deposit of one weeks fees.......but i am kind and take that off the first bill!

make sense?

when my twins went to a childminder we paid the same for both of them. I guess if you do a reduced rate for siblings then that would be fair to do for twins too.

Don't see a problem with a retainer fee.

She is probably really relieved to find someone who can take both - it is a nightmare trying to get childcare for twins.

thanks Booh

I personally do not offer a reduced rate, purely because each child needs the same amount of care! But then it is personal choice. I do offer discounted rates for full time ie. £3.50 per hour, £35 per day and £150 per week...