CM Club-A Money question???

[kkey21]

Hi all..
If you were to agree to take on a child to start next year, what would be the 'usual' charge to hold the place from now?
Thank you in advance for any replies...x

Well I am nasty and charge full (as I could fill any spaces tomorrow)

But half is normal I guess

if you have the place available to offer now i would charge half fees but if the space is only available next year i wouldnt charge just take a deposit
i am holding a place till jan for a baby but am lucky to have filled the place till jan with another child on a temp contract

Hi there - Surely if you've agreed to take the child, you can't go back and charge now? Presuming you haven't agreed yet though - surely you can't charge all the hours til the child starts with you? As a mum I'd find that outrageous. I think a deposit should be enough to protect you from lost business (one months fees?)- one that they lose if they cancel. If you're a good childminder with loads of experience, won't you fill the slots anyway. Am I being harsh and biased to the parents viewpoint?

Cadzooks if Kkey signs with the mum tomorrow and the baby starts in January - she is unlikely to fill that space for the 4 months - so she has lost that money

If there are lots of C/Mers in her area she might take the child on for a retainer

I wouldn't sacarifice 4 months money for a promise of an income in Jan - but that is because where I am I could fill my spaces very easily.

A temporary place is relatively useless

If she has a place starting in Jan then she should charge a deposit to hold the space and ensure that child gets it - but if she has a space now - she has to weigh up whether Kkey can fill that space before she needs it.

But I might be being a mercenary and money grasping childminder

Message withdrawn

Hi Ros!!

Its Keeley!

I love your opinion!!
I haven't agreed to anything and am due to meet the family next week. Its for one day per week so a retainer of half fee's wouldn't be too high. I have seen a few other families and could fill the space but want to choose the right family for me, and so far a couple were to many hours etc.....So i could fill the slots but nothing has been suitable so far. I do agree with retainer as if i took a months deposit i could be left in a tricky situation if they went elsewhere, but equally its only a day per week!
How are you doing anyway?? xx

Just to get back on track...
Family needing 1 day from Jan, i could fill my place before that, have 9yrs nanny experience (NNEB qualified) although a newly registered childminder.
However if i really like family and vice versa just wondered what you would charge to hold the day until the new year.
Thanks

If you decdie to loose the money - you need to decide how much you can afford to loose then charge the balance (iyswim)

Say it's £30 a day for 18 weeks - that is a total of £540

you might decide that you csan loose £300 so charge £240

Good luck

I have just taken a month's deposit for a baby due to start in June 07. I know I will havew a space available. I won't take a retrainer until I actually have the space, which is probably end of the spring term.

I always take a month's deposit, and a month in advance. I know it can be a large sum of money, but nurseries do the same too and no one quibbles with them.

In fact round here nurseries are taking deposits and parents are finding nearer the time there is no space! I have had a couple of people looking who have found themselves in that situation.