Hi I'm a fairly newly registered CM, I wondered what others tend to decide regarding fees. Do you have one set rule for fees? noting them in your policies. eg an hourly rate regardless of hours. Or are you flexible with each new enquiry? (I'm not talking unsocialable hours here, as that's pretty clear)
Or do you tailor fees according to each family?
For example I have term time after schoolies, who have a lower rate per hour, than I would currently charge new families - as it was my first contract ever and I was still finding my feet.
As with many posted tips that I have read, some CMs reduce rates for high no. of hours required (say 30 + hrs a week) /sibling discounts. School runs seem to have a min rate if only an hour or so required. I started off with an hourly rate, having read this site I see that everyone has different ways of charging. I feel it has to be a mix of what one feels is right regarding their practice and yet in keeping with the common practice. What are your thoughts?
Q2: School hols ONLY - when agreeing contracts, how would you go about a retainer/deposit? I have an enquiry for 2 days a week for all school hols. I thought it might be good to work out the weekly cost x no. of weeks care required e.g 13 weeks, and divide by 12 months. Ask for 1st month now (Jan) by way of a deposit and get paid the same amount monthly, so that family don't have to find a huge bill when it comes to the main summer hols.
What are your thoughts? Otherwise I can only think of half the usual way I do retainers which is half fee each week space held till start of care, what happens then between each set of sch.hols?!
Thanks in advance