CM club - How much do you put up your fees by... what is reasonable?

[Jackmummy]

I've now been CM for 3 years and I still charge the same daily and hourly rate as when I first started. I find the money side of thing awkward to approch so I have just kept things as they are so far.
I just feel that with inflation etc I should put my fee's up slightly and I just wondered what the usual figure was... e.g. by 20p/hour or 50p/hour or what?
I won't do anything until April, but I want to give plenty of notice etc.
TIA

i think 50p as less just wouldnt make much diff to you.
i started nov last year and am putting weekend fees up april(normal fes are ok for now)..do it in form of newsletter .."hi everyone and welcome back after christmas blah de blah..my holidays this year..blah blah...new playgroups and fun things for your dc's(big up yourself), then increase in fees ..followed by mentioning fun trip youll be taking and will send out consent forms"..just something to sweeten and slip it in the middle but show how much you do and they shouldnt(but prob will) grumble

i have been a cm for 5 yrs and decided to put fees up in April 07 by 30p so i sent a newsletter home first week in Jan with parents as yet nobody has said anything

Thanks both of you... maybe I should go in the middle and say 40p
Anyone else?

sounds fine to me, whatever you feel you can manage on, do you charge for meals and snacks?..if not mention to parents that as most meals are free you need to increase your fee to enable you to buy the best food for their Little ones?

The only thing I would say is that 40p/hour might be quite a hike up for some of your parents (even though you haven't increased your rates for 3 years, so they're very lucky!) How does your current hourly rate compare to other local minders?

I didn't put my hourly rate up for a few years when I first started minding. When I realised that other minders were "overtaking" me, I put my hourly rate up by quite a bit for all new clients. I put the rate up for my existing customers by a lower, more acceptable amount, and then up to the same rate as everyone else when their children went to nursery or school.

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I think that 25p is probably the way to go. It multiplies into a pound nicely... does that make sense! Also who can quibble over 25p, so don't feel too cheeky.
Thanks all.

I put my fees up by 20p per hour in January each year & don't usually have any problems. I always give my parents at least 6 weeks notice of changes like this.

My first price increase was from £2.50 to £3.00 per hour and I agonised about approaching parents. When I finally told people, I explained that I had never increased my prices before and my new price was still competitive. I didn't really need to explain though as my parents were all nice about it.

Now when I increase my fees I do a fee sheet to give to all parents, saying this is what your fee will be when your contract is next renewed so they have plenty of time to get used to the idea before they have to pay it.

My policy is to refrain from a price increase in the first year of joining me; unless i get any major increase in my running costs.

i put mine up in jan by 25p an hour.

How can I ever increase if I've started out at the going rate for the area? I can't see being able to increase for a couple of years at least

thats what i was like
when i started 5 yrs ago i set fees at £3 per hour after getting to know other cm in the area they all charged £2.50 per hr but i was full so they all decided to put their fees up
now after 5 yrs i have decided to put my fees up (but i know they will all follow)

glad im not the only one dmo!
hows ww going this week?

not to bad quite hard this week as dh away (his nana died in ireland) so hes back tonight
keeping on about 19 points a day (i'm allowed 21) but dh is the cheif i dont normally cook
hope your doing ok

oh symapthies to your dh dmo.
im doing good this wk,scales will tell on monday tho,not expecting anything close to what i lost last week!

sorry for hijack jackmummy

my cm put her fees up in sept by £1 and i have 2 children with her so my childcare cost went up hugely! Have been using her 4 years and its the first increase though.

£1 per hour????!!

I think you should see what the others in your area are charging and go with something similar. I would be wary of a large hike mind you.

£1 is alot!!