WOT DO YOU CHARGE FOR RETAINER FEES?????????????

[KiddieCare]

possibly got baby starting in march, parnet came today, and loved me, is comin bk with husband after xmas, they wan 3days maybe 3.5 days, wat would you charge as a retainer??????????

I haven't had to charge a retainer myself, only deposits (which I offered refunds on when I found out I was pregnant but they still chose to come so no issue in the end). Given what I read in the other area I would think a little more carefully about a retainer for 3 months.

Good luck

1/2 fee for the 3 days, i would set 3 days as their contract and the 1/2 can be extra?

i really like this lady and dont want to put her off by charging so muc over quite a long time, i no i shouldnt think like this, but this would be my first mindee so dont think id fill place by then anyway

Kiddiecare - does she know you're news or is it too early? Off to bed but will check back tomorrow

no, havnt even told family yet, way to early, only found out yest, new mindee will be over one anyway by the time i give birth.
am i rite in remembering ur pregnant also looney???

Just popped down so thought I'd check back. Yes I'm pregnant and had new people lined up to start in Jan/Feb and had taken deposits. Then when I found out I was pregnant I thought it wouldn't be fair IF they chose not to come to me to have taken their money so when I told them at about 10ish weeks as didn't want to let them down, I offered a refund IF they didn't want me anymore. Luckily they still wanted me and were happy for me and all worked out fine and they are happy with my 3 months maternity leave (was going to take 4 weeks then decided that was a bit mad). I just (personally) think it would be wrong to take money each month for a few months and then they find out as they MAY choose to not have a pregnant childminder (fingers crossed this wouldn't bother them). Or IF you take money (as obviously you don't want to tell people too early, of course ), maybe you could put it aside and when you tell her, give her the choice and offer money back IF she chooses not to come????

Ooops, dh back and kicking me off, was just a thought Night x

i have never charged a retainer
i know childminders that do and get them but i just dont
i have had a child booked in from easter 07 to start in dec07 2 days a week and didnt charge a retainer and they started just fine and i was happy to keep those days free as it suited me to be quiter on those days until the child started in dec

if i was you i would charge a retainer until you get other intreast in the space and explain this to the parents but deff take a depoisit which will be refunded when the child leaves

if i was you i would not charge a retainer

my cm used to have my dds for 2 days a week. She only used to charge me for the days she had them but asked for a small retainer for the school holidays when I didn't need her. I also used to pay her when the dds were at pre school as she was responsible for them when they were there.

kiddie - i wouldn't charge a retainer as you're not actually losing anything by keeping this space at the moment - so i'd ask for a deposit - however if/when you do get inquiries for that place then you should re-negotiate because it would be daft to lose out - just my opinion though

I charge Half normal fee for retainer, and have always got it (STHMindee3's parents paid for 3months, half pay for a full time space, SAHMindee1 for 2 months fulltime space)

But that is because there are not enough CM's here and I could have filled the space straight away, and they were prepared to pay the retainer.

Again it comes down to market forces.

What I have done in the past is charge a third. So to hold the three days a week they'd pay for one iyswim.
When it was a longer period I worked out what a third would be... something like £275 and said to the parent I would usually charge this but shall we say £200 as its a long time. That way you're still getting something and they are happy as getting a deal iyswim.

i def don wan2 tell any1 just yet, till my 3m scan, and agree if wudnt be fair to take a retainer if she then decided not to have me after all, so would take a deposit.
would this have to be refundable tho????

Deposits are usually NON refundable i.e. deduct that amount from first bill when they start. However, when I told the parents I was pregnant, I said they could have a refund if they no longer wished to use me. Luckily they were happy to stay

i took a 9 yr old on in oct, her mum put her name down in june, i charged her £50 non refundable deposit, but it was NOT sued against her fee's it was for me to secure her place in oct..i wanted one over 8 on and had a few wanting the space, so she paid, they are lovely family.

The mindee who is starting jan 08 was 'meant' to pay retainer, but i knew she was also paying out notice period to nursery so i said unless i got another enquiry for same days i would not charge her anything, if someone else did come along i would have to start charging and we had a laugh about how i would ring up tomorrow and say someone wants the space just so i got a retainer..as it happend that VERY SAME DAY my one day a week mindee's dad asked me for one of the days new mindee would be using!..sods law eh!, but i stll didnt charge her for anything and nursery have actually let her go early and she finished today!, so worked out well1

i think ill jus charge a one off fee for the whole period, (about 2.5mo), any1 got any suggestions as what to ask for?????