CM Club: Freelancers, how do you calc pay?

[crace]

I have been approached by a mindees parent today about them possibly exploring freelance work. At the moment my mindee is with me set days/hours per week.

If it were to go to freelance it would be as and when but they are hoping to get up to a few days per week.

I thought this would be fine, but as far as payment goes - it makes sense to have it be a set amount of hours per week and then if above invoice for any hours above the set hours. But not to "refund" any unused the prior week-or is that too mean?

What is best for this situation?

That sounds good

Make sure the minimum is appropriate & if it means losing potential income have a chat again

Thanks KM, I am being pretty vague as you never know who could be reading, but glad you got the jist. It's a big part of my monthly income so I definitely want to get this right.

If they want to secure 2 or 3 days then they need to pay for most of 2 or 3 days

If they are happy to be flexible about that OK

But don't tie up 3 days for 1 days pay & refuse another child who might want 4 days (or 3)

The trouble is that there are no set days so I would need to keep all 5 days available. As it might be 1-2 days one week but 5 the next. So am thinking them pay the average between of three days?

Trouble is I can't get anyone the other 2 days as I won't know when mindee is coming.

On the other hand, am leaving work in May to have baby and then a few months off- parents doing freelance would enable me to have "easy" weeks..

Ugh, I don't know.

So why not do a temporary 6/9 month contract

Then reassess after you mat period

Is it worth sacrificing income now for a rest then?

How much do you need them to pay you - to keep you in business (so to speak)is it 3 days?

Then charge them 3 days but say you need 10 days/5 days notice of the days & advertise short term ad-hoc to fill the gaps?

Good idea Katy!

Anyone else?

I had an arrangement where parents reserved the whole week for their child and agreed to notify me on a monthly basis which days would be needed. They paid full fees for the hours booked, with 1/2 fees paid for the remainder of the week. Contract stated full fees payable if they did not notify me which days not needed by the agreed date. And that I would waive the 1/2 fee for any time period I used their space for another child (eg covering for another cm's sickness or holiday).

I didn't think to include a minimum fee in the contract. Parents had said they would need 3-4 days a week but throughout contract never booked more than 2 days a week. I won't make that mistake again!