CM Club: Need help with retainer rate.

[Lmccrean]

I look after 3 afterschoolers who are term time only as their mum is a sub teacher. It was very rushed with only a few days between first contact and me taking them on, starting thursday of last week.

My problem is, if I definately will not have them during the holidays, and in theory I could fill their spaces during that time, should I still charge a retainer to hold their place? Or can I only charge retainer if I will be available to take them (excl my holidays)?

Thanks in advance - have to disappear for a bit, but will check back later.

I would call it double dipping if you're charging a retainer during the holidays when they aren't attending AND you're having other children also paying. am sure loads of other CM will say otherwise tho

I would charge a retainer if you HAVENT got children to take their space in the holidays. You cant really charge them to hold the space if there is no space!

HTH

I looked after a teacher's children once and she offered me a 50% retainer for the holidays, but I had to be prepared to take the children and charge full rate for any days 'retained'. As it happens I got other children who were holidays only, so I didn't charge her for the holidays.

Thanks - tis what I thought!

Bit that confused me is, at the minute, I dont have anyone that fills their spaces for non-term time, so would charge retainer and have it in contract, but if I was asked to mind kids in that time, then I would have to say no. Charging a 50% retainer would only be £6 a day, so if I could find some kids to fill spaces I would be far better off financially.

Guess its a gamble Ill have to take. Argh.

Or offer to return the retainer for any days that you can book?

Good idea KM. Know you do this on a grander scale than me, but is that what you would do? Im so new to this Im fretting over everything!

Definitely - just say obviously you can't guarantee anything but you might possibly be able to book the holidays to other children. Is she happy that if you can you will return the retainer for those days?

That way if you fill 1 week or M-W every holiday you only return what she can't use

Thats great KM, thanks. Will chat to her on Monday about it and see what she thinks!

Learning from my mistakes. I had thought it would take longer than one day from reg for the first family to start, so wasnt as prepared as I could have been!