Question from a starting babysitter ? do you charge travelling expenses?

[toja555]

Hello. I have just recently advertised myself as an evening babysitter and got my first query. Though I advertised only in the area I live in, the query comes from a neighbouring area. I will need to take bus which will cost me at least £2.40 return (plus at least half an hour journey). I know it is not big money but if the lady takes me for only 1 or 2 hours, it is quite considerable. Would you charge hourly rate (which is £6, it is low because I am a starter here) + travelling expenses (£2.0 for example) or should I just drop it..? P.S. I would not dare increase the rate which was stated in my ad only due to reason that the person is in a neighbouring postcode.
Thank you in advance for any response!

I've never paid travelling expenses for a sitter - but it would be reasonable for you to say 'because you live a way from me, I have a minimum engagement time of three hours' or similar.

I have always paid the travel expenses of my BBsitters and always been paid it when bbsitting myself or at least the person would drop me off afterwards. Sometime I didn't have too because the bbsitter already had a travel pass or parents/boyfreind swinging by but that's the only exceptions, and I always offer.
If it was clear in your ad that you wanted neighbouring areas, answer her that your fee is stable but she will have to pay for travel expenses.

I've never paid travel costs for babysitters, but also would never engage babysitters for less than 3 hours. If I am not out for long, the babysitter still gets paid for three hours. Otherwise its just not worth their while coming out.

I can't see how it would be in your interests to ever babysit for less then that. Explain it to the family, and if they really do need short periods of time (which would be surprising) then I guess asking for travel costs on top may work, but they're likely to just go with someone more local to them.

Ok, thanks, it seems that I have two options ? either to charge for min of 3 hours or ask to cover travelling expenses. I did say in my ad that I offer babysitting in my postcode which is quite wide area and I intended to stick with it. Did not mention other areas. Sometimes the other areas (in which the lady is in) are only 10mins drive by car but if you take a bus, it goes round and it takes 30 mins at least.

I guess if they are back late they ll pay for a cab? Our nanny drives and she is local but if we have other babysitters we pay cab.

I would never sent a babysitter home by bus.

And definetely set a min charge - it is usually 4 hrs.

Agree with no travel expenses but min booking time. I had 4 hours as mine too. Sometimes people only take a couple of hours and it's not worth my while to do it once I factor in petrol and travelling time etc.

Plus as you're going by bus you might want to say that after 11 you ask for the cab home to be covered or a lift.

I looked at some babysitting agencies around and they usually charge £6.5-£6.75 in my area with 4 hours as a minimum per time. Bear in mind that I am a fresh starter and self-advertised and to be able to compete I think I should offer something less, like min 3 hours for £6 per hour plus travelling expenses if I use public transport/cab if late (my car not always works especially in these weather conditions).

I would be happy with min numer of hours but probably not to pay your travel expenses. £6 per hour is not very cheap for someone starting out.

If you are worried about travel costs, I would bump up to 4 hour minimum, rather than 3.

Strix, this includes after midnight babysitting and I am in London, and this rate here is cheaper than average. But your remark is taken on board. Thank you!

I have babysat for people who have come in at 4am and of course they have to pay for a taxi home. You will find most babysitters charge more after midnight.

You may want to find out if the children are in bed then £6 hour for someone starting out is ok but if the children are awake and need enteraining and maybe a bath before bed then
you may want to look at asking for more.

Strix £6 hour is cheap for a London babysit I would be charging £10 hour and £12 after midnight

I don't think those are the going rates. It sound more like the rate for experienced nannies who also babysit for someone with whom they have an established good relationship.

Pricing on Sitters.co.uk (www.sitters.co.uk/cost.aspx):

Babysitters in central London postcode areas
E EC N NW SE SW W WC

Weekdays: £5.85 per hour
Saturdays: £6.85 per hour

I also would not put my children to bed before you arrived if they didn't already know you very well. If they woke up and found a stranger in the house that would very scary indeed. So, they need to go to bed knowing you are there and not be surprised by my absense.

I dont charge travelling as such but do charge a slighter higher rate for families who live more than 45mins away as thats as far as I will travel.

I also always charge for a min of 4hrs as I could agree to babysit for 2hrs for someone 45mins away then get a booking request for someone 10mins away for 6hrs.

when I first started babysitting was very naive charged very little, travelled miles and didnt have a set min number of hrs, didnt charge them extra if home late etc etc - you live and learn!!

i generally dont charge to travel but if over 30/45mins then yes i would

but

i always ask where they are and if far away then i would mention that to the family at first chat/email/interview that i would charge them an extra hour either way travelling time

i do have a minimum fee of 4hrs regardless if i am used for that time and again i make that clear at the beginning

two local familys that i pp for have moved to london and both pay me from the time i set off to their house,to the time i get home after i have pp for them - i text them when home and then transfer the money into my account that day

I charge more for travelling more so my travelling expenses are included in my rate

I have told the lady that I will charge £6 per hour, min 3 hours and if I come by car (which would be majority of the cases) there is no extra charge, but if I need to take public transport I would ask to cover travelling expenses. I thought it was genuinely fair, now waiting to see what response if she will hire me.
I couldn?t agree more that children have to see babysitter before going to bed, otherwise they would be terrified to wake up and find a stranger at home.
Strix, I have seen that sitters website myself and prices are somehow surreal. But then the parents pay min 4 hours and registration or booking fees, can?t remember which one.

It sounds reasonable, I think the reason nobody I know pays for transport is that they all live within walking distance. My dd babysits, she is paid £5 and if its not within walking distance the parents collect and bring her back as she is 15 and doesn't drive.

Actually, you pay a quarterly registration and a ut, I can't remember how much either one is.

I am also surprised that Sitters finds people who want to babysit for that amount. Sitters does have a bit of a following around here (I think it's a four pound charge per booking) but most people I know pay around £8-10. I think your rates are fine. It's also usual to pay for a cab home at night or for soemone to drop you off. When I have needed a babysitter on the odd occasion during the day, I do not pay for transport.

What I meant to say was - cab or drop off if it's in the evening.

I did a comparison of evening babysitting fees of what I charge for a Saturday night vs what Sitters charges in my area (full comparison can be found on my website). Here is the Break Even Chart (jpg) based on Annual Cost (thus paying the full membership fee, so 4 lots of the quarterly membership fee) - ideal for those who love charts!
I found that sitters was cheaper IF the parents went out more than 17 Saturday evenings a year AND they went out for more than 3 hours each time. So it's great for parents who go out often. Not so good for those who want the occasional evening out.
It is very hard to compare Sitters fees with that charged by a nanny... as sitters charges different rates depending on the day of the week, plus different fees depending on area.

Over the years I have tried charging a mileage fee, these days I don't bother. I just restrict how far I will go instead!