How would you price this?

[bananapancakes]

I'm still thinking about trying to organize a sort of drop in home day care for the days when my H is working, L is not at daycare, and I'm not working. I'd be home with L all day anyway so am thinking about opening my home to 1-3 children on a drop in basis. Mostly SAHMs, moms on mat leave, or moms who work part-time who just want occasional care for appointments or just a break. I'd be available 5-10 days a month. I'm just trying to figure out how I would price it.

For reference: minimum wage in my province is $11/hour. I pay my 22 year old nursing student babysitter $11/hour. Home daycares are in the $30-40/day range. Our centre is $45.50/day.

I think I'd likely offer three options: three hours, five hours, or ten hours. Does it seem reasonable to charge $20/3 hours, $30/5 hours, and $50/10 hours? Cheaper than a babysitter but a tad more expensive than a daycare?

[rugbywife]

I pay my babysitter, who is 14, $10 an hour. So what you have listed is awesome.

Can I say it again, can you come live near me?

[bananapancakes]

We were so close to moving there rugbywife. If only the houses were cheaper.

[zarapipe]

I'm not sure pricing more exspensive than a home daycare would get you more clients. Just being objective, but what Makes your care worth more than the 30-40 range of an in home?

[rugbywife]

This is unrelated but I wish that our centres went for $45 a day.

[bananapancakes]

Sept 2, 2015 18:54:58 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I'm not sure pricing more exspensive than a home daycare would get you more clients. Just being objective, but what Makes your care worth more than the 30-40 range of an in home?

Flexibility and less kids.

[pooh8402]

I sure wish you lived near me

[bananapancakes]

Sept 2, 2015 19:12:27 GMT -5 pooh8402 said:

I sure wish you lived near me

I was thinking of this when I read your post. Perhaps I should target health care workers!

[aspentosh]

No real clue on pricing, though it seems reasonable. Somedays I'd pay $100 for someone to take my DD for 10 hours

Just helping to think this through... Would your schedule be published on the 1st of the month? Or beginning of the week? Curious how easy it would be for people to plan on your availability.

[bananapancakes]

Sept 2, 2015 19:17:27 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

No real clue on pricing, though it seems reasonable. Somedays I'd pay $100 for someone to take my DD for 10 hours

Just helping to think this through... Would your schedule be published on the 1st of the month? Or beginning of the week? Curious how easy it would be for people to plan on your availability.

I know all the way to the end of December right now so I can post probably three months worth at a time.

[aspentosh]

Sept 2, 2015 19:19:16 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

Sept 2, 2015 19:17:27 GMT -5 aspentosh said:

No real clue on pricing, though it seems reasonable. Somedays I'd pay $100 for someone to take my DD for 10 hours

Just helping to think this through... Would your schedule be published on the 1st of the month? Or beginning of the week? Curious how easy it would be for people to plan on your availability.

I know all the way to the end of December right now so I can post probably three months worth at a time.

Yeah, that's awesome. I think you've got a great idea here.

[namasteak]

Sounds good to me! As a SAHM I would love the 5 hour option.

[6fsn]

I'm your target audience and so I'll give you my thought process. $30 gets me my appointment and if I all goes well I might get an errand on top of it. For an extra $10 I can leave my kid for FIVE hours. That means there will be a meal I don't have to prep and feed AND two more hours to do something by myself or for myself.

For that reason I'd consider raising the $30 to at least $35. It would cover your increased food cost and would make someone like me think about the $15 difference.

[pinotgrig]

I think if you're pricing in between a dcp and babysitter, you're hitting a sweet spot. Your flexibility will also be a good selling point.

GL! And btw, I didn't realize you'd lost 32 lbs (I'm usually on the mobile site, so no tickers) - that's awesome! Way to go!

[bananapancakes]

Good point, @6sfn. I'll think on that.

Thanks pinotgrig. I was doing super well on WW but I've fallen off the wagon lately. I really need to get back to it.

[6fsn]

You might just think about meal times in general and if you want to upcharge or make it included. If you're open to any 3 hr window I'd pick the one over lunch every time just so I don't have to clean it up.

[bananapancakes]

Sept 2, 2015 19:52:05 GMT -5 6fsn said:

You might just think about meal times in general and if you want to upcharge or make it included. If you're open to any 3 hr window I'd pick the one over lunch every time just so I don't have to clean it up.

Another good point!

[redheadk]

I would love something like this. I pay my sitter $15/hour so this would be cheaper and more fun for her.

[cricketwife]

Sept 2, 2015 18:58:19 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

Sept 2, 2015 18:54:58 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

I'm not sure pricing more exspensive than a home daycare would get you more clients. Just being objective, but what Makes your care worth more than the 30-40 range of an in home?

Flexibility and less kids.

Devils advocate here.... I feel like the flexibility is more on your end than the parent's. Only certain days, have to check the schedule.... That said, the prices sound reasonable. Good luck! I hope you do really well. 

[heygrey]

are you planning to keep set hours? If you're thinking 7a-5p, I'd consider blocking it as 7-10, 10:30-1:30, and 2-5 so you can maximize your profit. id also block the 5 hours (7-12 and 12-5) so you don't get 3 people wanting 9-2.

Fwiw, drop in spots at day cares around here charge an extra $10 day over the standard $50/day so I think your price points are fine.

I would have LOVED this service when I was working part time. I had regular care for the days I worked, but I needed the odd care here and there on my days off and found it impossible to find.

[redpenmama]

A few moms in my playgroup offer similar services (though it's not regular). I left my two kids with a mom and her kids for 3 hours, and she charged me $25. Another mom does a drop-in service from 9-12, and it was $12 for one kid and $17 for two. I think they both could charge more...so I think your prices are reasonable.

[lilac05]

I was just having this discussion with friends the other day. I find childcare for appointments to be one of the hardest parts of being a SAHM. When I was working, I could move my schedule around or go before/after work and plan with daycare. Now my H usually has to come home from work to watch the kids. It would be great to have an affordable option for drop-in childcare!

You could consider adding a $3 (or whatever) surcharge if the child will be present for a meal.