I am thinking of starting this. I've already been to the local website for my county. Any comments you would like to share for someone just starting out?

By Yjja123 on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 01:52 pm:

I did this a few years ago.
My advice is write a contract! Make the parents sign that they will arrive during your scheduled hours. Establish late fees. Get paid prior to the week (pay Monday for the week). If you want them bringing diapers, food, etc, put that in writing too.

By Reds9298 on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 05:05 pm:

Ditto Yvonne.

By Dana on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 06:09 pm:

How is the income? Can you live off of it? For the amount of hours you put into this, is it worth it? Does it require extra insurance beyond your home insurance?

I'm looking into it now. I'm on the search for a job. I have a job interview on Oct 6 w/ the county health services in the Human Services dept. I just got the call for interview today, much to my surprise. I completed the application a few weeks ago. Nice to know they saw me out of all the other applications, even if I dont get or decide to take the job.

By Yjja123 on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 06:22 pm:

I made $20 per kid/per day. I watched 4-5 kids. It allowed me to be home with my kids and they had playmates. I no longer need to do it (thank goodness) but my two originals (the first family I watched for) I still watch. They are now ages 9 & 7. I have had them both since they were 6 weeks old. I pick them up 2-3 days a week from school. During the summer I have them about 2-3 days a week. They are my "adopted" kids (like part of the family) so it is nice. I can tell you horror stories about others--thus the need for a contract.

By Marcia on Thursday, September 21, 2006 - 08:38 pm:

I also had a contract and made the parents pay up front. My hours were 7:30-6, and they paid late fees if they came even a few minutes late.
I charged $25/day, and that was 7 years ago. People around here now charge about $40. I think it's well worth it, because you get to stay home with your kids. If that's something that's important, this is a great way to do it!
To find out if it's worth it, figure out what your take home pay will be from an out of the home job, including clothing, gas, lunches you might buy, etc. You can write so many things off when working at home, that you won't end up paying taxes.
I had it written on my house insurance that I ran a home daycare, but it didn't increase my payments.

By Anonymous on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 12:07 am:

I think that those prices are high. Think about it, a single mom making even $10 an hour (a good wage in many places for blue collar jobs) is only making $80 a day before taxes. If you're charging $40/day, $120/week, $480/month per child, a mother in that situation is actually paying MORE than she makes for daycare. Just something to think about. I'm so grateful for my sitter, and her affordable rates, I provide food for my kids, and she will keep them any hours I need. Even in actual daycares, it was usually about $80/week per child.

By Kittycat_26 on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 07:21 am:

When compared for my daycare costs, the prices listed here are right in line. I paid $200 per week for Timmy until he was 2. However, they provided the formula (two different types) and baby food. At 2, it went to around $150 and then at three to $100. Now at four we are just below $100.

I believe you will have to pay taxes though out of that money.

By Yjja123 on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 09:05 am:

I am sorry but when I was watching kids I was doing it to earn money, not to be a charity. I chose to do daycare because it allowed me an income and more importantly a chance to be home with my children. I symphathize with single parents but I had to earn a living too. $20 a day is actually cheap for my area.

By Breann on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 10:06 am:

In our area it's about $2.00 per hour. Daycare opens at 7am and closes at 7pm.

By Marcia on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 11:58 am:

Anon, for people who can't afford the rates, there are subsidized spots available in most daycares.
Actually, I'm from Canada, so I'm speaking from experience in my country.
As Yvonne said, we care providers also have to be able to feed our own families. Even my 13 year old daughter is paid between $5 and $7.50/hour to babysit.
Yes, you are supposed to claim the income on your taxes. What I meant was you can claim so much that it can bring you down to a zero income.

By Reds9298 on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 02:25 pm:

Ditto Yvonne!! I haven't done this, but it's in the back of my mind IF we ever got in a situation where we needed the money. One child is a minimum of a $100/week in my area for an in-home daycare situation. For a regular daycare, a minimum of $150/week and that's on the low end.

There's no way (if I were to do this) that I would charge less than $100/week for full day care. Probably more. JMO

By Crystal915 on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 03:59 pm:

I'm charged $100 a week for 2 kids. That's pretty cheap, but I couldn't afford much more, it wouldn't be worth it to work. Of course, my sitter has kids for her boys to play with, and I provide lunch and snacks.

By Dana on Friday, September 22, 2006 - 08:49 pm:

Thanks for all the input!