What to charge as a childminder

Lisamayy

So I am wondering what parents are currently paying their childminders per hour and what is included? Also are they qualified? Do they make healty meals? Do they do anything more then just play with the kids? And is there a sibling discount? Do they mind their own kids?

is €6.50 too much? Or €7.50?

I plan on opening a service out of my home in the next 1 or 2yrs fully equipped with all montessori materials and 4 meals provided. It will be in Dublin 18. I am qualified in montessori and have qualifications in child psychology and special needs assisting with 11yrs experience in total. Worked as a behaviour specialist at an international school and montessori teacher separately. For 7yrs I've been a nanny for a few families used to make €16 per hour now I make €20 per hour 45hrs a week for 1 toddler and made the same in my last job but that was 50hrs a week at €19.

Obviously I will not charge that much per child. It will be for 3-4kids. I will provide all meals including a hot lunch with no processed frozen unhealthily foods but home cooked things like rosted salmon, cottage pie, veg and chicken curry etc. I have always cooked fresh breakfast, lunch and dinner for kids, toddlers and babies 5 days a week as a nanny. I will have a full set of offical montessori materials as found in a proper classroom 1.5hrs of montessori time in the morning. 100s or of toys and books. Large garden. Weekly themes etc. It will be a proper premium service not just a simple play group or something.

What would you expect to play for something like this? Or be happy to pay?

Thanks

Andrewf20

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fits

It sounds more like an exclusive preschool than a childminder service. Good luck with it in any case. No idea on money.

Princess Calla

You obviously have oodles of experience in the field.

Have you looked into what insurance will cost you especially if you are marketing it as a proper premium service.

Also is there a demand? Most Montessori age kids are eligible for free ecce scheme for three hours a day...childcare costs are so expensive I can't see parents paying for something they can get for free down the road.

You need to figure out if the business model will support the subsidy for ecce kids (plus all the extra admin that goes with the scheme) and then your rates for afternoon.

With only catering for 3-4 kids there's not much wiggle room.

I know with mine the majority of ecce kids are collected once the "free" hours are completed, so you may have to stipulate hours in contract.

My gut is saying this isn't viable but best of luck with it 😊

I'm not quite sure what your USP is so can't benchmark it against a decent crèche price per hour.

I would also be concerned that as a one person operation if you are out of action for a given day the parents are fooked.

What insurance do you have?

How would the parents know their kids are eating so well every day?

Do you offer extended hours as needed when the parents have extra work to do? At what cost and reliability when needed?

Basically why should a parent go to you instead of a crèche of which there are quite a few in your area?

wildwillow

I agree with the above points.

Are you operating from home and do you need planning permission for a change of use. If you are in an estate your neighbours won't be impressed with the extra traffic.

When you factor in all the costs, you'll find that your previous employment gave a better return.

Healthy meals are great, but I can't see this operation as a one person job.

The return from three or four chidren just won't cover costs.

Princess Calla

It will never be a one person job.

When does the cooking take place? Unless you plan on either batch cooking at weekend, freezing and microwaving you are in a situation where you either need the kids in the room with you while cooking (dangerous and extra stress) or have a chef do the cooking or have an extra childminder on premises (which you probably will need anyway unless you plan on no bathroom breaks for the day)

Also who does the cleaning at the end of the day.

The approach to pricing is all wrong...you don't ask the question how much would you pay. You sit down and work out your operational costs...rent, light and heat, insurance, admin costs (computer paper ink) food cost, salary etc and then see how much you NEED to charge to break even and how much you WANT to charge to make a profit.