Setting Fees For An FDC - Hour Block or A Day Fee?

Hi There,

I don't know how helpful this is going to be but I have an example of a fee structure based on an hourly rate:

Sorry I don't work in FDC so my knowledge is limited in this...

,
Lorina

Hi KAP 14,

Firstly I want to say that it is awful that your scheme has not set you up with a few Educators for support and that they are so clicky. Secondly don't worry about what others are doing as far as day fees, be confident in what you are doing and what you have to offer as every single service is unique and you want families that want what you have to offer. I agree, as much as we love our families most do tend to take advantage when it comes to running late and if they don't get charged for it they will continue to do it. I always tell new Educators to check out the careforkids.com.au website. Type in your area and postcode and you can see what other Educators, Centers, OOSCH are charging...as long as they are listed of coarse. The main thing is you don't want to be cheap because there is a lot that comes out of our fees and even though it is tax deductible you still need to make an income , and you don't want to price yourself out of your local market. For myself and everyone I see in Brisbane and surrounding areas, I have an hourly fee, which we have to add our schemes levy to. I also have a minimum of 8 hours charged a day and I have an unbooked hours late fee. We have to do that because we can't charge 12 hours or opening hours like centers do and if we have a family that only wants 5 hours then that is all you are going to earn for that space for that day......so my minimum is 8 hours. For school age I also have a minimum of 2.5 hours. It is a lot of work taking 4 babies in and out of the car dropping off and picking up to only charge an hour if that is all they need....absolutely not worth it. Minimum 2.5 hours and then you add your drop off and pick up fee too it. A lot also depends on the area, that is why I recommend the website. You can look mine up f you like. I am under Linda's Family Day Care, Bellmere, 4510. In our work it doesn't really reflect in our fees whether we have a Diploma or not, I know cert 111 Educators charging the same as me. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask. Also you can put your service on the care for kids website as it is free for Educators to advertise. Even though I have a long waiting list I still get at least 1 phone call a week from it.

All the best

Linsaa fdc

Hi Kap14,

There doesn't seem to be much advertised in your area on careforkids, 2 haven't put any fees on there either. One centre charges $72-$75 a day. Look up your surrounding areas and compare. You can review your fees according to your schemes policy. My scheme requires a 4 week notice to the scheme and to parents. Most of us over here review each financial year because that's when centrelink usually increase the hourly portion of the fees they subsidize so it doesn't end up costing as much out of pocket for those families that get a ccb.
As far as book keeping goes, I bought a disk from an accountant in Brisbane it cost $49 and is a very simple set up, if I can do it anyone can. If you want the phone number let me know and I can send it to you.
lindaa fdc

Hi Lorina and linsaa fdc.

Thank you so much for your assistance. It has helped ease my mind a bit. I am going to hold off reviewing my fees until the new financial year and will speak to my accountant about help with book keeping.

Thank you muchly,

KAP14