If you run a home daycare, then you understand how important it is to keep a regular schedule. However, life happens, and there are times when parents are running late to pick up their children. While it is understandable, as the daycare provider, you also have a business to run. This is where daycare late fees come into play. But how do you charge for late fees without upsetting the parents? Keep reading to find out.
Why Charge Daycare Late Fees?
The first question you might be asking is why charge for late fees at all? Your time is valuable. If a parent is late, it is cutting into your family time or extracurricular activities of your own children. Lastly, charging late fees deters parents from being chronically late, which can help you keep your business running more smoothly overall.
How Much To Charge for Daycare Late Fees?
This can be tricky because you don’t want to charge an exorbitant amount that will upset the parents, but you also need to make sure that the fee is high enough to deter them from being late on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to charge $1 per minute that the parent is late.
When Should You Charge?
This one is up to you as the business owner, but a good rule of thumb is to start charging 10 minutes past their scheduled pick-up time. For example, if a child’s scheduled pick-up time is 5:00 pm, but they still aren’t picked up at 5:10 pm, then you would start charging at that point.
As a home daycare provider, it’s important to keep a regular schedule for the sake of both the children and your business. When parents are running late, it’s tempting not to charge them anything extra, but your time is important too!
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