New child care businesses often struggle with what fees to charge. In order to do this you will need to understand all your costs and be sure they are covered by your fees. Sometimes prices for child care services are set based entirely on what parents can afford and/or what other centers are charging. Although these need to be considered, if your current price does not allow you to cover your expenses then your program can never make a profit or develop a reserve.
Need help understanding your costs?
Consider the following and itemize your annual costs for the following expenses:
| Accounting |
Loan Payments |
| Child Supplies and Materials |
Marketing |
| Employee benefits |
Mortgage or Rent |
| Employment taxes |
Office Supplies |
| Food |
Professional Development |
| Furniture and Equipment |
Property taxes |
| Insurance |
Repairs and Maintenance |
| Janitorial services |
Telephone & Internet |
| Legal |
Travel |
| Licenses |
Utilities |
| Loan Payments |
Wages |
| TOTAL |
|
The following will give you a general idea of the fees charged by programs and providers in 2010. The fees for full time weekly care are based on type of care and the age of the children.
| Average Cost of Care |
Full Time Weekly Rate |
| Child Care Centers |
Range |
Average |
| Infants (6 Weeks - 18 Months) |
$250 - $467 |
$324 |
| Toddlers (19 Months - 35 Months) |
$225 - $467 |
$297 |
| Preschoolers (3-5 years old) |
$150 - $375 |
$267 |
| School Age (5-12years old) |
$240 - $250 |
$250 |
| Hourly Part Time School Age (5-12years old) |
$7 - $10 |
$8 |
| Family/Group Family Child Care Providers |
|
|
| Infants (6 Weeks - 23 Months) |
$150 - $438 |
$267 |
| Toddlers (24 Months - 35 Months) |
$140 - $425 |
$248 |
| Preschoolers (3-5 years old) |
$100 - $425 |
$239 |
| School Age (5-12years old) |
$125 - $375 |
$223 |
| Hourly Part Time School Age (5-12years old) |
$4 - $20 |
$9 |
| School Age Programs |
|
|
| Weekly Part Time School Age (5-12years old) |
$15- $225 |
$89 |
| Hourly Part Time School Age (5-12years old) |
$5 - $10 |
$8 |
