A woman recently asked me about watching her 3 year old daughter for her 5 days a week. It would most likely be from 7-4 each day. I'm very interested but we didn't talk about pay. Is there any online resource that can tell me what the going rate is? I'm not certified so it would all be under the table, I do have several years experience as a certified teacher. Just trying to get an idea of what to ask for in the southern NH area. I know the costs vary, friends that I have mostly send their kids to larger daycare centers so I haven't been able to get much info on it.
You can have up to 4 children as an unregulated provider in New Hampshire. There's no legal or moral or ethical reason to do it under the table.
If you plan on not claiming on your taxes then I hope you don't do it. We all pay our taxes and the taxes on one child would not break anyone's bank considering the expenses will offset most of it.
Check with your state. I use a home day care provider. She based her rates off of what the state pays for child care. My provider is part of a state program that also provides meals for not only my children but for her kids as well, she also took that into consideration when setting her rates.
I live about half an hour away from you over the border in Mass, and the going weekly rate for a full time kid in a home daycare I pay is $200, including breakfast, lunch, and snacks. I have another person who charged $35/day or $170/week.
It would be good to find other people who do what you do (watching one child versus a more official daycare set up) and ask them questions (i.e. taxes, contracts, any paperwork protection). I would locate some daycare paperwork online to see what providers require of parents, perhaps drafting up an agreement that covers your responsibilities and the parents.
My daycare contract covers things like your responsibilities (milestones, healthy food, rest), and clarifies rules on using/dispensing medicine, parent required weekly supplies, hours of operation (and late fees after X time), emergency contacts, and more.
Good luck!
Hi A.,
I would just call a few daycares in your immediate area and then use the average. In Illinois(central part anyway) the average for a 3y/o is between $20 & $35 per day, including meals and snacks.
As far as claiming it on your taxes I would really suggest you do that even if you aren't certified. Keep receipts for everything as your accountant will be able to write off different parts of your home, its bills, etc. since you will be using your home for the business. Your client will also be able to qualify for the daycare excemption on her taxes. Another suggestion would be to have your spouse tax an additional $20 from his paycheck to cover your taxes each year. Its better to plan ahead because Uncle Sam will always get his so better safe than sorry.
Best Wishes!
Call some family daycares in your area and see what they are charging.
Also, legally you have to pay taxes it is not a choice. When I did family childcare my husband just had a little more taken out of his check every week to cover my earnings.
My daughter was in home daycare up until age 4...it wasnt a certified daycare, as it was only her and one other child...The woman (older grandma type) charged me $120 a week and she fed her all her meals....The daycare we will be sending our new baby to will charge me $170 a week, but she is certified...We live in Connecticut!!
Meg
