In-Home Childcare Cost

Hi L.,
You don't need to get registered, you do need to be listed with the state. If its a regulary scheduled sitting arrangement and you recieve money for it, then you do have to be listed. Before I started doing this, I would have just said forget it...but if you get caught/reported doing it ~ you can get into trouble with the state (fines etc.). It may be easier if you think you might want to keep more kids later to get registered now rather than waiting so you have everything set if you decide to keep more. Getting registered is a little more time consuming, getting listed is mostly paperwork I think. It changes every year. You may have to take a class, pay a small fee and do a background check. I think you are also required to take a CPR/First Aid class. You can call the TDFS at ###-###-#### and they can let you know what you need to do. I charge a weekly rate of 130 for kids 1 and up. Infants are 175. I do have one kiddo that I watch 2 days a week and I charge $100. Most places don't offer part time because if you are registered you can only have 6 younger kids and 6 school age kids in your care at any time. If you give up that space, It needs to worth it so you can charge a little bit more than you normally would but still charge less than your full rate. Hope this helps, A.
www.dfps.state.tx.us

WEll, it depends on the area. Call around to the centers and find out thier prices, and if you are nice call the other inhomes and tell them you are a new provider and ask their prices. You want to find a good middle of the road price. As far as becoming registard contact the state. There are three levels. Listed: send in $20 for a back ground check, and get a certificat from the state saying you are listed. They don't come to your house, and you can watch 3 unrelated children in your home. Registard: send in $70 back ground and show proff of Cpr/firstaid is current, they come out and inspect house and you attend a 1 day class. They come out every year. you can watch up to 12 kids depending on ages. Licenced: almost the same as Registard, I don't know the diffrence.
I also advise you to got to a center get copys of thier contracs, handbook, or something and read some online to get a good idea of what rules, and regulations you want parents to follow. And on a personal note, mixing bussiness with friends is not a good IDEA!!!!!

Hello L.,
I am an inhome child care provider and I charge by the week. Most in homes charge by the week and you can also charge by the hour too. You can get registered and actually make a business out of it, but it is a long process.I am not sure you could have enough time to get registered and take the courses in time before the Fall, but it is possible. The state does not require you to get registered unless you have more than 3 children, other than your own, in your care at a time. It is not illegal to babysit for heavens sake, so dont worry about that, but I would get some type of wrriten agreement between and the parents outlining the pay, hours and what they expect from you as well as what you expect from them. I usually charge 130 weekly for infants. This amount is based on a 40 work week but you can break it up anyway you want.
Good Luck

Ya you don't have to be registered. .Wow 100 dollars for 2 days is really high. I would do 25 or 30 dollars a day. If the days go up, also same thing. There are some good websites with sample enrollment forms, be clear about times your :open" and what they have to bring with their child. What you are going to do about behavior issues.