I have worked for a family now for four years. They have four young children from 2nd grade, to two twins 5 yrs old and one little one at 3 years of age. They asked me to come up with a price and I don't know what to say. Last time I babysat for a weekend for one child; I received close to $500 for Friday-Sunday. I am planned to work from Saturday at 12pm to Sunday 12pm. The kids go to bed around 8 or 9pm and wake up around 5 and 6am. They also have a young puppy.
Any help please? I normally am paid for four kids--$20 per an hour.
Thank you!
UPDATE as of 10/23/2010: I called to give them a number and the guy spoke before I got a chance to give my input and said, "Two hundred dollars"....and I said I was thinking like around $400 and he asked if I was out of mind and yelled at me. I found that a bit rude. He nearly put me into tears ranting about the request I made. I said well maybe we can work something out. I didn't get a good reply back. I'm really very upset by this. Shouldn't it at least amount to $300 at the least? He said he was only going to give into $200. Doesn't he forget that I have to cook meals for the kids, clean-up after them, sleep there, and of course the puppy is extra work too! It doesn't seem right. YET, I know I need the money.
So hurt and very shocked! Even if I was paid $10 per an hour for FOUR children, that would be $240! But only $200?! It really strikes me so odd when I am there for 5+ hours they pay me $100....but for a 24 hr work shift (given the kids may sleep for 8 hrs at the most) $200?!
Help please!!!!!
Thanks!
Thank you everyone. :) He blew up on me a second time I talked to him. He twisted everything around and gave me some big speech about him being military and how he knows numbers and I don't. He said some pretty disturbing things as well. It was down right rude and very inappropriate. He even called his own wife wishy-washy!!!! I know how he treats her and he treats her like he treats me--speaks to you as if you are some little kid, yelling and he's the boss (like he has an ego) and whatever he says, goes. So I am done with them. He wouldn't even consider $50 dollars more.
Thank you for the help everyone!
We had our daughter's former daycare provider watch both of our kids overnight and paid $125. That was from around 2 pm to noon the next day. Don't assume you wont' be working in the middle of the night, either. Our oldest got lost in the middle of the night on the way to the bathroom and peed all over her floor, so she was stuck doing cleanup in the middle of the night. You never know what you'll face.
Hi K.,
I run a very sucessful babysitting service in Dallas/Fort Worth with over 30 families that I watch mostly on my own. I researched rates for a while for normal sittings, overnight and exteneded stays before offering my services. I went by the national avg. Here is what I got by and have had no complaints. You also have to figure in your area of the states and cost of livign etc... I am in Texas and cost of living is cheaper so I cant go to high on rates.
And yes to the lady below i know in Texas the min wage is $7.25 an hour. Also you dont want to take advantage of the family as you want their service in the future and vice versa.
Normal Sittings:
$12/hr for 1 or 2 children
$2 per hour for each addtional child 4 kids = $16 hour but this is normal sittings (nanny would be more as you have more responsibilities)
Overnight. I charge full rate till 11pm and then half rate till 8 am and then it begins at full rate again. This is for sittings like 6pm till 10 am or so... just an overnight.
Extended sitting which is what I would consider yours... I usually get these like friday from 5pm till Sunday at 5 pm so like 48 hours and that would be half rate. So if you had 1 kid it would be $6/hr $288 for the 2 days.
HTH
I was told recently that minimum wage is $7. When I babysat I also charged $5 a child, per hour. For you that would be...$20 an hour, for 24 hours...$480. If you don't think the family can swing that then you can be a little more specific about the hours you are actually watching the kids. So...9 hours then another 7...16 hours of real work, $320.
Just a few number to give to them to see what they think and what they can actually pay.
Really not fair of them to ask you to come up with a price because they must have a 'number' in their head and what if it is more than the number you come up with.
There are babysitter / nanny services throughout the country. Why don't you call them ask what an overnight/ weekend watch would run. That way you will know what a professional service would run the family.
