Your nanny family asks if you’d be willing to watch the kids for a couple of days while they go out of town. You figure it’s a great way to make some extra money quickly over a two-day period. But the family has a different idea. They don’t want to pay you when you’re sleeping at night. So what’s a fair rate in these situations?
Let’s go over three examples of how you can charge for overnight stays.
Understanding the Context
Let’s just get one thing out of the way to start. We’re not talking about night nannies, newborn care specialists, or doulas—people who stay overnight when there’s a newborn baby. That’s a completely different situation. Here, we’re discussing families who hire you for a few days or a week when they have to be away.
Every situation is different. Consider the families, the age of the children, and what you’re responsible for. Are you working on a weekend or a weekday? Are the children very young, or do they sleep through the night? These factors will influence your rate for overnight or 24-hour care.
Three Ways to Charge for Overnight Stays
Example 1: The Most Common Method
Establish your 24-hour rate. This is a straightforward approach where you calculate what you would charge for every 24-hour period.
Here’s a breakdown using $25 per hour as the base rate:
Day Rate:
– 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM (16 hours at $25/hour) = $400
What Should I Charge for Overnight Childcare? Nanny Tips
– 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM (8 hours at $12.50/hour, half of the daytime rate) = $100
Total for 24 Hours:
– $400 (day rate) + $100 (overnight rate) = $500
When adjusting this, ensure the total divided by 24 hours is above minimum wage. For instance, $500 divided by 24 is about $20.83, which is above minimum wage.
Example 2: Flat Hourly Rate
Charge a flat hourly rate for the entire duration. If a family is gone for 24 hours, and you charge $25 per hour, the total would be:
Total for 24 Hours:
– $25/hour * 24 hours = $600
This method is simple and avoids calculating overtime or different rates for day and night.
Example 3: Daily Rate with Overtime
Charge your daily rate including overtime. Here’s how it might look:
Day Rate:
– 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM (8 hours at $25/hour) = $200
– 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM (2 hours at 1.5 times the hourly rate) = $75
– 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (4 hours at double time) = $200
Overnight Rate:
– 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (10 hours at $12.50/hour) = $125
Total for 24 Hours:
– $200 + $75 + $200 + $125 = $600
This method can be more lucrative but is also more complex and often impractical for families due to high costs.
Choosing how to charge for overnight stays depends on your comfort level and the specifics of the job. The most common method is a 24-hour rate that includes a lower rate for overnight hours. The flat hourly rate is simple and easy to calculate, while the daily rate with overtime can be the most profitable but also the most complicated.
When negotiating your rate, consider the specific needs of the job. Are you getting up in the middle of the night? Is it a weekend or a weekday? Use these examples as a starting point, and adjust according to your situation.