Yet another home daycare question for all of you!! I currently run a licensed home daycare. I am now at my full capacity, per my license. But, I've been receiving so many inquiries for childcare needs, which is great!! So, my question is, do any of you daycare mom's have an assistant?? I don't have any idea how that works! I'm trying to figure out how & what to pay an assistant. Obviously hiring an assistant will cost me money, but will give me the option to bring in more children. Just keep in mind-home daycares don't get paid like the regular job. I only make about $25/day per child, and that is if they are full time!! Also, how do I handle the tax withholding?? Would I need to purchase an actual accounting and/or payroll program??
Any info you can provide would be great.
Thanks!!
I would talk to an accountant so you handle your taxes properly. Our home daycare provider has an assistant and I applaud you for considering this option. I think you will find the benefits outweigh the negatives.
As others said, talk with a tax specialist. There is alot to consider there, and I know for many of my provider pals, this is usually a big deciding factor making it simply not feasible.
You have to pay an employers share of SS and do all the other stuff any other employer would do. They can not be considered a self employed person and have you just pay them and they do their own taxes. The tax laws are very clear on these things and many providers do not do it right and the ramifications can be a huge tax debt and fines if anf when its caught or there is a discrepancy.
Search Tom Copelands blog for information that will likely answer some of your basic questions about this. For any provider, if you are unaware of who he is...you really have alot of homework to do in the childcare field. He is the reason alot of things exist for us in the legislative and tax world to make things easier and more fair for providers. He has gone to bat for us for most of his professional life.
http://www.tomcopelandblog.com/
Good luck with what you decide!
I have always had an assistant, and I love it. I have always had a large home daycare so having an assistant was a licensing requirement for me. I love having another pair of hands to play with kids, I like a different teaching style and perspective, someone to watch the kids while I prepare snack, lunch, change a diaper, comfort another child, do an art project, clean up a mess, put a baby to sleep, take kids outside or for a wagon ride while the babies go to sleep... the list goes on. I honestly don't know how people do it by themselves.
Make sure that you find an assistant that you like. You spend a lot of time with this person and if you can't work easily with them, it makes it really difficult. Be sure it's someone who will follow your care style and understand the goal of your daycare, and can model you. Your assistant will reflect on your daycare with regard to how pleased your parents are with your care.
Find yourself a really good tax person... someone who specializes in daycare. You can just send her your payroll deductions each month and they'll prepare all of your quarterly information for you.
Good luck!!
Intuit Quickbooks Online can help you with the payroll part of it and withholding taxes.
I'll bet you will be so happy with a helper! It's so nice to have another adult to talk to when caring for children!
definitely consult with a tax accountant before making the decision! You'll also need to look into liability insurance for that employee....have a written policy regarding employment terms/regulations.....& have a set schedule of hours/breaktime/etc. Put it all in writing so there's never, ever any question as to the assistant's responsibilities!
$25 is a good daily fee....I live in mid-MO & my rates are much lower, because that is all that the market will bear!
