CHILDMINDERS · PAYMENT LINKS
Childminder Pricing and Rates Guide (UK)
A clear, practical UK guide to setting fair childminder fees, choosing hourly or session rates and using deposits, payment links and reminders so your income feels stable, not stressful.
Setting your fees as a childminder can feel weirdly emotional. You want to be fair to families, you do not want to price yourself out, but you also cannot afford to undercharge and feel resentful when you are doing long days, paperwork, meals, school runs and early starts.
The good news is that childminder pricing does not need to be a mystery. With a simple structure for hourly or session fees, clear charges for extras, and a calm payment system (paid in advance, deposits where needed, and reminders when payment is late) you can make your income predictable.
This guide walks you through how UK childminders typically set fees, realistic ranges you can sanity check against, and a step by step process you can use to set or update your own rates without guesswork.
Part of the Childminders Payment Links Guide Series
For the full picture of how fees connect with deposits, reminders and payment links, start with the main pillar guide: Payment Links for Childminders: Complete UK Guide .
How UK Childminders Typically Charge for Childcare
Most childminders use a mix of hourly pricing and simple fixed blocks. The goal is not to create a complicated price list. The goal is to make it easy for parents to understand what they will pay and easy for you to collect it on time.
Common pricing models
- Hourly rate for regular care, often with a minimum number of hours per day.
- Session or daily rate for set blocks such as morning, afternoon, or full day.
- Weekly or monthly fees paid in advance so cashflow is predictable and late payments reduce.
- Extras such as meals, outings, nappies, late pick ups, or ad hoc sessions, listed clearly so nothing is vague.
Realistic UK ranges (sanity checks, not rules)
- Many childminders charge somewhere around £6 to £9 per hour depending on area, age, and what is included.
- A common full day (around 10 hours) often lands roughly in the £60 to £90 range when you convert from hourly fees.
- For funded hours, the “rate” parents pay is not the same as government funding, so many childminders keep funded arrangements very clear and written down.
These are reality checks so you can spot if your pricing is way below what your area normally supports or so high that you need to explain what is included.
Comparing the main pricing options
| Model | Best for | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hourly rate | Regular weekly childcare where parents need consistent hours. | Simple. Scales with time. Easy to adjust if days change. | Parents may push for odd half hours or tiny blocks. A minimum daily hours rule stops “Swiss cheese” diaries. |
| Session or daily rate | Families who want predictable costs for a full day or set blocks. | Predictable. Easy for parents to budget. Encourages stable patterns. | If a day regularly runs longer than expected, you can quietly undercharge. A clear late pick up policy helps. |
| Weekly or monthly paid in advance | Any ongoing childcare arrangement where you want calm cashflow. | Fewer late payments. Less chasing. Easier to plan bills and household costs. | You need a consistent payment process. Pair with automatic reminders so you are not manually messaging when a parent forgets. |
| Extras list | Meals, outings, nappies, late pick ups, ad hoc sessions, extra children, or unusual days. | Stops confusion. Prevents awkward “oh I assumed that was included” conversations. | Keep it simple and written. If you use payment links, add extras to the link so the total matches the agreement. |
There is no single correct model. The best model is one you can explain clearly, apply consistently, and collect on time without turning your evenings into admin.
If you want the wider payment context, read how childminders get paid in the UK to see how fees, payment methods, and reminders fit together.
Real Pricing Situations UK Childminders Deal With
Pricing looks neat on paper, but real life is messy. These scenarios show how childminders handle common fee conversations while keeping relationships warm and boundaries clear.
A parent asks for a cheaper hourly rate “because it is long term”
This is common. They are not being nasty, they are trying to manage their own budget. The risk is you agree to something that makes your week feel underpaid and difficult to sustain.
A calm approach is to stick to your standard rate and explain what it includes, then offer a practical alternative like more consistent hours, set sessions, or paid in advance terms. This makes it feel structured rather than personal.
If you want to reduce awkward conversations when payment drifts, pairing clear fees with reminder templates helps a lot.
Start date is weeks away and you are holding a place
Holding a place can cost you real money because you turn away other enquiries. Many childminders use a holding fee or deposit to confirm commitment.
The simplest way to keep this clear is a deposit link and a short written message. If you want wording and examples, see how to request a deposit .
Extra sessions and late pick ups keep “getting forgotten”
Small extras are where money leaks. They are hard to track, they feel awkward to mention, and they can build into a pattern.
Many childminders fix this with a simple extras list and a separate payment link for extras, with a light reminder if unpaid. If late payments are recurring, follow the structure in chasing late payments .
A Simple 5 Step System for Childminder Pricing
You do not need a complicated spreadsheet. This five step system helps you set fair fees, write them down clearly, and connect them to payments so families know what is due and when.
Pick your core pricing model first
Choose one main model you will use most of the time. For many childminders that is an hourly rate with clear minimum hours per day, or a session based approach. Keep the default simple, then add small rules for edge cases.
Sanity check against reality in your area
Check what childminders in your area typically charge and where you sit. If your rate is much lower than the local norm, ask whether it is actually sustainable. If it is higher, be ready to explain what is included and why families are paying for reliability and care quality.
Write a short fee summary you can copy and paste
Put your hourly or session fees, minimum hours, and what is included into a short written summary. This makes you consistent when you reply to new enquiries and reduces stress when parents ask questions.
Decide how deposits and balances work for new starts
If you hold places ahead of a start date, decide whether you use a holding fee, how much it is, and what it is applied to. If you want a clear structure, see deposit and balance payments for childminders .
Connect fees to payment links and reminders
Once the numbers are clear, make paying easy. Send a payment link for the exact amount due, and use light reminders when payment is late. This is where automatic reminders turn your pricing into a reliable system.
When your fees are written down and connected to a predictable payment process, you stop improvising each week. You are simply running your business.
Example Fee Structures and Message Templates
These examples are not rules. They are a way to structure your pricing so it is clear and easy to apply. Adjust the numbers to fit your area, your offer, and what you include.
Example structure (keep it simple)
| Item | How to present it | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Core fee | £X per hour, minimum Y hours per day | Stops tiny blocks and diary gaps. |
| Payment timing | Weekly or monthly in advance on a set date | Predictable cashflow and fewer late payments. |
| Holding fee | £X to hold a place for a future start date | Protects your diary when you turn away other families. |
| Extras | Small list, priced clearly (meals, outings, late pick ups) | Stops “I assumed it was included” misunderstandings. |
If you are doing deposits and start dates, keep the wording consistent with your deposit guide so it feels like one joined up system.
Template 1: Fee summary for a new enquiry
If you would like to go ahead, I can confirm availability for [days] and send a payment link for the first payment.
Template 2: Holding fee for a future start date
Template 3: Small fee increase message
Payment will work the same way as usual, and I will send the payment link for the updated amount. Thank you for your understanding.
Template 4: Keeping extras clear
Once you have templates like these saved, your pricing conversations become calmer. Pair them with payment links and, where needed, automatic reminders so you are not manually chasing every time a parent forgets.
What Happens When Your Fees and Payment System Work Together
Childminder pricing is not just about numbers. It is about how your week feels. When your fees, deposits, payment links and reminders line up, these are the results many childminders start to see.
Financial wins
- More predictable income because fees are due on clear dates and paid in advance.
- Less money lost to gaps because holding fees protect start dates and places.
- Fewer unpaid extras because they are listed and added to the payment link.
Emotional and practical wins
- Less awkwardness because your fees are written down and consistent.
- Fewer late payment conversations because reminders handle the routine nudges.
- More confidence saying no to unsustainable patterns because you know your minimums.
Families do not need perfection. They need clarity. When your pricing is clear and your payment process is consistent, most reasonable parents adapt quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a typical hourly rate for a childminder in the UK?
Rates vary by area and what is included, but many childminders sit in a range around £6 to £9 per hour. In higher cost areas it can be higher. A quick check is to compare local childminders and make sure your fee is sustainable for the hours you work.
Should I charge hourly or use session fees?
Hourly fees are simple and flexible. Session or daily fees can be easier for parents to budget and can help you avoid awkward half hour negotiations. Many childminders use an hourly rate but quote common blocks as a daily price so it feels clear.
How often should I review my fees?
Many childminders review fees once a year. Small, regular increases are usually easier for families to accept than one big change after several years. Give clear notice and keep the message calm and factual.
How do I stop extras being forgotten or missed?
Keep a short extras list and add extras to a separate payment link. A light reminder template helps if it is unpaid. The goal is not to argue. It is to keep everything clear.
How do payment links fit into childminder fees?
Payment links make it easy to match each invoice or fee period to a specific amount. Once a fee is agreed, you send a link for that amount. For holding fees or deposits, you can send a separate link. When combined with automatic reminders, it reduces late payments.
What if a parent compares my fees with a cheaper childminder?
Some providers will always charge less. Focus on clarity, reliability, what is included, and the consistency of your childcare. A professional payment system often appeals to families who value stability over the very lowest price.
Related Guides
Continue learning with these related guides:
Payment Links for Childminders — Complete UK Guide
The complete UK guide to payment links for childminders. Learn how to take deposits securely, reduce cancellations, and get paid on time.
Read guideHow Childminders Get Paid — UK Methods Explained
A breakdown of the common ways UK childminders accept payments from parents and carers.
Read guideTurn Clear Fees into Predictable, On Time Payments
When your fees are clear, the next step is making it easy for parents to pay. Simply Link lets you turn agreed fees into simple payment links with optional deposits and automatic reminders. Instead of chasing payments and checking transfers, you can let the system handle the admin while you focus on childcare.
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