Preschool and Daycare Tuition Pricing Guide

What a good one includes

• A clear breakdown of tuition rates categorized by age group, recognizing that infant care requires higher staff-to-child ratios and costs more than preschool care.
• An itemized schedule of non-refundable fees, including registration, annual enrollment renewal, materials, and late-pickup charges.
• Distinct pricing options for part-time, full-time, half-day, and extended-day schedules to accommodate diverse family needs.
• A standardized policy for sibling discounts, teacher discounts, and prepay incentives to encourage multi-child enrollment and secure early cash flow.
• A behind-the-scenes operating cost analysis that calculates your break-even occupancy rate so you know exactly how many enrolled children you need to cover expenses.
• Written payment terms detailing due dates, grace periods, accepted payment methods, and consequences for delinquent accounts.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Copying a competitor's rates without calculating your own unique operating costs, which can quietly drain your business reserves.
• Failing to price younger age groups higher to offset the expensive state-mandated teacher-to-child ratios for infants and toddlers.
• Omitting clear policies for holiday closures and sick days, leading to awkward disputes when parents expect refunds for missed days.
• Bundling all supply and activity costs into the base tuition rather than charging separate annual fees, which artificially inflates your advertised monthly rate.

Frequently asked questions