Free Family Day Care tool
Family Day Care Income Calculator
Family Day Care income rarely comes from one steady pattern. Daytime care, before-school sessions and after-school sessions each look different, and the same child may appear in more than one of them.
This free calculator brings those patterns together so you can see, in one place, what your care arrangements are likely to bring in across a week, a month and a year.
What this calculator helps you see
You enter your hourly fee, then describe each type of care you provide — the average number of fee-paying children, the average billable hours per child and how many days or sessions each week. A care type you do not offer is simply left blank and ignored. You can add your own care types, include any additional weekly income, and set the number of weeks you operate. The calculator shows the child-hours each care type contributes, your weekly, monthly and yearly totals, and a 'what if' view for testing a change.
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How it works
The calculator takes a few minutes and works entirely in your own browser. No figures are saved or sent anywhere, and you can run it as many times as you like.
- 1. Add your hourly fee. Start with the fee you charge, or the fee you are considering.
- 2. Describe each care pattern. For daytime, before-school and after-school care — or your own care types — add the average children, billable hours per child and days or sessions each week. Once you begin a section, all three figures are needed so the estimate stays accurate.
- 3. Read and test your estimate. Add any additional weekly income and the weeks you operate, then review your child-hours and totals, try a 'what if', and download or print the result.
Why understanding your income pattern matters
Fees, vacancies and school terms all move, and income built on assumptions is difficult to plan around. Seeing how each care pattern contributes makes it clearer where your income actually comes from and what a change would mean. If your care looks quite different during school holidays, it is worth running a second calculation using that pattern and comparing the two, rather than assuming term time is typical. Planning from realistic figures supports sustainable professional practice — and calmer conversations about fees, availability and time off.
Where to go next
This is an educational planning tool only. It does not provide financial, taxation, accounting or business advice, and it does not take your individual circumstances into account. Figures are indicative and based only on the information you entered. Please speak with a qualified accountant, registered tax agent or business adviser before making financial decisions.