Working for friends...

[Deleted]

On second thought... i think i was just feeling whiny... I know how to handle it... bridget is spot on... I just have to do it... thanks.

[bring in the new year]

You're not thinking of this as a business so they're not treating it as a business.

You charge everyone the exact same amount based on service. $x if they come to you, $x+y if you have to go to them. Mileage, etc.

For people you want to do a favor for, you discount it. BUT - make sure you show the true charge and the discount on the bill so it's clear you're doing them a favor.

If it were me, I'd set a date where it has to be scheduled by. And if it's not scheduled by that date, no discount.

You don't want anyone using you because you're cheap, you want them referring you to friends and other homeschoolers. And for that you need to start treating this like a business.

[Deleted]

Oh... I'm in PA, we need written evaluations each year by a certified teacher, and a few years ago i started just doing them for friends, but have gotten to the point where I'm doing a lot of them, and sometimes i get paid, and sometimes i don't, and generally its ok, but i feel a bit wiped out this year, and really just need to come up with a pay schedule that is written down and circulated well in andvance... with discounts clearly laid out... its just hard when most of the 'clients' are also friends... I hate mixing $ and friends... but it takes a lot of time after awhile... I feel like i spent a good part of June tied down to other peoples schedules... but its really my own fault...

I love critical thinking company too! ... What grades are your kiddos again? I'm looking at starting 7th with the oldest... have you been there yet? I can't remember...

[Deleted]

hmm.. not really... I try not to follow too much... just these boards wastes enough of my time... lol... but if i come across any, i'll let you know. It can be challenging to find more secular resources. I help run a group that is all inclusive for that reason. We help to fill the void locally. So all people can feel welcome, and for instance... all the other 'major co-ops' that offer regular science classes for high schoolers use Christian Appologia. So we're starting our own, so that we can offer a rotation of high school science that are more rigorous and not bound by "intelligent design"...

I thought your kids were young yet. Yes, its nice to have no requirements, but I worry about the potential for people to use it as a cover for abuse/neglect. Not you, obviously.... just generally speaking.

I also had a case this year, I am pretty sure the achievement tests a friend gave me were NOT completed by her children... Maybe i'll just say i'm Not Available next year, instead of working up a pay schedule? ...

I think it can be very problematic working for friends. I guess especially when part of my job is, in effect, to evaluate what they are doing... or at least the results of what they are doing...

[bring in the new year]

Oped, it was a good question and I didn't think you were being whiny.

I wouldn't be so close to backing off from charging and btw, rejecting tests you're not comfortable with.

Homeschooling is going to work best with a system like yours. What you are offering is a useful service which can give real info to the parent. If your friend is taking the tests, what is she going to do when the kids want to go to college or just get a job?

This also gives you both a little extra income and maybe some insight for the future into what works.

And btw, if "friends" are only coming to you because you don't charge and don't call them on passing off their work as their kids' - are they really friends?

Good luck.

[Deleted]

This was the first time i ever had someone hand me something i doubted belonged to the child. I agree, i need to also make distinctions about who is truely a friend...

I do like seeing what other people use/do... it gives me a lot of variety of perspective. I think now is a good time to re-evaluate. Several kids are going into high school levels and PA actually has several homeschool diploma programs, which some of the moms i work with have already asked about me being involved in... this requires a bit more paperwork, and so i think its a natural time, in the progression, to re-evaluate my practices and list prices for services.

[debtheaven]

Oped, do you also get asked to do this only from your "friends" or also from "friends of friends"? If you do get requests from "friends of friends", I would just tell your "friends" that as your kids are growing up and the COL is getting higher (or whatever reason), you need to start charging, so sorry, you won't be able to do that anymore for them for free.

IMO telling somebody you can't do something for free anymore isn't exactly the same thing as telling them you're going to start charging them. If you tell them you can no longer provide this service for free, you give them the option of stomping off / asking how much you charge / going elsewhere (and either paying somebody else or finding somebody else to "mooch" off.)

I would also suggest setting up a website quickly so you don't actually have to discuss money with people. If / when they ask you what you charge, just refer them to your website. Give CLOSE friends a discount or continue to do it for free for them (but NOT everybody and their mother). CLOSE friends are people you feel comfortable telling, I know I can count on you not to discuss this.

Just throwing this out there ... DH does a LOT of work for friends for free. In some cases it's fine, it's a favor to a good friend, and sometimes it brings in work. But other times, it's just another mooch, and that really burns me.

Good luck in your new venture! Also, get business cards. The cards and the website will make you seem more professional, and show that you have "invested" financially and emotionally in this. It will provide a degree of "distance" for the people you need it to.