The Jump Start Finance Solution
Jump Start Finance offers a line of credit customized to cover your child care expenses for daycare and early education. Our solution lowers your monthly payment by as much as 60% of your regular monthly child care tuition, allowing parents to have extra money in their budget each month to spend how they need. As parents ourselves, we recognize child care is one of the highest household expenses, so we designed a solution to help.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the child care center I use isn’t registered with Jump Start?
If your child care center is not registered with Jump Start Finance, you can provide us with the facility’s basic information, and we’ll contact them to get them registered and set up. It’s fast, easy and free for child care centers to register with Jump Start. Once they are registered you can use this line of credit for the best child care center for you!
can i apply if i have not yet selected a child care center?
You can apply for our line of credit whether or not you have selected a child care center. We will need to know the center you ultimately select in order to establish the minimum monthly payment and credit limit on your line of credit. However, if you apply and are approved in advance, you have the peace of mind in knowing you can select the best child care for your family.
What kind of centers work with Jump Start?
Jump Start Finance can support most child care solutions. This includes working with state-licensed child care centers, licensed family daycare, nanny services, learning pods near you, or others. We currently operate in California and Colorado. Other states will soon follow, so please contact us if you live in another state and would like support using child care financing.
Do you work with in-home family daycares?
Yes we do!
How do you determine the monthly tuition amounts?
During the application process, you will provide the regular monthly cost of your child care tuition (called the “target tuition amount”). Once that amount is determined, there is a maximum draw amount set each month which is 25% above the target tuition amount, not to exceed $2,000 per month. The 25% variance allows us to support centers that bill weekly which covers up to 5 weeks in certain billing periods. If the cost of your regular monthly tuition changes, we will update our records so that we will pay your center the correct amount each month on your behalf. If you do not know what your tuition amount will be as you are still searching for the best child care for your family, enter the anticipated amount and we will adjust your tuition before finalizing your loan once you have selected your child care solution.
How much can I borrow on my Jump Start line of credit?
Jump Start provides families with a credit line to cover up to two years of child care bills for infant care, preschool, or before/after school care up to age 13. Your credit limit will depend on your personal child care costs.
Is there a maximum amount we can draw against our line of credit each month?
Yes. See “How do you determine the monthly tuition amounts” frequently asked question.
I have more than one child in daycare, can I use this program for more than one child?
The maximum advance each month is $2,000. This amount can be applied across multiple children's tuition billing.
What is the interest rate for this product?
The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) ranges from 6.9% to 21.9%, determined at time of approval based on your credit qualifications. The APR you are assigned can be lowered by 0.50% with enrollment in automatic payment deductions from either your checking or savings account each month (ACH). As long as you’re enrolled in ACH, your APR will remain at this lower rate.
What if I don’t need to finance certain months for child care invoices?
During months where you do not need extra flexibility in your budget, you can pay the full tuition amount on your Jump Start line of credit. There is no requirement to carry a balance and you have the flexibility of paying anywhere from your minimum monthly payment up to the full balance each month.
Can I pay more than my Minimum Monthly Payment?
Yes. You can pay anywhere from the Minimum Monthly Payment to the balance in full each month. When you pay off your line of credit early, you save on interest, and there’s never a prepayment penalty.
Can I use my Jump Start line of credit to pay for any child-related expenses?
A Jump Start line of credit may only be used to pay your monthly tuition cost, enrollment or annual fees at your child care center.
When are my payments due with Jump Start?
Monthly payment are typically due by the 27th of the month, but may vary based on time of approval and the school your child attends.
Can I use this to pay for a Nanny or Learning Pod
Yes. If you have hired nanny services or are participating in a learning pod at home or other shared location, you can use this line of credit to help fund services. Instead of funding a care center directly, Jump Start will send you funds on a monthly basis to your personal account. Once you have received funds, you will need to pay your nanny or learning pod group/teacher directly for services rendered. If you are still looking to find a nanny or learning pod near you, then apply to make sure you are approved so you know what budget you have to work with!
What if I pay for a Nanny or Learning Pod weekly?
We will fund your account from your line of credit on a monthly basis. You can use those funds to distribute weekly payments to your nanny or learning pod group/teacher throughout the month.
When do you send me funds if I am paying for Nanny services or participating in a Learning Pod
We advance funds at the beginning of the month when most child care services are typically paid.
What happens if I need to change the amount of line of credit advance?
Notify us at least 5 business days in advance of the next funding date so that our team can make the adjustment before initiating the funds transfer.
I participate in a nanny share, can I still use this line of credit
Yes! You can use your line of credit advance to pay for your portion of the shared services. You would request your monthly shared portion of the nanny services as your line of credit advance amount.