When looking for a spot in a micro-crèche, the first instinct is often to ask about the monthly fee from the facility. The answer received almost never corresponds to what one will actually pay. Between the funding method of the establishment, the aids provided by the CAF, and the additional fees that are sometimes overlooked, estimating the real cost of a spot in a micro-crèche requires checking several parameters even before signing a contract.
PSU or free pricing: the point that changes the entire cost estimation in micro-crèches
Before pulling out the calculator, we must first identify how the micro-crèche charges. Two systems coexist, and they do not imply the same out-of-pocket expenses for parents at all.
Some micro-crèches are contracted by the CAF and apply the PSU (Unique Service Payment) pricing. In this case, the hourly rate is calculated according to a national scale identical to that of collective crèches: it depends on the household’s income and the number of children in care. The aids from the CAF are paid directly to the facility, and parents only pay their share.
Other micro-crèches operate on a free pricing basis. They set their own hourly rate, often higher than the CAF scale. Parents pay the full amount upfront and then receive the complement of free choice of childcare (CMG) paid by the CAF into their account. The monthly out-of-pocket expense can vary greatly from one facility to another, even with identical incomes.
Before launching a micro-crèche fee simulation on Parents Infos, it saves time to directly ask the establishment: are you on PSU or free pricing? The method of calculating the out-of-pocket expense entirely derives from this.
Income considered and CAF scale: the data to check
In PSU, the rate is based on the net taxable income of the tax household, as stated on the tax notice from year N-2. Specifically, for enrollment in 2026, the income from 2024 serves as the basis.
It is often thought that only salary counts. Family allowances and alimony received are also included in the calculation. Forgetting to include them skews the estimate from the start.
The effort rate set by the CNAF
The CAF applies an effort rate that varies depending on the number of children in care. This rate is multiplied by the household’s monthly income to obtain the hourly rate. The scale is revised each year on January 1st. For a family with one child, the rate is higher than for a large family.
A minimum and maximum income frame the calculation. Even with very low incomes, one does not go below a minimum hourly rate. Conversely, beyond a certain income threshold, the rate no longer increases.
In free pricing, these rules do not apply directly. The price displayed by the micro-crèche is fixed, and it is the amount of the CMG (which also depends on income and the number of children) that determines the out-of-pocket expense.
Additional fees in micro-crèche: what the displayed rate does not always cover
It is often believed that the hourly rate covers all expenses. On the ground, feedback varies on this point. Some micro-crèches include meals, diapers, and care products in their pricing. Others charge them separately, sometimes as a monthly package.
The elements to check before validating an estimate:
- Meals: provided by the facility or brought by parents? If provided, included in the rate or charged extra?
- Diapers and hygiene products: some facilities ask families to provide them, while others include them in the overall rate
- Billing for absences: in case of illness or vacation, some micro-crèches charge for unused days if the absence is not notified within a specific timeframe, which can add several dozen euros per month
These additional fees can represent a significant discrepancy between the initial estimate and the actual bill. Requesting the internal regulations and the complete pricing grid before signing avoids surprises.
Tax credit and final out-of-pocket expense: completing the estimate
Regardless of the funding method of the micro-crèche, parents can benefit from a tax credit for childcare expenses for children under six years old. This credit reduces the annual out-of-pocket expense after deducting the aids already received (CMG or CAF participation).
The ceiling for this tax credit is set by the tax administration. It applies per child and per year. To correctly estimate the net cost of a spot in a micro-crèche, one must therefore reason in three steps:
- Calculate the gross monthly rate (PSU scale or free rate of the facility)
- Subtract the CAF aids (paid to the facility in PSU, or the CMG received by parents in free pricing)
- Deduct the estimated tax credit to obtain the real out-of-pocket expense after tax
Many parents stop at the second step and overestimate their actual expense. The tax credit significantly reduces the annual bill.
The tax API announced in July 2026
The government announced on July 10, 2026, an API that allows for the automatic retrieval of income transmitted by the CNAF and the tax administration. This automation eliminates the manual entry of supporting documents for the families concerned and reduces frequent errors in estimating the rate. The gradual deployment of this tool should simplify the first step of the calculation for the facilities that adopt it.
Estimating the cost of a spot in a micro-crèche involves assembling four pieces: the pricing method of the facility, the household income, the actual additional fees, and the tax credit. Neglecting any of these pieces results in a figure that is too far from the final bill to be useful.