New to childcare and parent arrangements

[Chantelle_Servant@Ho]

Hi, i have been watching children and have had a close group for about 5 years and now its time for some family's to move on. I am having a hard time finding the right age groups and only the age i cant have keep messaging me. I am getting down to the wirier and if i don't find some new kids I will not have a income next month.
I am feeling hopless and would like to know experiences you may have had with something like this or similur ? As well as i have found one parent who had paid me the deposit which i cashed and my contract stats i also need months payment with deposit only because i have had multiply people needing care and wanting to have a safety net in case. But when she came she only gave me the one check am i asking to much to pay me now rather then the first of next month? It's only cause shes new and i need some guaranteed of some kind i will be paid. Any help with dealing with parent about payment super early because i have no money or is it to much and i should expect her to pay the first day of care? With a new contract? And what can i do to be more secure finanically when childcare contract ends and you find replacments.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

This happens to use all. When we have FT place, PT people respond. When we have PT place, people needing FT respond.

Our hours, location, curriculum, fees, will appeal to some, not others, so we all just have limited pool of potential client. All you can do is sit tight, be grateful it not common occurrence and trust some will show up eventually.

I think it too much to ask for deposit and also first month of care! Few can afford that. I not think that's very common. Most ask for deposit, and some ask for full month pay in advance of service, but not in advance of start date.

If your policy is to charge both, why did you not address when you saw only deposit paid? And I think the fact you cashed deposit, is sign that you okay with it.

I understand you want some guarantee but is that not what she gave you with deposit? And if you really have multiple people needing care, then why are you worried about empty places? I not understand. She will likely be concerned about giving a whole month fees as well as deposit as that's a lot to hand over. She has to trust you to be ready for her child on start date but I think you also have to trust she is really coming. She's invested deposit as a sign of her investment.


Any help with dealing with parent about payment super early because i have no money or is it to much and i should expect her to pay the first day of care? It might sound harsh but she is not responsible for your financial situation. IT is too much to expect so much esp as she likely on mat leave and so limited income. I think as you had deposit and cashed it, then she shouldn't pay more until first day of care.


And what can i do to be more secure financially when childcare contract ends and you find replacements.There are risk with self-employment and times of low income are part of it. You have to save some money when full for times you might not be. I not hold places which empty for long time as too much lost income. It risk to turn away someone wanting care in 6 months (or however far in future) but that decision you made.

[Lee-Bee]

I think it is unreasonable to request a deposit AND a months pay before the start of care. The deposit IS your confirmation of their abiding by the contract and commencing care on the set date. They can pay the first month of care just prior to the first day of care.

If money is tight you still need to be responsible. It seems unwise to take a deposit and spend that money before the child starts. Even if the deposit is non-refundable it is technically supposed to be the fees for the set period of care (typically the first or final weeks of care). That money SHOULD be put in the bank and be left there until those weeks of care, to pay yourself. Spending it now, just leaves you moneyless then.

If the family does pay you for the first month of care DO NOT spend ANY of that money until it is YOURS. That money is ONLY for the period of care...if you spend it and they do not use that period of care then in many cases you need to return it. It will depend on your contract of course, but it isn't your money to spend before you work those days.

[Chantelle_Servant@Ho]

Any help would be nice, as i am new to this really new. I have not had a chance to save for those times when i have no kids. I also don't know the rules and right way to deal with situation of having spot open, and lined up of ppl meet you, and the very first one gives you the deposit which i cashed to ensure it was not going to bounce and I don't actually get to spend that money. The post dated check i want to get is more to 100 % ensure the spot is filled as the parent is un employed and a single parent. Then i have all these other parents who could have had that spot, but found other arrangements and i am back to square one again. Which i know is part of the whole job, just hoping for some advice, tricks, experiences and ideas.

[Suzie_Homemaker]

Any help would be nice, as i am new to this really new. I have not had a chance to save for those times when i have no kids.

I not understanding. In opening post, you said you have been in this for 5 years and if that right, then you been very lucky if you keep all children for full 5 years. You have had chance to save for times with vacancies - you had 5 years to save for when some places empty.


I also don't know the rules and right way to deal with situation of having spot open, and lined up of ppl meet you, and the very first one gives you the deposit which i cashed to ensure it was not going to bounce and I don't actually get to spend that money.

Normally a deposit is to hold space for future start. Then, if parent changes mind, it compensate you for time it take to find someone else. But if parent does come as contracted, the deposit usually goes to either first week of care or final week when they leave you in future. Because it goes to these fees, you should not be spending. It okay to bank cheque and make sure it not bounce but it different matter if you spend it because it's not your money until then. What would you do if YOU can't take child when planned because you ill or something happen? In that situation you would have to return deposit because it you breaking contract. If you spend that money, then you have to find it to give back.

It not good idea to take deposit from first person who offer it. You have to vet client to see which one start sooner, which one better fit etc. I never hold a place for more than one month unless person is paying for it. I would never give place to someone wanting care in future because it means until they start, you have no income. Vet people before meeting them. Find out when they need care and then interview only those who suit you. If three people reply to ad, then interview the person you would prefer to have first. And then if it not a good match, then set up interview with next. But people wanting care long into future, you must learn to tell them that you will add to waiting list and contact if something comes up nearer that time, not hold space for ages without income. That not good idea unless you can afford to wait for their start date.


The post dated check i want to get is more to 100 % ensure the spot is filled as the parent is un employed and a single parent. Then i have all these other parents who could have had that spot, but found other arrangements and i am back to square one again. Which i know is part of the whole job, just hoping for some advice, tricks, experiences and ideas.

Agreed, The post dated check is to make sure 100% that the parent is invested in coming rather than no deposit, them change mind and not come. But, if you have concerns about giving the place to unemployed, single parent when you had other parents wanting the space, you did not choose wisely. Just as parent pick and choose which provider they want, we choose which client we want. If a two parent family in employment wants the space and a single parent who doesn't have job wants the space, we have to choose who we think is more likely to show up on day one of care and need us on-going. Why would you ever give a day care place to someone you not convinced will be reliable? Logically you know a parent who does not have job would not need day care so it's risky to sign them into your business.

As small business owner, we have responsibility to ourselves to pick clients who will provide income. Someone wanting care before they have job, someone wanting care outside of business hours, someone wanting shift cover or part-time place isn't best option. Someone not needing care for many months after place available is also not ideal. It makes more sense to turn away these people and continue looking for client who needs care sooner and who has reliable income and regular hours. Once you sign contract, YOU are also legally bound to abide by the agreement.

Why did you give your vacancy to this person?

They not obligated to pay deposit and also full month fee before starting just because you struggling for money. This is your business and you must run it effectively.

How many vacancies do you have?

If you have other to fill, I suggest you seek clients who will start sooner rather than later to minimize impact on your income. I also suggest you learn to turn away those who not a good fit and trust that someone better will come along, provided you offer a quality service.