How far in advance would you charge a holding fee?

Ive never charged a holding fee before. A got a call from 2 people today: one woman needs care for a 1yo starting in September. Would you charge a holding fee then? I was thinking of not including June and just charging to hold for July and August. Im scared that if I bring this up I will scare her away.
The other woman called she has an 18 month old she wants to start care for part time and is currently on mat leave with a 2 month old. Starting in march she needs care for both full time. She asked me numerous times about having a space available for both in March. Im not quite sure how to address this. Should she be paying to hold a space for March for this long? Im not sure how well that would go over.

Sorry for all the questions but holding spots is a new concept to me!

At the end of the day our goal is to have filled spots all of the time. So, if you will have spots free at the point these clients need you and there is no $$ loss then I wouldn't charge them. However, if you are leaving a spot unfilled for them they need to understand that it's lost income.

They can either pay for the spot now and it's there when they're ready, or they wait and take their chances that you may not be available.

Personally I don't even interview until i'm in the 3 month zone before the spot is needed. The only time I charge holding fees is for current clients that go on mat leave and want to hold the spot until they get back. And they're basically paying for the space.

I guess the first question is do you have three spaces? Or do you have to choose between families? If you have room for them all I personally would just charge a three week deposit for the the one starting in sept... Non refundable and goes to just holding the spot..... Then for the other one I would charge a higher part time fee for the older child until they come full time in march then I would drop down to my regular full time fee and for the two month old I would ask for a monthly hold fee ... Mine is $250/month again non refundable and goes to holding the spot only .... Just my opinion ... Let's see how others handle it ; )

Last year I was interviewing for two September spaces and found two families who wanted the spaces but one couldn't start until Oct. and one couldn't start until Dec. I asked them to pay my deposit with the signed contract and told them that it would be non-refundable due to the late starting problem and then I charged them $100/month as a holding fee. I think that was too low and I probably should have charged $200.

If the spot is currently sitting 'empty' and I am trying to fill them for NOW so I would be forgoing income holding it for September or until March than with the September option I would consider A) how long have I been trying to fill this spot and B) can I afford to not be full over summer and C) if I wanted a 'lighter summer' to allow for easier trips to splash pads or field trips and compromise with doing either a holding fee and they cannot attend in the space or doing a wean into care with a minimum X days a week in fees for July and an increase for August and they can send their child if desired on those days to get them use to the program ... otherwise I would pass and keep looking for a better match for NOW.

To be honest if the spots are empty NOW I would not sign on the March client to be honest - IMO that is way too long to forgo income specially for TWO spaces she is wanting she would either have to pay for both the spots NOW or go on a waiting list and I would continue to look for a better match able to start earlier!

Like others if there is someone else IN the spot currently who would be vacating in September to make room for a new person I would only charge a 'non refundable security deposit' to secure the spot for September but no holding fee because I am not 'holding' it for them I am pre-booking the spot for them.

Well I had interview with second family (mom needing PT now and FT in March for 2) and while both parents are adorable she is a bit of a bubble parent which I dont blend well with. Im hoping my interview with other family goes well and I wont have to make a decision about this. I have once space available now and will have another in Sept. I cant afford to leave a space open from Sept-March nor do I want to.

No, it would be really difficult financially to leave a space open that long. I would keep interviewing if I were you akpayne. You will find somebody. Wishing you the best of luck.