Any luck with people paying to hold spots?

I have a spot opening at the beginning of May. I have always filled my spots fairly quickly but this time around I have had a few emails but no appointments set up. I am a bit out of the way of most people and our house is currently for sale and I have that in my ad so that people know it will only be short term that they have to drive to me. It still seems like I hear "oh you are too far". Sigh.... Well tonight I have a meeting set up but the family doesn't need care until September. I don't hold spots. There is no way I could wait that long to get paid so I told the family that I would charge $500 a month instead of my $600 to hold the spot. Surprisingly she still wants to meet. I just have the feeling I am wasting my time meeting with her. I have never ever had anyone actually pay that long to hold a spot, a few weeks yes but not 4 months!

Have any of you actually had people pay to hold spots?

That would be great for you if they did!! I'll cross my fingers for ya!

If I remember correctly (me and my terrible memory lol) I have only had one parent do this and it was only for a month and I just charged them my holiday fee.

Yes. I always charge holding fees now. 1 month fees up front, then $200/month up to 3 months, then full time fees, regardless of start date. One client paid 2 weeks non-refundable. Gave up the spot due to change in circumstances 2 days prior to start date. I kept the money without issue. Had a new client start recently who paid $900 (1 month) non-refundable, then gave post dated cheques for $200 for each of 3 months holding, then started full time early to keep the spot. Have another client who starts in Aug who paid 1 month fees up front a few months ago to hold spot. I didn't charge a monthly fee as the spot is already occupied until the time they need it.

If they want you badly enough, they'll pay it.

Thanks! I am just cranky and tired and don't feel like wasting my time with someone but I guess I will never know until I actually meet them. Glad to know that others have had success in holding spots. I certainly can't take a huge cut in pay that is why I offered $100 off a month - in reality just charging my holiday rate of $25 a day instead of my full rate of $30. If they booked I will be so happy as it would be excellent but I am just not having much luck in everything we are trying to do lately (sorry - I said I was cranky lol).

I had a family pay a 50% retainer from March to October and that was back in 2009, I still look after her youngest now. Some people don't have the luxury of being able to afford it. Even if I could as a parent, I'm not sure I could justify spending that much money for a service I couldn't use or didn't need to use at that time for 6 months. I think a lot of parents would take the risk over forking out a few thousand dollars well in advance even if it meant going with a less then mediocre daycare provider. A couple of months is very different. I have had a couple more pay a 50% retainer but not in the last 18months there has been a sudden increase of daycares opening in my area so it's not like there is limited choice and when you find a good daycare you have to grab the spot while you can even if it means a longer period of paying a retainer to guarantee the spot.

cfred... the one month's fees you receive upfront: does that go towards their first month of care or that is the deposit they are paying for you to initially accept them and hold the spot?

I wish I could do this. I have told people that the longest I will hold a spot is 2 months without pay. No one has ever jumped on that to hold a spot, lol.

I think your area will factor in heavily. How many home daycares there are in your area, what you are offering, hours, availability, rates, etc.

In January, I had a parent pay to hold a spot until Sept! They paid the whole deposit at once!

Well it looks like it might not matter! She cancelled on me...sigh...
I did have another person call and she booked a time for tomorrow! Oh I hope it works out. I hate the stress of having open spots!

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Originally Posted by nschildcare

cfred... the one month's fees you receive upfront: does that go towards their first month of care or that is the deposit they are paying for you to initially accept them and hold the spot?

I wish I could do this. I have told people that the longest I will hold a spot is 2 months without pay. No one has ever jumped on that to hold a spot, lol.

I think your area will factor in heavily. How many home daycares there are in your area, what you are offering, hours, availability, rates, etc.

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The one months fees are held against their final month of care. However, should they give up the spot, they forfeit that right and the money. The $200/mo is just money in my pocket. I used that amount to test the waters. I intend to raise that in the future...probably to $400.

My neighbourhood has several home daycares. One is 3 doors over from me in the same townhouse block. Another is a 5 min walk around the corner. I think there's another right on my street as well, not to mention there are 2 daycare centres in schools (one primary and one highschool) - one of them is on the other side of my back yard fence, the other you can see from my driveway. This neighbourhood is saturated with daycares! In this area I think you're right...it comes down to specific services offered, hours and the stars aligning ;)