I charge a deposit equal to the first week of care. It's due at the time they sign the contract and the space is not guarenteed theirs until the cheques cashed and the money's in the bank. I didn't used to do that, but I had one family commit to me on the spot, then I never heard from them again! I lost over 3 weeks of searching for the right family because they couldn't pick up the phone or send an email letting me know they had changed their mind. I simply don't hold spots if I have one open. I take the best family with the best start date. I'm lucky that my area is very low on home daycares and there aren't any daycare centres close... so i always have someone knocking at my door for care.