3.5k
Daycare and childcare providers in Winnipeg, Toronto, Vancouver, Ontario etc. in CanadaGarderies à Montréal ou au QuébecFind daycare or childcare providers in the USA
Forum control
+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 19
  1. #1
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    1,405
    Thanked
    239 Times in 191 Posts

    Deposits and holding fees

    Hey all! There have been many discussions regarding whether or not to charge these, but I know that everyone does it differently.
    Currently I (*gasp*) do not charge a deposit. Families pay fees in advance, so I am not going to get stiffed. I have not had to charge a fee to hold a space, because everyone started with a few weeks to a month.
    I will be adding this to my contract, though. If it's in there, I can implement it if required.
    So can you please give me a quick rundown on what you charge in the way of registration fees, holding fees, and deposits?
    Thanks in advance!

  2. #2
    Outgoing
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Posts
    377
    Thanked
    77 Times in 66 Posts
    I never used to charge a deposit or a fee to hold a spot...but....I held a spot last year for what I thought was an awesome family. Held it for over 3 months and a week before they were supposed to start decided she wasn't going back to work...just couldn't leave her baby...ugh. So now...I ask for one week's fee in advance to hold a spot for ANY length of time. If they chose not to show up for daycare then the money is mine. It by no means comes close to the amount of income I lose by holding the spot though. Just gives me a little something if they decide not to come after everything...

  3. #3
    Euphoric ! Inspired by Reggio's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    2,697
    Thanked
    946 Times in 686 Posts
    I do not charge a 'registration fee' but do charge a security deposit equal to two weeks fees at the time of 'registration' aka signing the contract and committing to care .... this is non refundable and can only be applied to the last two weeks of care provided proper written notice to terminate is given... I do this for two reasons to ensure that clients have not signed a contract with several providers to 'cover their bases' while choosing whom they 'really want' cause by putting $$$ down on the space that they will not get BACK if they change their mind before starting I feel more confident they serious about starting with me and B) once they have started I want to ensure I have AMPLE notice that they are leaving the program so I can advertize and fill my spot to protect my income.

    As for holding fees ... my 'written policy' is that I will not hold a space without fees - if I have a full time space open for August 5th and you do not need care until October and you WANT full time care with me than you sign the contract in July when I am advertizing, you pay the security deposit and start paying for the SPACE you are occupying as of August 5th.

    Now that said - in the past I have 'negotiated' a compromise on that policy with the RIGHT client where they paid a 'weaning in fee' for the space and used the time in between when the space opened and they needed it to wean their child in before having to start full time ... this allowed the child to start coming for a couple hours a morning for a while, than for 1/2 days for a week, than for 3/4 days and so forth until they were weaned up to full days.
    Children construct their own intelligence. The adult must provide activities and context, but most of all must be able to listen. Children need proof that adults believe in them. Their three great desires are to be listened to, to understand, and to demonstrate that they are exactly what we expect."
    Loris Malaguzzi

  4. #4
    apples and bananas
    Guest
    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.

  5. #5
    Expansive... Play and Learn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    828
    Thanked
    140 Times in 116 Posts
    I have a non-refundable 2-week deposit when they sign on that will become their first 2-weeks of care.

    For holding fees, what I've implemented is that they pay $5/day to save their child's spot (that's PER child).

  6. #6
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ottawa, Ontario
    Posts
    4,499
    Thanked
    1,469 Times in 1,125 Posts
    I have a $50 registration fee plus one week's worth of care due on signing and forfeited if care doesn't start. What I am going to implement with new clients is that the payment is due in advance in such as way that the deposit is really the last week of care in the sense of they are paying one week for care the next week. That way I don't have to be as concerned about late payments because no care has been given. That means when they start care they will still give me money for a week but it will be for week 2 - ie care for week 3 will be paid during week 2. That also means that if they fudge around all week and don't bring any money then that is already one week of notice and I have the original deposit for the second week. By week 3 they aren't welcome back anyways.

  7. #7
    jec
    Guest
    I have a deposit of one week to hold the spot until start ~ regardless of when they start. This is used for first week of care.
    I also held a spot for someone for 2 months and then they decided not to start. I use the deposit if they don't start to help me fill the spots ..advertising fees.

  8. #8
    Euphoric ! Sandbox Sally's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Toronto
    Posts
    1,189
    Thanked
    292 Times in 225 Posts
    I ask for a deposit of two week's worth of fees, which I hold and use toward the last two weeks of care. This is to ensure that they don't skip out without notice.

    If the parents want to start more than two weeks after signing the contract, I charge 20% per week of my full time fees ($55) until they start. They don't get this money back, nor is it used toward any future fees. It is my compensation for holding the spot open. It is mine for keepsies. I also won't hold a spot for more than six weeks.
    Last edited by Sandbox Sally; 04-12-2012 at 12:44 PM.

  9. #9
    Expansive...
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    971
    Thanked
    173 Times in 136 Posts
    I do a one week deposit which eventually gets used for the child's last week of care. It is a non refundable deposit.

    I have held spots 3-6 months with just that fee in place and no weekly fee

    Usually we do the one week deposit and then the parent pays at the end of each week. Therefore if worse came to worse and the parent tried to skip out of paying I have 1 weeks of pay regardless and wouldn't be out of pocket

  10. #10
    Euphoric !
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Ontario
    Posts
    3,629
    Thanked
    949 Times in 781 Posts
    I've been charging $100 as a deposit which is applied to the last week of care if conditions are met and I have been charging $100/month to hold a space (non-refundable).

    However, I'm going to start charging a full week's fees for my deposit the next time I have a family start here and I'm going to charge a full week's fees or possibly $200 per month to hold a space from now on.

Similar Threads

  1. Holding Fees
    By Daycare Momma in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 01-29-2016, 02:06 PM
  2. Holding deposits
    By Ottawaroses in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 30
    Last Post: 09-11-2015, 12:54 PM
  3. Holding Fees
    By pink in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 08-01-2013, 11:35 AM
  4. Holding Fees?
    By daycaremom in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 03-09-2013, 10:07 PM
  5. Holding Fees
    By apples and bananas in forum Managing a daycare
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 07-27-2012, 01:31 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts

A few tips...

Do not hesitate to refer to this article to help you choose a daycare provider, know which questions to ask, have an idea of what to look for...
Did you know?
Current available openings are updated constantly. Come back often to see the newest daycare openings in your neighborhood!
Partner in your
search for a daycare provider