I require a security deposit at the start of care that is = to the amount of notice I expect to terminate the contract at the end of care .... two weeks written notice to apply said security deposit to service failure to provide proper notice results in forfeiting of the deposit .... this way I NEVER work for free and never go without at least the minimum notice period for a space.

Communication and a respectful relationship with clients is key in this business ~ in the past five years I have always had MONTHS worth of notice because clients have left either due to moving, for maternity leave or natural graduation out of the program the only time I got the minimum notice was a client whose spouse got laid off unexpectedly without notice and even than they ended up getting new work within 3 days of impulsively giving the notice and asked me if they could continue on after all and since I had not filled the spot I cancelled my interviews and they stayed on until their child started school full time.

However I am a picky provider ~ I only sign on clients who are looking for a long term childcare solution cause I HATE turnover if I take on a short term client I like to know that going in and only if it serves a benefit for me ~ aka taking on a older child whose heading to school in a year to get them ready type thing. I would rather go without income at MY choosing trying to find the perfect client than enroll a client and think I can budget for that income but than it is a client who ends up not being a match and leaving my program after short term and I am without the income unexpectedly again