Contract length

[admin]

Hi,

How long are your contracts? Do you work on a yearly basis or do you use something shorter?

[gcj]

I generally do yearly (end of August to end of June, since that's my year), but when starting out with a new family, it's always 3 months, just to give myself an "out" if I need it!

[playfelt]

My contract once signed stays in effect as long as the family is in care. There is a clause in there that allows me to make changes and update with notice. I do not raise rates for families already in care. Only in rare circumstances do I impose new rules on old clients. There is something about sticking with me that deserves to be rewarded.

[fruitloop]

My contract is renewed yearly. I give them out Dec. 1 and I give them 2 weeks to go through it, sign and return. If it's not returned by the dste given then I assume they no longer want care and their spot is open for someone else.

[Sunflower]

I do one month contracts for the first 6 months. If there are no incidents, I move on to 3 month contracts.Never any longer than that though.

If there are any insidents of any kind I keep doing one month contracts.
So far this has always worked well for me .

[sunnydays]

Like Playfelt, my contract does not have a time limit. The just have to give one month's notice if they want to take their child out. I do renew it yearly and have reserved the right to raise rates yearly. I have just started, so I don't think I will raise anyone's rates the first year, but may the year after. I think it is fair since the cost of living rises. Agencies raise their rates regularly as well.

[playfelt]

For those that do short term contracts what kind of security does that give you if the family can walk away constantly with no notice as in just not sign the new contract. How far in advance do you get them to sign for the next month/term?

[Sunflower]

For those that do short term contracts what kind of security does that give you if the family can walk away constantly with no notice as in just not sign the new contract. How far in advance do you get them to sign for the next month/term?

I would rather have a little bit less security than to be stuck in a bad situation with no way out( late pick ups , late payments, etc)
Besides, where I reside ,the parent can walk away and give me zero notice at any time. The only fee they have to pay is what ever is 50$ max or what they had left owing for the length of the contracts as long as it is under 50 $.
But in the even that I want to terminate a contract it is virtually impossible and can take months.

I usually get them to sign the new contract a week before the old one expired.

For example: I recently decided not to renew a 3 month contract as a result of many late payments and other breaches of the contract. When I told the parent I was not renewing she had 2 weeks notice. If that contract had been for 6 moths or a year, I would of had to wait it out !

[Judy Trickett]

I would rather have a little bit less security than to be stuck in a bad situation with no way out( late pick ups , late payments, etc)
Besides, where I reside ,the parent can walk away and give me zero notice at any time. The only fee they have to pay is what ever is 50$ max or what they had left owing for the length of the contracts as long as it is under 50 $.
But in the even that I want to terminate a contract it is virtually impossible and can take months.

I usually get them to sign the new contract a week before the old one expired.

For example: I recently decided not to renew a 3 month contract as a result of many late payments and other breaches of the contract. When I told the parent I was not renewing she had 2 weeks notice. If that contract had been for 6 moths or a year, I would of had to wait it out !

I'm missing something because I don't understand. WHY do you have to keep a client you don't what (for whatever reason) until the end of the contract?? The minute they pay late or pick up late they have breached the contract which makes it null and void if you so chose so you can terminate them.

Besides, it's YOUR business so you can terminate them whenever you want anyway.

Please explain......

[Sunflower]

I'm missing something because I don't understand. WHY do you have to keep a client you don't what (for whatever reason) until the end of the contract?? The minute they pay late or pick up late they have breached the contract which makes it null and void if you so chose so you can terminate them.

Besides, it's YOUR business so you can terminate them whenever you want anyway.

Please explain......

I live on the Quebec side and am a subsidized daycare. So in reality I have certain procedures to follow. Even if someone pays late,arrives late at pick up I have to give them notice after notice.. keep written proof that I did everything I could to resolve the issue. Even then, if I choose to terminate them they have every right to go and make a complaint, whcih means an investigation into the issue from my head office. Not to mention the fact that they can call consumer protection over here and take me to court. Maybe they would not win but I don't have time for that kind thing.
So .... one month contracts protect me from being in a being in a very uncomfortable predicament !
Sometimes I miss the days when I was a "private" daycare !!!!