What is the Deposit all about?

[Inspired by Reggio]

I charge a security deposit equal to two week fees to secure a space in the program ~ it is non refundable should you change your mind and not start however it can be applied to the last two weeks of care provided you have been IN the program and proper written notice is received .. if you commit and change your mind before starting you forfeit the deposit (now if I could fill the spot without being out any actual income I MIGHT be karmically inclined to refund it for them depending on the circumstances)

IMO the reason for charging a 'deposit' to secure the s pace is this is that when a client 'commits' to the space we stop interviewing for it and set the space aside for that client and if they change their mind well than we am out revenue on that space until we can find a replacement ... basically it is a practice that the entire industry adopted over the years to prevent those clients who would commit to care at a bunch of different programs while waiting for their 'first choice' to come up and leaving all the other centres in the lurch when they just did not start.

Some people apply the deposit to the first two weeks of care however I choose to KEEP it until the end of service for several reasons many similar to why 'rental units' keep it to the end because it acts as incentive to respect the space they have or loose their deposit ~ it is protection for the service provider to not get screwed over

So having a two week deposit in their account gives a buffer of me never being out money for service provided should a cheque bounce because I have ample notice of that before the 'deposit' would run out to demand 'cash' to settle up or terminate them and use the remaining deposit to find a replacement.

It also acts as incentive for clients to provide LOTS of notice of their intent to leave the program otherwise they forfeit the deposit being added to their last two weeks of care ... most of my clients have always given me months of notice and ample time to fill spaces!

It also acts as an incentive for them to BEHAVE RESPECTFULLY in the program and follow my contract, handbook policies and code of conduct because my contract states that violation of any of this can result in immediate termination of the contract and forfeiting the deposit!