Quote Originally Posted by sunnydays View Post
If your spots are open now, I wouldn't hold spots for that long unless they want to pay full fees for them. If the spots are opening up in September, then the deposit times two. As Playfelt mentioned, you could give them the option of paying it in two payments.
Agreed ~ September is a LONG way away to be forgoing income on TWO spots if they are open now in January ~ that is $350 a week x 31 weeks = $10,500 even with a holding fee that is still a lot of $$$ to forgo if say a month from now you have someone interested in full time and have to turn them away cause you've committed to these people ~ I would likely pass on committing them formally and tell them you can keep their info should a spot come open closer to when they need it you will contact them!

However if I knew I had another two spots coming open in September due to children graduating to school full time than I would have them sign a 'pre~booking contract' with the tentative start date of September and they would have to pay two weeks non refundable security deposit on them should they change their mind if they enroll than that security deposit gets added to their last two weeks of care ... my tentative contracts also state that should the spot open earlier than projected the client has the option to START at the earlier start date or I would have to advertize to fill it and they would than forgo the pre-booked spots if someone else should show interest in the spaces at the earlier date! (in which case their security deposit would be refunded if I was able to find a new client willing to start cause it is me changing the contract not them).

I have also allowed clients with multiple children to pay for the security deposit in 'installments' because coming up with a security deposit for TWO children is like having an extra mortgage payment