I only interview after hours or on weekends. My preferred time is right after the close of daycare so interview is over by 6:00 and I still have the rest of my evening to myself. The idea is they come as soon as child is done nap and has a snack and dad gets home from work. The advantage is they don't tend to stay long and just do the interview and go.

I don't want them her during the day because my attention is on the other children and it is hard to talk to people and look interested when I am changing a poopy diaper or referring is dispute over blocks - as in they either have to follow me around the house or we end up sitting on the floor in the playroom and that is just too many adult legs in the way of play. Also it often becomes just mom and child at the daytime interview and then she wants to bring dad by for a visit before making a final decision so you end up interviewing twice wasting even more time. I just explain my policy of evening only because my daytime attention is on the children not company and usually they appreciate that.

As for advertising daycarebear, kijiji, godaycare are my best sources other than word of mouth - ie recommendations for past or present clients.