I totally agree .... When I first started I had two different families sign a contract and I asked for a two week holding fee ....one spot was being held for 3 1/2 months and the other spit for 5 1/2 months .... Stupid me!!!! I integrated both of the kids but the parents cancelled prior to starting ... One mom couldn't handle being away from the child and spent the whole time he was here integrating crying so she stayed home and the other one was new to the area and found a caregiver across the street so after holding the spots for all those months neither child started so I lost a lot if income (3000$ for one and 4000$ for the other) never again ....and the worst part was I had to turn away other families because I didn't have open spots as these ones were being held.... I got a bit smarter and now I charge a monthly fee so far that has worked for me as i haven't had anybody not start after dropping over $1000 to hold a spot. A couple hundred bucks is way to easy to walk away from ... It has to be substantial enough to keep them.