When it comes to getting pay in advance I get mine on Friday morning at drop off. Reason being is I have had a family get the grandparents pick up and tell me they didn't know anything about it being payday. I then got a call from mom saying their child would not be back. They still owed me 2 weeks in lieu of notice. I now get my money Friday morning and if no money then they can't leave the child for the day (which is a day they have already paid me for). Also my husband runs the cheques to the bank after he takes my daughter to pre-school. My late fee of $15 begins Friday at noon.
Unfortunately sometimes we have to learn our lessons the hard way. I had a friend of a friend help me get started (she ran a licenced day home) and she told me right from the start that people will try and screw you the first chance they get. She wasn't too far off!