No way! I offered a family a spot at $20 a day once (my regular fee is $30) and they didn't want to pay to hold it. Why would you give up money just to hold for one specific family. I say tell them they can pay so much a month to hold the spot or wait and hope for the best. I certainly wouldn't do without to accommodate someone else. Don't forget they also may end up stiffing you in the end too. Oh I found a daycare closer to our home or we got into the center that we wanted etc. When I was opening up and booked families 6 months prior to me opening I had that happen. The lady went on and on in our interview too about wanting to make sure that I would stick with it once I opened and then she was the one who ended up getting into a center and cancelling out on me. I got her deposit but I still had to find a replacement last minute after I had passed over a lot of families.