Hours of operation

[Rachael]

What kind of clients do you have? I want them kind of clients lol. I'm guessing people who work 8-4 and people who go to school?

I go for the professional couples who have some flexibility with their schedules. That way, the one who starts later, drops off and the one who finishes first, picks up. I have one young couple who work shifts but the paternal grandmother picks up around 4pm for them and then takes the child home until the first parent gets in from work.

We also have a massive military presence here as the port in Halifax is one of only two in Canada which remain open year round. The base employees and the military posted there, tend to start work at 7.30am and finish around 3.30pm/4pm. I will open at 7am for them as parking around the base sucks and of course, I know they will be here on time for closing.

We also have a lot of hospitals so again, although I avoid nurses who tend to work shifts with rotating days, there are lots of supporting staff who work 8am until 4pm - office administrators, intake staff, appointment staff, etc.

I'm about 25 mins from down town Halifax so not in the core at all. It is harder to find these clients, but they are out there. Fewer of them here in the burbs but I have learned to hold on for the right client even if it means a vacancy sits empty for longer than I'd like. Since it's often a 4 year commitment until their child goes to school, it's a long time to be extending hours etc for a client which isn't quite a match.

I seem to get a fair amount of teachers too - even though I charge on days reserved and not used, and they know when they come, that they will be paying through the summer/christimas vacations etc.

I avoid those who go to school. And, we have 4 (I think) universities locally. For me, I have found that they want to pull their child in May and return in September which is understandable but it means 8 months a year placements only and I'd rather have a more stable core group if possible.