Inquiries from clients looking to secure a spot a year in advance?

[mickyc]

I get a $200 deposit and I use it towards the families first 2 weeks of care. I have only had 1 family that gave me issues with paying but I did finally get my money within a month. I ask for 3 week's notice now if a family leaves.

I agree with 5LM - I took part-time before and would not do it again.

Have a good contract in place and renew it yearly. There will be things that come up over the year that you will want to change. Get paid in advance!! I also think it is a good idea to have a late payment fee, a late pick up fee, an NSF fee. Also have it in your contract that if these things happen that it could cause care to be terminated.

Also stick to your guns, do not let people walk all over you, do not do favours for people and most importantly visit this website often! We are here to help!

[5 Little Monkeys]

Agree with mickyc except I don't have a late payment fee. Pay late once, can't come until it's paid. Pay late twice, you are terminated and have to find alternate care.

This job is already unstable in regard to income so I don't play around with late payers.

[mickyc]

For myself I have run into good families who have forgotten to bring a cheque or have asked to bring payment at pick up time (instead of at drop off when payment is due). I find they will only pay the late payment once or run home and get a cheque. They never forget again! lol I do have in my contract that late payment can result in termination of care.

Also for the family I had problems with they "forgot a cheque" in the morning, then had grandparents pick up that night. Then called shortly after grandparents picked up to say the child will not be coming back and trying to stiff me the 2 weeks pay in lieu of notice. I was kicking myself for not having a late payment fee at that point. I did get my money but it took a month. I think she would have gotten the money to me a lot faster had there been a daily late fee like I have now.

[Fireyesblue]

Perfect, I had no intention on taking in any part timers, so phew! How would it be best to word that...you charge for the space and not the days in attendance, etc? Is it OK to combine your contract and parent handbook into one document as opposed to having to seperate documents? The Parent Handbook outlines in depth our policies, correct but that can just be an extension of the contract? Does any one have a sample contract that they are willing to share? I'm in Ottawa, so if perhaps someone in a different city might be willing to? Forgive me if I'm out of line! Don't want to cross any boundaries (I can handle the rejection! Lol)

[5 Little Monkeys]

I admit, I have been lenient with some families but it all depends on their past history with me. I really haven't had issues with payment (except for the parent I recently terminated
) and I think it's due to my strict payment policy.

Getting paid in advance also helps. If a family were to leave without notice, it would suck and you have to decide how far you are going to go to get it, but at least your not out any money for services but they did break contract.

[5 Little Monkeys]

If you send me your email address, I can email you mine tomorrow

[Fireyesblue]

So, weekly or bi-weekly? I'll be sure to add late payment fees, etc into my contract. Under where I list my hours/rates is that where I would state I charge for the space not for attendance? I guess you would need to clarify that, eh! I wouldn't have even that about making that clear! This is fun - thanks for taking the time out to share, ladies!

[5 Little Monkeys]

That's where I would put it.

I do biweekly payments but you could do weekly or even monthly. Whatever you like

[jodaycare]

I had a family contact me in April 2013, Baby wasnt due till Aug 2013. Dad came for the interview alone because Mom was on bedrest. Anyway the interview went well but I didnt expect to hear from them right away because they wouldnt need care till Sept of this year. So in Jan of this year, the Mom called me to say that they loved my daycare and she works at the school around the corner from my house. They ended up coming the next week, with signed contract and deposit cheque for $665 to hold the spot from then till Aug. So yes it can work out.

[mickyc]

I get paid bi-weekly in advance. I just have it stated in my contract that regular fees are charged when the child is away (sick or on holidays) and all stat holidays are paid (I list them so there is no confusion). I do not charge for my days that I close (sick or holidays). If there are days I have to close early 1pm or sooner I only charge half rate. If I close early after those times (never during nap time though) it is full rate. I don't close early a lot though.

Another thing I have started (thanks to 5LM) is to give a reduced rate for when families take holidays. So my normal rate is $30 so when a family goes on holidays I charge them $25 a day PROVIDING I get 1 month's notice of their holiday time. I was finding that people were not telling me when the children would be away or still sending their child on their holiday time (because they thought that I was being paid anyways so therefore I should have their child). I do not give a reduced rate on stat holiday though so if their holiday runs on a week of a stat they still pay regular fee for the stat. It has worked out really well. There are days when parents still call in and say their child won't be here or schedules change and they are away for a week.

I don't have a parent handbook. My contract is my parent handbook. I couldn't be bothered with 2.