I expect people to begin paying when the spot is open. I had a spot in May last year and tons of interest but not until starting end of June. I told everyone they would need to begin paying immediately (no reduced rate either) to secure the spot or they could wait and hope for the best. None wanted to pay to hold their place so when a family came in willing to start right away then they got the spot and the other's were left looking.

I will have a spot opening in Sept this year. If I find someone now who wants the spot then I will take a deposit that I will use towards their first 2 weeks of care. They will also be expected to begin paying as soon as the spot is available (not whatever day they want to start). That is the only instance that I would take a deposit to hold a spot for future use. If they decide before sept that they want to go elsewhere they loose their deposit.