Quote Originally Posted by Cindydaycare View Post
I am truly having a feeling monday she will not pay me again and just want to pay me at the end of each week. I would rather have advanced payment as I fear a customer dropping off their child for care and then one day just not showing up and I haven't received payment (this happened very recently to a friend of mine)
Time for client to try and negotiate is before contact signed. There is now contact in place which say you paid two week in advance.

Parent have one job only in child care. To stick to contract. It not matter what your reason for wanting advance pay is, what matter is this was the agreement and she not sticking to it.

The down side of running a business is dealing with the business matters. This client is defaulting in payment out the gate and you enabled it. Must not do that.

When Monday come, if she not got her fees, then you should deny care until that fee is paid. Have responsibility to mitigate losses. Power company cut off service if payment not made. Mortgage company take back house if payment not made. Car loan company take back car if loan not paid. She would not be able to walk away with her groceries if she not paying at check out. Stop providing service if payment not made in advance otherwise, as you say, big risk at end week, you worked 50+ hours, provide 10 snack and 5 lunch and not get paid. Her finances not your problem. Your business finances 100% your problem.

I have already deviated from my contract too many times, if she's not respecting the contract then what's the point of even having or signing one?
She is not respecting contact because you told her that contract not have to be followed when first week she not have money in hand. You gave permission to ignore contract so she now expect that it guideline and delay acceptable. If you not end this now, it will not change.

You have told her two week pay due tomorrow. Ball in her court now. If she come tomorrow without it, expecting another delay, that your golden opportunity to remind her that fees due in advance, deny care at door, and she can go get fees and return with child, which what your agreement was.

I am thinking of sending her a text message tonight and reminding that I need payment tomorrow...
No. This bad idea. If you get in habit of reminding client for money, the responsibility of payment on time, moved from her to you. Then, if you forget send reminder, even though she remember, she will hold onto fee until you remember and it be your "fault" money not sent when should be.

She grown person. She responsible for keeping finances straight. She not get reminders for other bills because it her responsible for pay on time. Do not take on her responsibilities.

Also, if you do this, and she not have money, it give her time to find alternative care with grandma or family friend. You are showing all your card if you message her today. You have power when she fail to bring fund, has child on doorstep and need get to work. That big incentive to get act together.

If she really not have money even in her account, then you turning away not going to change her finance situation. But providing free care will show her she setting terms again and contact not going be enforced. What will you do when she come late for child, after all, if contact just guideline, it no problem for her not pick up until 8pm, right?