What do you charge when you close early?

[suzydominguez]

I would like to know if I am wrong charging parents their daily rate, if I close early for an appointment?

I am open 7 to 6, mon thru fri. I don't charge late fees and don't charge if you need an earlier morning drop off. I do not charge days that I am off or my vacation. I do not give discounts for early pick ups and I charge half price for any scheduled days off and their vacation time off. I always make appointments away daycare hours, but I couldn't for this one. It's at the hospital, so they give you the time. I will still open, but close at 2 pm. Parents asked me if they still had to pay me full daily price because of the early closure and I said yes. Am I being unfair?

Thanks in advance

[BlueRose]

I don't change my rate for any reason. I have it set up that they pay the same every two weeks. It doesn't matter if they are away, I am closed or if I close early. Basically they pay a tuition.

I don't feel that you are being unfair. Do you have anything in your contract that states you will give a discount if you close early?

[sandylynn]

BlueRose....if you don't mind me asking...where in Ontario are you?

[BlueRose]

BlueRose....if you don't mind me asking...where in Ontario are you?

I am in the Ottawa area

[suzydominguez]

I don't change my rate for any reason. I have it set up that they pay the same every two weeks. It doesn't matter if they are away, I am closed or if I close early. Basically they pay a tuition.

I don't feel that you are being unfair. Do you have anything in your contract that states you will give a discount if you close early?

I have a sentence in my payment policy that states "no discounts will be given for late drop off and early pick ups. " I think that is covers all points, or do I need to be specific (their could be numerous reasons) .

[BlueRose]

I have a sentence in my payment policy that states "no discounts will be given for late drop off and early pick ups. " I think that is covers all points, or do I need to be specific (their could be numerous reasons) .

The way I read it is that if the client is dropping off late or picking up early they don't get a discount. As in they have decided to do this. It would also mean if you close early or open late, put it is left up to interpretation. Anything that is left up to interpretation, if you end up in court over it, you will loss and your client will win. You have to be very clear so there is no misunderstanding.

For now I would show them the contract and state that your contract states........ and see what they say. If they argue then I would give them a small discount. If they don't and are willing to still pay for the full day, then I would just take the money (trust me you have earned it) and fix your contract at renewal time to be on the safe side in the future.

[suzydominguez]

The way I read it is that if the client is dropping off late or picking up early they don't get a discount. As in they have decided to do this. It would also mean if you close early or open late, put it is left up to interpretation. Anything that is left up to interpretation, if you end up in court over it, you will loss and your client will win. You have to be very clear so there is no misunderstanding.

For now I would show them the contract and state that your contract states........ and see what they say. If they argue then I would give them a small discount. If they don't and are willing to still pay for the full day, then I would just take the money (trust me you have earned it) and fix your contract at renewal time to be on the safe side in the future.

Wow ! You are amazing blue rose !! Thank you, you are so right. I will do that and in May when the contract is up, I will re write it, would you be able to help me word it ?

[BlueRose]

Wow ! You are amazing blue rose !! Thank you, you are so right. I will do that and in May when the contract is up, I will re write it, would you be able to help me word it ?

check out my site www.homedaycarebusiness.weebly.com It has a copy of an older version of my contract, handbook and forms. If you want you can contact me through the site with any question. Just remind me that we talked on here.

[Lee-Bee]

I have it in my contract that full days fee is due if I close early for appointments. I let them know that I do my best to get the last appointment of the day so I can be available for the majority of the day versus closing for a half day on them. It has never been an issue.

I would still charge a full day fee in your case...though I would generally do my best not to have to close right in the middle of nap time (I assume you didn't pick this time slot). It's life you do need to take care of yourself and you can only do that by making the occasional appointment during daycare hours. It is a part of choosing home daycare.

[suzydominguez]

Thank you everyone for your advice and support. I was pretty confident that I was in the right of charging full rate, but sometimes when I am questioned I start to doubt myself and think that maybe I am being unfair. I only recently started to treat my daycare more as a business rather than being too nice and bending over just a little too much for clients and in the end feeling like you've been taken for granted. Thank you again.