Late pay?!

[Suzie_Homemaker]

So my parents have to pay before care is given. My invoices are sent out on Wednesday and they pay on Friday. One family didn't pay on Friday. I am a new daycare and I really don't know what the best way to handle this is..

I don't issue weekly invoices or reminders. Parents know when their child care fees are due. I also have it clearly stated that they have to pay before care is given. And there's your (and mine solution). If a parent shows up and I haven't had their fees, care is refused. It's that easy. Enforce the rules you have.

I tell them straight "I don't have any fees from you. You can EMT from your phone right now with the late fees but I cannot accept your child until fees are received as legally I have a responsibility to mitigate my loses." It will only happen a couple times max before they realize that you aren't going to put up with this.

As above, I have late fees as well. Here, fees are due by 7am Monday morning to cover the next 2 weeks of care. At 7.01 Monday, the fees are late. My contracts state this clearly along with the information that no fees = no care so if they can't pay, they can't come in. Late fees are applied daily and will continue to be applied each day until fees are paid in full. Care will be denied until fees are paid in full (no part payments). If this happens more than once, they will be instantly terminated and their place will be given to new client's who aren't going to mess around with my income. I am ready, on time, every day to work with a smile on my face. The only thing I require from them for me to work, is payment.