New Daycare provider in a small town

[Suzie_Homemaker]

I have found that when people don't treat a new day home provider professionally, it's often because they aren't setting that expectation.

You mentioned that you've had parents leave without explaination or payment - so that's something you need to put some thought into. First of all, how are they able to do that? It seems that you are allowing people to pay for care at the end of a set period of time, vs insisting they pay upfront. It's common to charge client's monthly or bi-weekly in advance - this weeds out the people who jump around carer's leaving a trail of unpaid accounts in their wake. Secondly - get a contract - make it clear that to with draw from your care, a notice period is required and that fees are required for that period regardless of attendance. When you have a clear contract, with the terms and conditions laid out, which has been signed, then if need be, you are able to go to Small Claims Court and get the money they owe. Without a contract, it's harder to prove your agreement.

It also sounds to be that you are just expecting client's to do the right thing. There's no clear policy given to clients or even explained to clients.

Are you cheaper than your competition? If find that attracts a certain clientele and many new provider's fall into the trap of offering cheaper care due to their perception that inexperienced carer's should be cheaper and with that, the parents who don't care and are just looking for a babysitter show up.

Take a step back. Think about how you actually want to be perceived. If you want to be seen as the community babysitter, who doesn't mind working whatever hours want, who doesn't expect to be paid if she doesn't work, etc - that's fine but if you want to be seen as a professional day care with a quality program and clear policies then you have to present yourself that way.