Over many years I have learned to be firm and there are some things I will not bend on and other things I will not tolerate. And yes - it is okay to let someone go who doesn't fit your group or service. And I agree with your family that every single client will depart your care the moment your service doesn't suit them. That might be because they are moving out of area, taking time off for mat leave, changing employer and need different hours or have found somewhere cheaper.

I have business hours. If someone needs care beyond those hours, I am not obligated to provide them. If I decide that I can accommodate their changed needs, there will be a cost for the extended hours because no one works for free, and a new contract will be issues.

Either party (client or me) can end the contract with 4 weeks written notice. Fees are due regardless of attendance during the notice period as they are any other time in my care.

The ability to terminate care immediately with no notice is available to ME not them, if they are late with their payments, if they are late picking up their child, if they dose and drop their child to hide symptoms of illness, if their child is aggressive to anyone in the home - adult, child or animal, if the parent is aggressive (verbally or physically) towards anyone in the home. Since all of these things are fully in the control of the client, in the event of a contract being terminated immediately, a penalty equal to 4 weeks notice is due although they have no option to attend.

I will add that I don't terminate immediately for a late collection or a late payment but the option is there if it becomes an on-going issue. My contracts have penalties too - late payment incurs a fee of $10 per day with refusal to accept the child into the day home until all fees have been paid. No fees = no care. Also, if a client is late picking up their child, there is a penalty of $1 per minute beginning immediately after closing time with no grace period. I don't give a grace period because there's always going to be that one parent who comes all the time at 5.04pm if there's a 5 min grace time. Arriving at that time is going to cost them $4 per child. Come at 5.10pm, and it's going to be $10 late collection fee. If it happens more than twice, I will terminate them.

I don't work for client's. I have a business, which offers a specific service between certain hours of the day. They want this service. Our contract is for me to provide my service during my hours and get paid on time.