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I was wondering if anyone has an infant spot holding contract/agreement that they would like to share with me. I am trying to write something up for a spot that will be held at the beginning of September. Thank you!
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I used to just take a week deposit but that didn't work out for me, so now if they want the spot secure they need to start paying as if the child is enrolled...the spot is theirs until they stop paying and no refunds if they do stop -
I'd just enroll them full-time as of Monday, August 30th, tuition due in advance on Saturday, August 23rd (as long as it paid online by Monday morning, all is well), first date of attendance TBA. Baby LastName, DOB - TBA. Same old contract. Have them fill out the child information forms closer to actual start date.
If they don't pay the tuition, the slot goes to the next person. Easy Peasy.
Last edited by Cat Herder; 08-23-2021, 02:41 PM.Comment
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How long are you holding the spot? Will a sibling attend or is this a new family enrolling?Originally posted by Meadow View Post
What do you normally charge for holding a space or have you never held a space?
The only word of caution I would offer is IF you do decide to hold the space make sure the family understands that the fee(s) they are paying are for you to HOLD the space and that it isn't meant to be refundable should you or them decide baby isn't going to start and that it wont be applied to upcoming services. Unless however, that is how you plan to do it. I view a holding fee as payment for actually holding the space open so I would not refund it or apply it to future use.Comment
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Yes, what BC said! “This fee will reserve and hold open for you a spot for your baby to begin care on Oct 27, 2021. This holding fee is non refundable if for any reason your child does not enroll by the contracted enrollment date. This holding fee is not applicable to future weekly fees. On Oct 27, 2021, you will begin paying the full weekly fees for your child regardless of attendance. A two week notice is required should you decide at any point not to attend. ” That’s basically what our contract says; the notice statement varies depending on the situation. We’ve also broken it down to weekly partial payments instead of a lump sum holding fee.Comment
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So I was actually going to ask something similar to this. I have a spot that just opened up and a current family (been here since day one) that is expecting and were holding out in hopes that I would get an opening. Well I informed them that I have an opening and they were 'willing to do whatever they needed to' until I told them they would have to pay until baby starts (March) because it is an open spot. I charge a little more a week for infants and told mom I would only charge the normal weekly rate until baby starts but she didn't seem to like that. Is it normal to charge the weekly rate until they start? Otherwise I am losing money, I could fill that spot with someone that is willing to pay the full rate. But I also understand that it is a lot of money for families to pay when the baby won't start for a while.Comment
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On our old forum some have commented that they would charge half the normal fee.
https://www.daycare.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37671 -
I charge the full rate. If they want to risk no slot being available when they need it, hat is their choice. No payment, no slot.
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Yes, I would say that's normal. There's no way anyone should expect you to take a loss like that for THEIR benefit. Especially for that long. A month? Maybe. But 7 months? No way.Originally posted by mamadaycare View Post
If I were you, I would tell her she has the option of paying for the spot now and it's guaranteed, or you're gonna fill it and dcm runs the risk of not having an infant spot at all. I don't know what you're like, but I personally would also get resentful of this family if I saved them a spot for 7 months for FREE. And that's never a good situation.
Picture this scenario: You hold the spot for free because she's complaining, then she has the baby and decides not to go back to work. You would be pretty upset.
I understand her not wanting to pay for a spot she can't use yet, but this is strictly a business decision and your livelihood comes before hers.Comment
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I am the same way! I wouldn't be able to hold it without holding a grudge about it. I told her when we had the discussion that I couldn't take less than my normal weekly rate because then I would be losing money. She said she understood and would talk to her husband. I agree that we shouldn't have to take a pay cut so that parents can have it their way. At the end of the day there is no guarantee they will come here. I could understand her being upset if the spot was already filled and I was requiring payment but I can't leave this spot wide open.
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I have held two spots for free, both for teachers, and I will never do it again. I might not even consider accepting a teachers child at all after my experience
My rule now is if the child isn’t starting with me within 7 days, I require the first weeks tuition as non-refundable deposit within 48 hours of accepting the family or I will move on.Comment
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I need a rule like that, I sometimes forget to tell them that they need to complete the paperwork by such time to get the spot. I've had people act like they're going to start at a future date and then never put anything in writing, or come out and say it. When that date approaches I get an email (or an online payment) saying that they're going to start and then I scrambled to figure out who they are. And to their benefit I am laid back about filling spots so only once or twice have I said it's no longer available. Lol
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