Do you know how much money a childcare LOSES over a summer for holding a spot? I hold a spot all summer for parents and I charge only one weeks tuition for it. I try to find people who need only summer care but sometimes I don't. In the meantime, I turn away 7 or 8 who call and want to start and continue full time. I charge approx $700/mo per child. If I charge no deposit at all, and I have 5 children who are out all summer and I can't fill their spots, I have lost $10,500 in tuition that I would have gained over the summer. If I charge a measly one week's tuition to hold their spot, I still risk losing over $9,000. It's TOTALLY reasonable to charge a deposit, or a reduced tuition fee, if you ask me!

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