Originally Posted by Scout:
So, I have had problems with one family not bringing their child since right now they do not pay if not here...I know, lesson learned!
so here is my contract for the new year!! It is my first since I just opened Halloween. I am nervous and excited about it!! To warn you it is long though...IDk why it spaced all weird. It is fine when I print it. any other suggestions?? Thanks ladies and gents!
You may contact me either by phone or email. I only ask that unless it is urgent, you do not
call me after 8 pm, as this is my children's bedtime. I can be available by text or email
after 8 pm. I will be checking both prior to going to bed each night.
If you know your child will not be attending the following day please contact me by either
of these methods.
You may contact me using e-mail, text or phone. NO phone calls after 8 P.M.
Hours of operation: Mon-Fri 5:30 am - 6:00 pm
If your drop off time will not be the same each day, please make sure I know when to expect
your child so that I can lock the doors in between.
ALL parents are required to fill out a weekly schedule with accurate drop off and pick up times. No exceptions.
Your rates include up to 10 hours of care per day. If you are more than 15 minutes late past
your normal pick up time (without at least one days notice) there will be a $5 late charge for
every 15 minutes thereafter. This is because my kids have activities that are planned that
start shortly after I close, such as swimming lessons, & I do not want them to miss them.
I do understand that traffic or inclement weather may delay you, so there will be no charge
if you are late for either of these reasons past your normal pick up time.
Rates are for a maximum of 10 hours per day. There will be a $5 late charge for every 15 minutes after your scheduled pick up time.
Rates:
I reserve the right to change rates once per calendar year.
Rates will be reviewed and updated yearly.
All rates include breakfast (depending on drop off time), lunch, snacks, milk, & juice
(exluding formula or baby food).
All meals and snacks that fall within your scheduled time are included. Infants formula and foods are NOT provided.
If there are any foods or drinks you would not like
your child to be served please be sure to tell me so, that we are on the same page.
Please notify me of any food allergies your child has.
Part time consists of a minimum of 3 paid days, even if only 2 are used.
Part time consists of a minimum of 3 paid days regardless of attendance.
Part time rates of $5 per hour, per child, is available up to 6 hours of care.
Part time days are available at $30 per day for 6-10 hours of care for one child, $50 per
day for two children.
Part time rates are $30 per day for anything over 5 ours of care. $50 per day for 2 children.
Hourly rates for less than 6 hours per day are $5 per hour, per child.
Please let me know if you have a flex schedule that changes week to week. This is so I can
plan any outings or special projects, as I would like all kids to be able to participate.
^^I don't think this part is necessary if you require parents to give you a written schedule each week WITH drop off and pick up times.
Full time rates consist of 3-5 days per week.
Full time hourly rates are available at $5 per hour, per child, up to 6 hours.
Full time weekly rates are $130 for one child or $200 for two children.
Your rates are confusing because $130 per week is less than the $30 per day you stated. Do parents have the choice every week to pay daily or weekly? You will end up getting the short end of the stick if yo do it that way.. Parents will always choose weekly and pay the weekly rate and then use ALL the care they can.
Payment:
Payment is due on the friday following care at pick up. You may prepay if you like also & I
can credit any free days you choose to use.
I feel like you are asking parents how they want to do it. YOU are in charge. State what options you are willing to accept. This is going to be a troublesome area for you if you let parents think they can pay when and how they want to.
You may also pay biweekly. If this is the method you choose I do ask for 1 week prepayment so
that I may buy any food or supplies your child will be using.
This doesn't make sense to me. If they are paying bi-weekly, they will be paying you for two weeks so why do you need the one week of pay?
I will accept cash, check, or direct deposit if your bank allows it. There will be a $25 fee
for any returned checks. After 2 occurances of NSF I will only accept cash. Checks will be
deposited as soon as I can get them to the bank.
I will provide any receipts if requested & give you any tax information in January for your
child care credit.
I think legally you should ALWAYS give a receipt when being paid. I do it simply as a security measure. Better to be safe than sorry.
I reserve the right to enforce a late fee of $10 per day if payment is not received by
friday at pick up. After 3 days of late payment, your child can not return until all money
is paid in full.
A fee of $10 will be added to any late payments. If payments are not made in FULL after 3 days, no services will be provided.
Free Days:
Each child will receive 2 weeks of free days to use as you see fit. Examples would be sick,
vacation, or holiday days. The number of days you receive depends on the number of days
your child attends. If your child attends 3 days per week, they would get 6 free days.
If your child attends 5 days per week, they would get 10 free days! I will need to know
as soon as possible if you are using a free day so that I do not depend on that income.
Free days are only to be used when your child is absent from childcare.
All children will receive a specific number of free days dependent on the child's enrollment status. You may use these days as absent, vacation or personal days.
5 days per week attendance = 10 days
3 days per week attendance = 6 days
Days will only be credited if ADVANCE notice is given
Free days can only be used during absences.
A minimum of 8 weeks notice is required when using free days for 5 or more consecutive days.
**If you are using free days for a week's vacation I will need at least 8 weeks notice
for you to use the free days. If you fail to provide 8 weeks notice, you will need to
pay your normal tuition for the vacation.**
Once you have used all your free days, you pay whether your child is here or not.
^^^I dont think you need to say that. I would think (hope) most people understand how the free days work. You can always just reiterate it during the interview.
Provider Vacation:
I will take 2 weeks of UNPAID vacation each year. One of these will probably always be the
last week in July or the first week in August. I will try to give at least 12 weeks notice
when possible. The only exclusion to this would be a family death or an illness.
Provider reserves the right to take 2 weeks of unpaid vacation time per year. 12 weeks notice will be given prior to vacation.
Provider Sick Days:
If I am closed due to my own or my family's illness I will contact you as soon as possible.
There will be no charge for these days. I will try to send my kids to a grandparents house
when they are mildly ill to avoid closures or illnesses spreading.
Provider reserves the right to close due to illness or illness of family members. Provider also reserves the right to close for death of a family member.
I don't think you need to explain that you will send your kids away. I think that can be a verbal conversation if necessary otherwise, it really isnt the parents business if you are doing all you can to prevvent illnesses....kwim?
Holidays:
Holidays will be paid at the normal daily rate ONLY IF YOUR CHILD IS NORMALLY IN ATTENDENCE
ON THE DAY ON WHICH THE HOLIDAY FALLS. For example, if your child is not usually here on
Mondays, you would not be charged for Labor Day or Memorial Day. The same applies for any
holiday that falls on a weekend. You may use your free days for holidays if you choose.
I will be closed the following holidays:
New Years Day
Memorial Day
July 4
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
**Christmas Eve I will be closing at 3 pm.**
I will be closed on the following holidays:
New Years Day
Memorial Day
July 4
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
**Christmas Eve I will be closing at 3 pm.**
You must pay for any holidays that fall on your normally scheduled days.
I think you are going to see parents just skip around your holidays and avoid paying for them. I think you should charge ALL families for paid holidays. As a parent, if I knew your part timers (who give you less business than I do) don't have to pay holidays and I did, I would be mad and it would be a deciding factor in choosing you as my provider. I think full time families are your mainstay so if you aren't going to bill everyone, you shouldn't bill anyone.
I reworded things in red and made comments in bold.
Obviously those are just my suggestions and advice and you can definitely word/say things however you want.
If what I offered was helpful or useful, I can comment on the rest if you want.
The billing/scheduling/payment part was just something that really stuck out to me so I couldn't help responding. Hate to see providers get the short end of things if there are loopholes for parents....because they WILL find them and use them.