I'm all about details and organization so this is really driving me nuts! Please share your thoughts.

I have a holding fee contract, which is just that. It's a fee charged to NEW clients who want a spot to be held for their child. I don't have a time line put on this contract so even if they wanted to pay one week before enrolling to promise their child the last spot they would pay the dollar amount I would determine. The rate would be half the weekly rate (or similiar depending on the length of time needed I guess) and needs to be paid on Fridays like all the other families pay, except their child doesn't attend at all yet. This fee is not applied toward care since it is to hold the spot only. This would be for expecting mothers as well if they want child number two or three to have a spot held for them. It's only fair.

It only has the date-to-be-held from the date of signature, the amount to be paid and when, the late fee if it's not paid on time ($5), how long until they forfeit the spot if they don't pay (following friday), a place for both parent and provider signatures and date.

My question about this contract....I don't have a place for parent information or phone numbers to reach them at. Do I also have a parent fill out the information on the regular contract, but not sign it until the holding fee contract expires? I obviously would have already completed an inteview and given then the policies to keep and other enrollment information.

I have a regular contract to be signed prior to starting care. This is a standard contract that is only a few pages explaining everything relating to time and money.

I want to make an extended leave contract as well. This would cover summer leave for teachers, leave for maternity time, or leave for a long vacation or a really sick child, etc. with a 12-week maximum like many others recommend. Do I have this in my regular contract since the only ones who can actually use this contract would already be enrolled in my program? Would I have it in my contract that two weeks notice must be given and paid at full rate and then they can pay for half the weekly rate for up to twelve weeks while attending care two days per week? Then on the actual extended leave contract have the specific information with the chosen two days to attend care? Would I only put the extended leave information in my policies and keep all the details on a separate extended leave contract? Lastly, if they sign an extended leave contract, do they re-sign a regular contract when the time is done or does it automatically go back to the regular contract once the time has expired on the extended leave contract?

Thanks so much for all your help! I don't know why I'm so flustered over this, but I just need to be organized and keep things simple!

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