Daycare.com Forum
Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Pre-Paid or Work & Get Paid when the Parent Does?
PixieFirefly 07:41 PM 03-21-2012
I am starting a daycare the end of May. Most questions I have I find the answer by reading threads but this I can't finda answer to. I have taking care of kids the past 20yrs and the last time I did was 4yrs ago and I would get paid when the parent did. Well I was thinking now days I would do a *pre-paid* payment before I care for the child. I was wondering how other providers do with their payments? Thanks in advance for any input 
Christian Mother 07:47 PM 03-21-2012
It's in my contract to have them pay the week ahead starting on Mondays at drop off. If they don't pay for care at the beginning of the week then there is no daycare for them. That way no parent can skip out on me. And, I've never had that happen to me in all my yrs of daycare.
And, I've never had that happen to me in all my yrs of daycare.
PixieFirefly 08:26 PM 03-21-2012
thank you for the reply. 
that idea is great I love it
that idea is great I love it
littlemissmuffet 09:28 PM 03-21-2012
I am in Canada and the area I am in it is the norm to pay childcare fees monthly as opposed to weekly as in most of the US. However, we also only accept advance payments - due on the first of the month (or earlier if the 1st falls on a weekend/holiday/vacation/etc). $10/day late fee - and child will not be accepted into care until all fees are paid in full.
I get two weeks paid vacation, all stats paid and 5 paid sick/personal days. Families are not offered free or discounted rates for their vacation days or sick days, so my monthly fee is always the same for each family. I have never used more than 5 sick/personal days in a year so I've never had to reimburse a family.
I get two weeks paid vacation, all stats paid and 5 paid sick/personal days. Families are not offered free or discounted rates for their vacation days or sick days, so my monthly fee is always the same for each family. I have never used more than 5 sick/personal days in a year so I've never had to reimburse a family.
Blackcat31 06:47 AM 03-22-2012
NO pay = NO play! NEVER EVER provide child care services without advance payment. I get advance payment on Fridays for up coming week(s). Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly I don't care. Just pay BEFORE play.
Here is a thread/poll about who is pre-pay and who is not: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showth...ighlight=polls
Here is a thread/poll about who is pre-pay and who is not: https://www.daycare.com/forum/showth...ighlight=polls
renodeb 07:14 AM 03-22-2012
When I first opened I had them paying monday for that week. I found that to many times they would "forget" there check book.
So I changed payments to friday for the coming week or if they were parttime the last day of attendance for the coming week it works great and very few forgotten check books! I do have one parent that pays me for the whole month which works. The norm for my neck of the woods is to pay for the week coming.
Debbie
So I changed payments to friday for the coming week or if they were parttime the last day of attendance for the coming week it works great and very few forgotten check books! I do have one parent that pays me for the whole month which works. The norm for my neck of the woods is to pay for the week coming.
Debbie
Greenplasticwateringcans 07:28 AM 03-22-2012
In my area, and in my contract, it is prepay by the first of the month. I also have 6 months to a years worth of post dated cheques from the DCP's.
GoodKarma 08:37 AM 03-22-2012
Definitely in advance! It prevents a lot problems! I get paid the Friday before, cash only ( prevents even more problems! )
PixieFirefly 11:47 AM 03-22-2012
Thanks for all the replies it helped me make up my mind and GoodKarma I love the cash only idea
DaisyMamma 11:49 AM 03-22-2012
Prepaid on Monday at drop off. It eliminates the possability of a parent not paying at the end of the week. You can't say they cant have their kid on Fri if they show up with no pay. but you can say the kid can't come if they have no pay on Mon.
snbauser 12:06 PM 03-22-2012
Payments are due by close of business on Friday for the upcoming week. I have to do all of my shopping for the upcoming week over the weekend, so I want my money upfront.
SunshineMama 12:08 PM 03-22-2012
Originally Posted by PixieFirefly:
I am starting a daycare the end of May. Most questions I have I find the answer by reading threads but this I can't finda answer to. I have taking care of kids the past 20yrs and the last time I did was 4yrs ago and I would get paid when the parent did. Well I was thinking now days I would do a *pre-paid* payment before I care for the child. I was wondering how other providers do with their payments? Thanks in advance for any input
Please do a pre-paid payment for your sake. If a parent ever decides to leave, at least you haven't worked for free.I am starting a daycare the end of May. Most questions I have I find the answer by reading threads but this I can't finda answer to. I have taking care of kids the past 20yrs and the last time I did was 4yrs ago and I would get paid when the parent did. Well I was thinking now days I would do a *pre-paid* payment before I care for the child. I was wondering how other providers do with their payments? Thanks in advance for any input
momma2girls 12:57 PM 03-22-2012
I receive payment every Mon.am of that week of daycare, no pay, no stay.
Nellie 01:50 PM 03-22-2012
I think it is good advice to have pre pay. I don't, but I wish I did. I do they pay the last day there child is in care for the week. With a few families I use to let them pay when they got paid, but that adds to much work for me to remember someone is paying on Tuesday ect or every other week. Makes it hard to collect when they no longer need childcare if they end one week and don't get paid until the next week. Those few families that I did that for never took paying seriously. They just figured they could pay when they had it. If they needed the money for something else they figured that I could wait an additional week or weeks to get paid. Saddly family members were the worst.
Heidi 03:54 PM 03-22-2012
A deposit for last week of care (whenever that may be) at contract siging (non-refundable), AND prepay on Mondays for the week of care...
Preschool/daycare teacher 04:17 PM 03-22-2012
Same here, except they pre-pay on Fridays. If they don't pay on Friday at drop off, they have the chance to pay at pick-up. If no pay then, late fees ($10/day) begin accumulating. If no pay when they come to drop off on Monday (including late fees now), no stay for children. By paying on Fridays, it gives them 2 chances on Friday (drop off or pick up) and another chance on Monday at drop off (and some extra cash in your pocket for having to wait until then
)
)
gelbesonn 02:45 PM 03-26-2012
I require prepayment due Friday for the following week. (I also do bi-monthly or monthly- All pre-paid). I also require 2 week's payment prior to starting care. They can go up to one week w/o paying before I will refuse to offer anymore care. This way, I am never out any money AND I am never put in the awkward position of refusing care right off.
As for cash or check, etc. I prefer e-pay. If you get minute menu kids, the program has an e-pay option. You can set up auto invoices and parents can set up auto-withdrawal. You and DCP can keep track of the money and see the receipts and invoices. AND you don't have to go to the bank every week.
As for cash or check, etc. I prefer e-pay. If you get minute menu kids, the program has an e-pay option. You can set up auto invoices and parents can set up auto-withdrawal. You and DCP can keep track of the money and see the receipts and invoices. AND you don't have to go to the bank every week.
Bella99 03:01 PM 03-26-2012
Originally Posted by Christian Mother:
It's in my contract to have them pay the week ahead starting on Mondays at drop off. If they don't pay for care at the beginning of the week then there is no daycare for them. That way no parent can skip out on me. And, I've never had that happen to me in all my yrs of daycare.
This is a good idea! It's in my contract to have them pay the week ahead starting on Mondays at drop off. If they don't pay for care at the beginning of the week then there is no daycare for them. That way no parent can skip out on me.
And, I've never had that happen to me in all my yrs of daycare.I'd also prefer money order. Still documentable (unlike cash) but you can't be stuck if the cheques are from empty accts, or bounce.
3girls 07:26 PM 04-01-2012
When I first started I did pay when parent does and boy did I lose money on that one! Don't recommend it!
Now I require pay on the first day of attendance for the rest of the week. If parents choose to pay the whole month at a time they get a discount because I really like not worrying about the money thing every week I have great families right now and no problems.
Now I require pay on the first day of attendance for the rest of the week. If parents choose to pay the whole month at a time they get a discount because I really like not worrying about the money thing every week
I have great families right now and no problems.
EntropyControlSpecialist 07:29 PM 04-01-2012
I am paid bi-weekly or monthly ahead of time.
permanentvacation 07:52 PM 04-01-2012
The parents are paying for their child's spot to be available for them. They pay in advance of their child being here so that I will not give their spot to someone else. That's the general concept of paying for daycare spots. The parents are not paying for the childcare service per say, they are paying for their child's spot to be available to them.
I am paid on Friday for the week to come. I also take cash only so I don't have to worry about the parents bouncing a check on me or closing their bank account before I cash their check.
I give my parents a written receipt for each payment I receive. I use a receipt book from an office suppy store - they also have them in Walmart. The receipt has a carbon copy that I keep and the top copy goes to the client. That way, there is documentation of their cash payment.
I am paid on Friday for the week to come. I also take cash only so I don't have to worry about the parents bouncing a check on me or closing their bank account before I cash their check.
I give my parents a written receipt for each payment I receive. I use a receipt book from an office suppy store - they also have them in Walmart. The receipt has a carbon copy that I keep and the top copy goes to the client. That way, there is documentation of their cash payment.
momma2girls 10:08 AM 04-02-2012
I have every family pay on Monday, the first day of the week of daycare.