Pre-Paid or Work & Get Paid when the Parent Does?

[Preschool/daycare teacher]

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]

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.

[Bella99]

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!

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]

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.

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

I am paid bi-weekly or monthly ahead of time.

[permanentvacation]

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.

[momma2girls]

I have every family pay on Monday, the first day of the week of daycare.