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Ok I need some advise, in my state I am only licensed for 8 kids (2 under 2yrs) currently I have 6 and have advertisements to fill the other 2 spots. My issue is one of my under 2's turns 2yrs in April 2013 and his Mom is due in Feb 2013 she hasn't really mentioned anything about the new baby coming here so I sent her an email today asking whats up. My problem is if she replies back and says that yes she wants the new baby to come, that baby wouldn't be starting for another 5 months so I would have to keep that spot held open for the next 5 months..............do I charge her a "hold fee"??? Right now it's an open spot but what if I get 2 people with toddlers that call then I will be at head count and won't have room for her new baby. I was in this same situation 6 months ago, I asked the parents a few times what their intentions were with the new baby and they kept saying they didn't know so I filled my extra spot. Then bam! as soon as the new baby came they were asking when it can start and I had to let them go cause I didn't have room for the new baby. I don't mind "holding" that spot however 5 months is a long time to just "hold" a spot! HELP! :confused:
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I would be addressing the issue now. I would let DCM know your capacity issue now and that becuase they are already enrolled they will have the option to decide if they want the spot or not. However, you need to make it very clear to her that there is a dead line.
I may even go as far as putting together a hold fee contract with a date that states that if they do not respond with payment to hold the spot by XYZ date, then you will fill the spot.
I also had this happen to me and then waited too long to talk about it... -
I charge $15/day to hold a space for one month - after that, I charge full price for the space to be held. There is absolutely no way I wouldn't be charging this mom full price for the five months the space will be open and available.Comment
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I agree with PP.....YOu do need to set an amount. Also one thing that I would really really consider is do you think you can handle a baby with your current daycare kids? Try to forecast what the future will look like by adding a new baby to it.
If I loved the family to death, I would strike up a deal in writing and get it confirmed. If I had my doubts, then I would not be chasing the deal down.Comment
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I emailed her and she said they were unsure and that they are looking at a house in another area, and that they need to make up their mind on the house by Dec 20th so she will let me know something around then. So I guess until then I will just take advise on how to proceed.
I don't want to charge her for 5 months either however not having that spot filled for 5 months is a huge cut to our budget (under 2yrs is $225wk, 2yrs & up $175wk) that's a loss of $3500 - $4500 over a period of 5 months!!!Comment
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This is also on my mind, in the past I have had 2 infants and 6 toddlers and it hasn't been an issue of if I can handle that. However, I don't have that now, and it's kind of nice. Right now I have a 9 mon, 20 month, 2yrs, 2yrs, 3yrs & 6yrs and it's pretty nice not having to deal with a n/b. So yeah I've thought about that too, I love all my kiddies to death so having to let one go would make me sad. My other problem is I have only been doing this for 3yrs so I do let me emotions get in the way sometimes in making decisions like keeping someone cause I don't want to put them in a bad place by having to look for new daycare and it ALWAYS bites me in the a$$!!!Comment
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In my state, I'm under the impression I could call licensing and explain it's a sibling of somebody already enrolled and they could make the exception on a case by case basis. Might be worth a try, especially if you may lose the family over the timing...Comment
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Why do you not want to charge her? You not charging her makes it more of a favor and not a business relationship. I absolutely would charge either full price the entire time or do it the way muffet said. It isn't fair to make your family suffer because a client is fickle. Either she's out money or you're out money.
Oh, and her saying they're looking at a house in another area would be my que to begin looking for a replacement child for the current child in your care. If they aren't moving this month then they'll be moving in a year or so.Comment
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Well it looks like you will have an answer soon, but I would still put something together that you can use now and in the future (contract to hold spot)
I have had this happen to me where they gave me a date....date came and went and I asked for an answer, then I always got an excuse as to why they could not give one. In the end I was out.... I could have filled the spot, but didn't because I was giving them the benefit of the doubt. Well I don't do that anymore.Comment
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Oh, and her saying they're looking at a house in another area would be my que to begin looking for a replacement child for the current child in your care. If they aren't moving this month then they'll be moving in a year or so. Good POINT!!
I would also be addressing this issue too.Comment
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DKC - our state is really strict, I had another sibling last year that was a week from turning 2yrs and I still couldn't let their infant sibling start the parents ended up taking an extra week vacation before they started their newborn.Comment
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I don't understand why you don't want to charge DCM to hold the space? She IS taking the space despite the fact that the child won't be there - so unless you knew for sure you could fill the sapce JUST for the five months until baby started than you would be putting yourself out for absolutely no reason!
I think as business owners we need to remember that our number one priority needs to be ourselves/our families - just as our DC families make their number one priority their own families.Comment
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to be honest with you.... I would be looking to fill both spots...
I have a hard time with siblings and every time I take them on, it has never turned out great... I know others may not agree, but i am speaking from my own personal experiences.
It sounds like this family is moving and you will be out the other child too...Comment
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