New Baby To Start Jan 2nd...Would You Charge?

[LaLa1923]

I have a new baby starting January 2. DCM picked that day to start even though I'm open the 31st until 4pm. She will only be here 3 days her first week. The 1st is a paid holiday for me.

Should I stick to my policies and charge the full rate?

Or Allow her a one-time discount?

Either way, I don't want to start off on the wrong foot...

[itlw8]

No I would prorate it because they are starting after the holiday.

[EchoMom]

Don't charge her for the holiday, she's not your customer until the 2nd.

I think of it as the paid holidays are like a bonus from the families who've been here, she doesn't owe you anything yet.

[SilverSabre25]

Definitely prorate the first week.

[Scout]

Don't charge her for the holiday, she's not your customer until the 2nd.

I think of it as the paid holidays are like a bonus from the families who've been here, she doesn't owe you anything yet.

I agree. I had a family start this week & am giving her xmas & new years free since she s new. I feek I should earn my holiday pay but, i am new.

[Crazy8]

No, absolutely would not charge. I often have kids start right after labor day - would never think of charging them for that holiday since their official start date is after! I would prorate the first week.

[littlemissmuffet]

If I charged weekly, I would charge for the entire week - the mom chose to start on the 2nd, not you - and as you said, you are open on Monday.

I charge a monthly fee, due on the 1st of each month - if a child doesn't start daycare until the 2nd or 3rd because of a weekend or holiday I still charge for a full month.

I wouldn't start discounting for holidays now... you'll never see the end of it

[SunnyDay]

I have done it both ways, depending on the circumstances.

I had a family that I held a spot for that decided a little while before that they only wanted to use 3 days the first week. In that case I charged for the entire week, because they had said that was the week they wanted to start and I assumed they meant full-time.

I have also had a couple of families that want to start out less than full-time the first week or two. In those cases, I allowed them to use less days but pay the part-time rate, which is higher per day than the full-time rate.

All of the above cases were when I was starting out and needed to get some clients in the door, so now that I am as full as I would like to be, I'm not sure what I would do. I would probably pro-rate in the case of starting on a holiday week.

[LaLa1923]

Thank you all for your input. With everything going on here I somehow forgot about ALL of my rates. In my area 3 or more days a week is considered full time. So I think I will be charging her, she is paying 2 weeks in advance.

[Abigail]

I don't think it's a good business practice to charge for the days earlier in the week that they begin care unless it's stated word for word with an example in your contract stating that they pay for M-F and no rates are prorated. Yes I understand 3 days is considered full time in your area, but if you're going to charge someone prior to the contract start date, it's not going to work well. It looks bad on your end and it legally can't hold up in court since they didn't start on Monday and it only gives you bad business from word of mouth when they leave.

Take your full time rate and divide it by 5 days (which they'll be attending 5 days typically anyways) then multiply that "daily rate breakdown" by 4 to get what they should pay. You don't charge by the day, I understand, either do I. If Someone starts here at $130/week but starts only W-F for week one and then the rest of the weeks it's M-F I take $130/5 days= $26 per day x 3 days left in their first week= $78 for their first week's tuition. Then $130 no matter what after that. Parents understand and I feel that is the right the to do.

[lovemykidstoo]

Don't charge her for the holiday, she's not your customer until the 2nd.
I think of it as the paid holidays are like a bonus from the families who've been here, she doesn't owe you anything yet.

Exactly this.

[Fruitloops1]

I don't prorate at all, for any reason. My weekly fees are due every week regardless what day they start or when they come. if they want to start on a Friday they still have to pay the weekly rate (for that week and the following week, because payments for the next week is due on Friday) I disagree about them not being a customer until the 2nd. If they paid the deposit and signed your contract then they are customers. You are holding that spot for them.

[littlemissmuffet]

I don't think it's a good business practice to charge for the days earlier in the week that they begin care unless it's stated word for word with an example in your contract stating that they pay for M-F and no rates are prorated. Yes I understand 3 days is considered full time in your area, but if you're going to charge someone prior to the contract start date, it's not going to work well. It looks bad on your end and it legally can't hold up in court since they didn't start on Monday and it only gives you bad business from word of mouth when they leave.

Take your full time rate and divide it by 5 days (which they'll be attending 5 days typically anyways) then multiply that "daily rate breakdown" by 4 to get what they should pay. You don't charge by the day, I understand, either do I. If Someone starts here at $130/week but starts only W-F for week one and then the rest of the weeks it's M-F I take $130/5 days= $26 per day x 3 days left in their first week= $78 for their first week's tuition. Then $130 no matter what after that. Parents understand and I feel that is the right the to do.

First of all, it's not illegal - the provider is open Monday through Friday and available on Monday - the PARENT decided to start care on a Wednesday as opposed to the Monday - not the provider.

Second of all, I disagree that a client isn't a client until the start date - this depends on the business owner. In my business, a client becomes a client as soon as they hand in their paperwork and their holding fee (which can be as long as a month before their start date - as I don't usually hold spaces for longer than a month; and I require paperwork and a holding fee immediately to hold a space or I keep interviewing).

[Blackcat31]

First of all, it's not illegal - the provider is open Monday through Friday and available on Monday - the PARENT decided to start care on a Wednesday as opposed to the Monday - not the provider.

Second of all, I disagree that a client isn't a client until the start date - this depends on the business owner. In my business, a client becomes a client as soon as they hand in their paperwork and their holding fee (which can be as long as a month before their start date - as I don't usually hold spaces for longer than a month; and I require paperwork and a holding fee immediately to hold a space or I keep interviewing).

I agree, a client becomes a client when there paperwork and fees are paid NOT when they start.

I am guessing in this particular situation DCM probably chose to start after the first to avoid charges for the holidays. She has to find alternate care for New Year's day so starting on Wednesday makes the most sense.

She is still a client though and I would probably charge her the weekly rate but I would do it because I ONLY charge weekly and don't offer pro-rated or discounted rates.

If I charged daily, I would consider charging from start date of attendance but I guess it depends on the client and my current situation.

I also agree that it is not illegal to charge weekly just because a parent starts in the middle of the week. Also not seeing how this would give you bad business from word of mouth when they leave. If you charge the whole week and they enroll and agree to it, I can't see it being something the parent would bad mouth about it. If they agreed, they obviously are ok with it.

[Mommy2One]

Don't charge her for the holiday, she's not your customer until the 2nd.

Weighing in as a parent I can see both arguments, and if I felt a provider was a fantastic fit paying for the whole week wouldn't be a deal breaker, but ultimately I agree with the above.

As another comparison, if you start (or end) a job mid-week, you don't get paid for the full week even if you're salaried and regardless of when you agreed to take the position.

If you decide not to charge her the full week, just be clear that you are not discounting the holiday and that ALL holidays will be paid in full in the future. Explain that you are only prorating this week as an exception to reflect her mid-week start date and that not future discounts to the weekly fee will be given.