Holding Fee? Deposit?

[finsup]

So trying to figure out the best way to handle this...
I have one open spot. Golden dcf refered their friend who is trying to find care for her (then) 12 week old in the beginning of February. She has interviewed at a few others and is on a couple waiting lists. I'm trying to decide the best way to proceed with holding the spot. Here's the ideas I'm throwing around:
150$ (full week tuition) due to hold the spot and will be applied to the last week of care. Non refundable.
Or
50$ (maybe higher?) "holding fee" not applied to care, non refundable.

I'm not in a huge hurry to fill the spot, and this is a slow time for enrollments. Chances are I wouldn't be out much money if I just held it on their word but...I'd rather not do that What have you guys found that works best? And the best way to word it so they KNOW it is not refundable at all.

[Blackcat31]

So trying to figure out the best way to handle this...
I have one open spot. Golden dcf refered their friend who is trying to find care for her (then) 12 week old in the beginning of February. She has interviewed at a few others and is on a couple waiting lists. I'm trying to decide the best way to proceed with holding the spot. Here's the ideas I'm throwing around:
150$ (full week tuition) due to hold the spot and will be applied to the last week of care. Non refundable.
Or
50$ (maybe higher?) "holding fee" not applied to care, non refundable.

I'm not in a huge hurry to fill the spot, and this is a slow time for enrollments. Chances are I wouldn't be out much money if I just held it on their word but...I'd rather not do that What have you guys found that works best? And the best way to word it so they KNOW it is not refundable at all.

I don't hold spots.

If they are open and available I require payment in full.

Rates are based on enrollment not on attendance or time used.

[childcaremom]

I require 2 weeks non-refundable holding fee. I do not refund for any reason. I apply it to their first two weeks' care. I require the money and all forms filled out and returned in order for their spot to be secure. I do not allow changing of start dates, either, unless it is to move up the start date.

Not the popular option on here but it is what works in my area.

[daycare]

I will only hold a spot for 30 days, which is my term noticce.

as soon as I get a term notice I contact my wait list.

the new family has to pay two weeks of tuition that is 100% non-refundable.

there is a 3 week trial period and after that passes with the new enrollment, I will take that deposit fee they gave at sign up and transfer it to their deposit fee that they will get back on their exit date.

I don't allow parents to use the deposit fee as a credit towards their last two weeks anymore. had a bad experience with that.

now they only get their deposit fee back if,
they stay past 90 days and they do not owe any other fees for any reason.

[finsup]

I don't hold spots.

If they are open and available I require payment in full.

Rates are based on enrollment not on attendance or time used.

Hmm...I could do this. I doubt she would want to pay it, but she could always contact me again when she was ready to start paying. Of course taking the risk that I won't have filled the spot. Another idea to consider

[finsup]

I require 2 weeks non-refundable holding fee. I do not refund for any reason. I apply it to their first two weeks' care. I require the money and all forms filled out and returned in order for their spot to be secure. I do not allow changing of start dates, either, unless it is to move up the start date.

Not the popular option on here but it is what works in my area.

That's what is popular around here too. It may be what I end up doing. If it was a time when enrollment was high I don't think I'd hold the spot for more then 2 weeks. But this is such a slow time of year, I really figured it could be a few months before getting anyone else in anyways.

[rosieteddy]

I always took two weeks tuition to hold spot.This was a nonrefundable holding fee.I explained to clients I was stopping all interviews as they were holding the spot.I did this when holding a spot for more than 4 weeks. Less than 4 weeks and I charged a holding fee equal to one weeks tuition nonrefundable and not applied to tuition.I would do this if you feel you can wait until Feb.I would definitely have a date to start though. Sometimes an easier Jan is good.

[finsup]

I will only hold a spot for 30 days, which is my term noticce.

as soon as I get a term notice I contact my wait list.

the new family has to pay two weeks of tuition that is 100% non-refundable.

there is a 3 week trial period and after that passes with the new enrollment, I will take that deposit fee they gave at sign up and transfer it to their deposit fee that they will get back on their exit date.

I don't allow parents to use the deposit fee as a credit towards their last two weeks anymore. had a bad experience with that.

now they only get their deposit fee back if,
they stay past 90 days and they do not owe any other fees for any reason.

What happened with letting them apply it to the last two weeks if you don't mind me asking? I'm trying to not have to learn this one the hard way and anticipate potential difficulties before they come up .

[finsup]

I always took two weeks tuition to hold spot.This was a nonrefundable holding fee.I explained to clients I was stopping all interviews as they were holding the spot.I did this when holding a spot for more than 4 weeks. Less than 4 weeks and I charged a holding fee equal to one weeks tuition nonrefundable and not applied to tuition.I would do this if you feel you can wait until Feb.I would definitely have a date to start though. Sometimes an easier Jan is good.

Yeah, its not a huge deal for me to wait until February. Especially with the crew I have and Christmas etc. Keep in January quite could be a very nice thing . Plus its a really slow time for enrollments around here, there's a good chance it would be a few weeks at least before the spot is filled anyways. Not a lot of people looking for care right now!

[daycare]

What happened with letting them apply it to the last two weeks if you don't mind me asking? I'm trying to not have to learn this one the hard way and anticipate potential difficulties before they come up .

so I used to allow applying it to the last two weeks of care until I had a family decide to just not pick up on time the last week of care and on the very last day of care was 4 hours late picking up. I ended up having to give the kid to the grandmother who lived over 2 hours away. My thought was well they are leaving so the first time when DCM was 30 min late picking up that last week, I told her I need you to pay me the late fee to which she said ok tomorrow at drop off, which didn't happen and that was their last day. This is also why now I enforce no pay no stay.

so if anyone ever pulled that stuff with me now, I have their deposit to pull the fees from and will get paid for late pick up or what not.

[Ariana]

I will hold a spot for someone but not requiring a payment means the spot technically is up for grabs if someone better comes along. If the parent insists on paying to hold the spot then I will guarantee that spot. It is essentially up to the parent. Most parents don't want to pay to hold though.