How Are You Paid?

[CityGarden]

I found an old poll with this topic and thought it would be neat to see what providers are doing now!

Please add the pros / cons or reason why you use the payment option you selected in the comments

If you use more than one please select your preferred method for the poll and add any additional thoughts in the comments.

[Ariana]

I used to do checks but now do mainly etransfers. Soooo convenient since my bank is far from my house. I still offer it though. The family starting next week requested checks. Not happy about it but it is what it is.

Pros of checks is that I decide when I get paid and I am rarely late
Cons my bank is far from my house so it is not convenient

Pros of etransfers is that it is deposited from my couch and it is easy to adjust payments for late fees or vacation days.
Cons parents sometimes pay late.

[happymom]

I chose "how I pay" since I am a parent...
My center has a lot of options including bank transfer, credit card (with a 3% fee added), cash or check.

I do bank transfer because it requires zero efforts on my part. I just had to fill out a form at the beginning of enrollment and the office manager takes care of the rest.

[Blackcat31]

I get paid via bank transfers.

The pros for me are that payment is never late due to a closed day, holiday or absent day.


The cons are that parents have to take the time to set this method up but from what I an tell so far, it's pretty simple as I haven't had anyone not be able to do it despite most parents banking at different bank(s) than I do.

[Snowmom]

Half checks, half bank transfers.

I don't have a preference on either. My bank has a mobile deposit feature, so I don't have to drive to the bank anyway.

[LysesKids]

I take cash or credit cards (Square)... Most my parents pay by cash, but at least one in every new group pays by CC. I get paid monthly... I stopped taking checks years ago because of my hours & too many bouncing. My CC option gives parents a way to pay if they forget $$ too. I usually have the money in my account next morning if it's not a weekend

[laundrymom]

I do cash.
In advance.
Always.
I do so because I hate waiting on checks to clear and I'm too lazy to set up transfers. Just being honest. Lol
I like cash.
I do pay all my bills through transfers. Lol so I guess I'm kind of hypocritical.
But I feel cash is easier for me.

[lovemydaycare0912]

I accept cash or check only. I prefer either on. I deposit checks through mobile deposit and it is available next business day. That's the pro. Checks can be post dated if a dcm won't be in on payday. Con is having to wait for the check to clear if Monday is a holiday.

Cash is easy. Pro is I have the money no need to wait to clear. Con is parents getting upset when I tell them no change and no it cannot be put towards next week's tuition. That's about it for me,

[e.j.]

Oops! I responded to the poll before I read your instructions to check the one method I prefer. I take cash, checks and bank transfer so I checked all 3. Sorry about that!

If I had to choose, I guess cash would be my preferred method of payment. As long as I get paid, though, I don't care how it's done.

[Baby Beluga]

Parents pay via cash, check or bank transfer.

I don't mind cash, but am not a fan of having to physically deposit it. I never use cash to pay for anything because I like having a bank record of my purchases. So I always have to deposit it.

Checks I usually don't mind because I can do mobile deposits. However one of my parent's handwriting is not neat so her checks are never accepted by mobile deposit and I have to take them in to the branch.

I prefer bank transfer. It is easy on me as I don't have to do anything except email the receipt. My bank emails me when a payment was made and the date it is expected to be available in my account. Once it is no longer pending I email a receipt to the parent and I'm done.

ETA: I wouldn't mind doing something like square but the fees turn me off to it.

[jenboo]

All my parents pay via Brightwheels bank transfer. They send payments on Wed so that i receive them in my account by friday. It's awesome and everyone loves it. They can also set up automatic payments to pay once they receive an invoice

[renodeb]

I'm paid by Check and cash with one client doing electronic bank transfer (which I really like).
I actually dont mind being paid by check, I have had very few issues with checks and it does create a good paper trail. I like cash to but it doesnt always make it to the bank! Electronic transfer works great, I get a notice when they send it and I just confirm when it hits my acct.
Deb

[Jupadia]

My parents pay with either cash or cheques. I don't realy prefer one over the other. Though I use to prefer cash, but now my bank let's me cash the cheque via my phone (banking app) so it's not a hassle to cash. I have not yet but in my contact parents pay a hefty penalty for a bounced cheque. (The fee bank charges, $50 inconvenience fee, $25 per day from the time the payment was originally due and late payment fee, and no more checks)

[MarinaVanessa]

I accept all of the options that were posted but my preference is check (as long as I'm not given a rubber check ). Checks are just easier for me. I snap a picture of them immediately through my phone app and it's in my business account the next day. I can then use my business debit or checks to pay for business expenses and transfer money from the business account to my personal account for personal expenses. Makes it so much easier to keep track of expenses.

Cash: I like cash too but I like being able to keep track of every dollar I made and have proof so I deposit any cash into my business account. Cash just means I have to go to my branch or ATM to deposit it.

Direct Deposit: When clients bank at the same bank as I do they can easily transfer money from their account to mine. I do love it and it's one of my favorite ways to get paid but not every client has the option. I love getting the money immediately in my account.

Card Reader: I have a PayPal and a Square reader and I use whichever one is less expensive to use. The bad thing is the fee of course but the money is in my account typically about 24 hours later so that's a plus.

PayPal: LOVE paypal too but I prefer for them to send me money through friends and family so that I don't get a fee. They also can't stop payment this way so that's a plus. I have a PayPal business account and that comes with a debit card that I can use so I don't have to wait to transfer the money if i need to spend it and the money comes out right away if I use the account or use the card and I like that because it's easy for me to keep track of my balance.

MMK: I like how easy this is to use and how it keeps track of when clients pay automatically so I have less to do but I don't like that it takes like 5 days for the money to clear.

[Ariana]

Half checks, half bank transfers.

I don't have a preference on either. My bank has a mobile deposit feature, so I don't have to drive to the bank anyway.

Thank you so much for the reminder! I think my bank just started this. Its been about 3 years since I've cashed a check So I forgot!! happyface