Parents don't always understand that your child care is your business. The best thing you can do is to have a written agreement that both you and the parents sign when they enroll their child in your care. The agreement should include these things:
- Name of the child.
- Days when care is to be provided.
- Hours when the child will be in your care.
- Payment rate and when it is due.
- Late payment consequences.
- Any special arrangements specific to this child (for example, parent will be one hour late on the first Monday of every month).
- Signatures with dates from you and the child's parent(s).
Make two copies of the signed agreement. Give one copy to the parents, and keep the other in your files. When you have a signed agreement in place, it serves as a written reminder to parents that they are expected to pay for care for their child.
If payment is late, be sure to give a formal written request for payment. Document each time payment is late and how many days the payment is late. This information can help you decide if you need to decline to provide child care services for this family.
Some child care providers require parents to pay for child care a week ahead. You are paid before care is given. If parents don't pay, you can tell them not to bring their child the next week. Paying a week ahead also gives you money to buy food and other supplies that you'll need to care for the children in the coming week.
