Do you pay a CM a booking fee when you agree to place your child with them?

[eenybeeny]

I am beginning to be interviewed by parents so I will be ready to go when my registration comes through. In fact I have someone coming around today. If she says she wants to place her DC with me do I get any sort of booking fee to hold the place? I know I paid a booking fee for a pre-school we were thinking (but decided against) sending DS to of £20.

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you cant charge ANYTHING until you are actually regsitered-officially- however i would charge a retainer once you are registered up to the date they want to start their child with you..of half whatever their fee will be.
HTH

thanks!

I am going to pay a deposit but not a fee.

deposit - sounds as though it is refundable.

retainer fee - isn't refundable, it holds the place open.

I would suggest charging a retainer fee, for any period in which the childcare place is being reserved for that child. If a new minder, you don't have a childcare place until you are in receipt of your certificate.

i cahrge a deposit for over 8's (as they dont count in ratio's) and retainers for under 8's

oh and deposit is/and is confirmed to parents its purely to HOLD place, not to be taken off first months fee's (i normally charge £50-as long as normal feed until the time they start would not be less)

My cm charged me a retainer, it is quite normal tbh

I think it's reasonable to charge a retainer if a parent wants a place holding open for them for a period of time, after all you are not able to sell that place to anyone else in the time being are you?

How much a retainer is should be negotiable, but usual is 1/3 to 1/2 of normal fees.

And no you can't charge this until you are registered ( also can't charge for unborn babies either)
If you charge a one off deposit then make clear it is non refundable.