Am I Being Unreasonable??

if i ever got back into that business, I would ask for payment upfront just like you are. I got burned on it way too many times. You work too hard for that. If he does not want to play by your rules then tell him to take his kids elsewhere and stick to it. Even IF he were to take time off from work and lose a days pay...you STILL should get paid because you still were there and ready for the kids. Don't bend your rules or everyone will be expecting the same favors.

some service providers only require a deposit. since it's the first time for this person, maybe he wants to test the waters first that is why he doesn't want to pay up front. he wants to be sure that he's ok with your services before he spends money. in this way, if he changes his mind in the middle, he doesn't lose money. i suggest that if you have others on the wait list, don't accomodate this person. you may be left hanging with a slot vacant later.

No that is how it is in a lot of daycares that I know of. Its so that you are paying for the week thats coming up. Many of the programs here require a two week payment when starting and an enrollment feel. The going rate around here ranges from 150 to 200 dollars a week. And that doesnt always include food. Then for any field trips its extra. I ran a home daycare for 13 years. Parents were the worst part sometimes. Some of them were just impossible. I still have a little boy that I am watching just for a few more weeks, but come summer I am done because it got way to stressful for me to handle.

I think this person wants to get childcare and then not pay for it. There should be no problem with paying in advance. What's their problem. You give them a receipt that says what childcare is covered in the payment, I presume... so I see no problem. They know they will get the care. That saves you from having to sue them when they decide to stiff you. The way I see it LMB is that they don't have to use you. If they don't want to pay in advance like all the rest, they must have a reason for wanting you NOT to be paid. I would question their honesty, to tell you the truth. I would stick with your policy because it works. If anyone isn't satisfied with it can go somewhere else for childcare. That's what I think. You don't want to get stiffed, so that is why you have them paid in advance.

I don't think you are being reasonable. I ask some friends who are also in the business and they all tell me that all services were paid upfront. Those who didn't pay at the end of the day, meaning those who only require their services on a certain day because something came up. But wouldn't be needing the services again after that. Just be gentle yet firm with your payment scheme. If you try to "accommodate" their request, the rest of your clients might hear about this and start demanding the same. If they still give you the trouble for it, maybe they should start to look for some other care providers.

As far as I know, our child care or babysitting services are all being paid upfront. That is the begining of the month. If your client has confirmed with you for the service, there should be no problem in collecting upfront. This is the normal practice here.

Do these people not understand that you have to earn a living, you are not doing it out of the goodness of your heart for gratis and neither are you a charity, you have your home to look after and keep, you have your family and you have bills to pay! They are paying for the service you offer, and I think under the circumstance you are being extremely reasonable. What if you were to look after their children and they don't pay you for doing it? No money upfront, or no service, their choice, you can find plenty of people who will be reasonable, they will find it hard pushed to find someone like you!

If this is your standard, this is what they need to do. Your other option would be to run a type of escrow account where they would be like a rental deposit. It does require them to trust you to always be there when they have contracted for, but it also requires you to trust them not to use more hours than they have paid for. It is business. You are not doing this just for the joy of having their kids at your house.

I've had and am having 3 services provided for me in recent weeks. I had solar panels installed and paid when the job was done. I had the back of my house clad and the guttering fixed and I paid a deposit, then a lump sum when the materials were delivered and then a final sum on completion. I'm also having a new kitchen installed. The builder wanted half up front so he could buy the materials and then I will pay the rest on completion of the job. So, it varies. When my kids were in school, term fees were paid up front. My bills are paid after the service is provided. Whether they are unreasonable or not, these are your terms.. The client can take it or leave it. . You can still be courteous and friendly but these are your terms.

If your client is aware of your payment arrangements and engages your services, then it would be deemed that he is agreeable to pay upfront. So, I do not see that you are being unreasonable. Since the rest of these similar businesses are operating on receiving payment upfront, you are not making yourself odd or exceptional on being a trend breaker. If your client does not like the arrangement and you cannot compromise further, then it would be advisable that he goes elsewhere with his business.

I have never heard of total payment for services upfront before the service was completed. I have hard of half down upfront and when the job or service is completed then the rest of the money is paid in full. I could definitely understand people having a problem with this especially if you are giving them the service for the first time. Regular customers should not have a problem I would think. I know personnaly I would have a problem.

Not for the line of work you are in. You are providing child care services and since you always tell them payment is due upfront due to payment problems. Asking for payment upfront is how many child care businesses operate though some of the larger ones will send invoices to parents. Otherwise, it depends on the service you are providing. Such as your smaller wedding business you and your sister would probably have to ask for half upfront and the other half once the client sees the finished product. That is how most, not all, but most of the businesses in the wedding industry work. For my work, if I have a scheduled appointment whether I ask to get paid before or after depends on what the client and I are working on. If it is something like setting up QuickBooks for your business, then I ask for half upfront and the rest when the work is completed. If it is for a longer period of time such as them wanting to hire me to do payroll for six months, I charge a 35% non-refundable fee which is basically 35% of what they are to pay me for the job and I require payments to be made each month towards their account with the full balance due one week before their last week of service from me.

You should keep your position and ask him to pay you up front. Many employers are tricky. They avoid paying you up front, they let you work and after a while they say that they are not happy with your service so they don't have to pay you for the job. I have a friend who is a great baby sitter and it happened to her. The funny thing is that the rich persons are cheesy when they have to pay the money to their employees. There are people out there who fit perfectly uncle Scrooge

It's not unreasonable to ask for payment up front with all the scamming nowadays.

I feel that if you tell people upfront that it is on a upfront basis then they should have said they didn't like it back at the first conversation, not now. So it sounds like this person is just looking for a reason not to pay or she/he has had more time to think about it and doesn't like it. And if they have a problem I would tell them it is because I had a problem in the past with someone not paying me and that is why I am having to do things this way. Dishonest people cause a ripple affect for honest people.

Culturally speaking, that is unreasonable. Reasonable, being defined by the culture, means that these people you are expecting have money up front, look around and see very few others doing that. The typical norm, is that you do the service, and then get paid. However, there are many who require payment up front. However, you have to have clout to do this. If you have two comparable people giving service, and one requires payment up front, and the other does not, most people are going to go for the pay-me-later service. The key for you is, make sure you are doing a better, more consistent job, than anyone else. When people realize this, they'll pay up front.

I think that any payment scheme that you want would be acceptable as long as the client agreed to it. I read in one of your comments here that this client has already been using your services for a couple of weeks, then he shouldn't be complaining about it as he already knows the work that you do.

I think that your terms is okay. Do you provide them with a contract just to be sure that they know everything that they need to know?

Your request does not sound unreasonable, but perhaps a promise in writing to be reimbursed for the money paid for services not rendered if the client wishes to cancel would be a good idea.

It will be better to ask him to pay the due amount first and that you will continue the work only when you'll be paid up front payment. I take advance fee for the tuition I give to students. I allow the delay of 3-4 days, but not more than that. You never know who is planning to use your service for free.