Free template
Childcare tuition contract template
The money agreement, written plainly. Rate, schedule, when payment is due, what happens when it is late, and how either side ends the arrangement.
- Rate and schedule stated as a weekly or monthly amount for specific days
- Due date, accepted methods, and a late fee that names an amount and a trigger
- Holiday, vacation, and closure terms, including whether tuition is charged
- Notice period on both sides, with signature lines and dates
PDF, two pages, letter size. Review it with your own attorney before you use it.
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The clauses that prevent arguments
Rate and what it covers
The amount, the days it buys, and what is included. Meals and supplies stated here, not assumed.
Due date and method
When payment is due relative to care, how you accept it, and whether the date shifts for a holiday.
Late payment
A dollar amount, a grace period, and the point at which care pauses. Specific numbers are kinder than vague warnings.
Absences and vacation
Whether tuition is charged for a sick day, a family vacation, or your own closure days. The most common source of disputes.
Rate changes
How much notice you give before a rate change, so families can plan and you are not negotiating individually.
Notice and termination
The notice each side must give, whether the deposit applies to the final period, and the short list of immediate-termination reasons.
How to use a contract without souring the relationship
A contract is not an act of distrust, it is what lets you stay warm with families during a hard month because the terms were settled in advance.
Walk through it at the tour, out loud. Read the late fee and the notice period to them. A term they heard you say is a term they remember.
Have a lawyer review it once. One review of your standard contract is cheap compared to a single unpaid month or an unclear termination.
Enforce it evenly. Waiving a fee for one family and not another is the fastest way to make the contract worthless.
Tuition contracts, answered
Is this contract legally binding as written?
It is a starting point, not legal advice. Contract requirements and enforceability vary by state, so have an attorney review your version before a family signs it.
Should we charge tuition for days we are closed?
Programs do both. Whichever you choose, put the number of paid closure days in writing and list the dates at the start of the year.
How much notice should we require?
Two weeks and four weeks are both common. Match it to how quickly you can realistically fill a spot.
Can we require autopay?
Many programs do, and it dramatically reduces late payments. State it in the contract rather than introducing it later.
Invoices that go out on time without you remembering
Set the rate once and billing runs on schedule, with autopay, receipts, and a clear record of who has paid and who has not.