How to Start a Nanny Service

Step 1

Determine what type of nanny services you will provide. Will your nannies remain in your employ or will you receive a fee for connecting the nanny and family then your role is ended? Are the nannies going to be part-time or full-time? Will they live in or live out or will you offer each type of service? Choosing the type of service and your part in it will set the stage before your clients begin asking for referrals which in turn promotes you as a professional, capable nanny service provider.

Step 2

Obtain all required paperwork and licenses for operating a nanny service. You can do this by visiting your local city hall planning, codes, and business license offices and letting them know you want to open a nanny service and ask them what you need to fill out to do so. If you are going to run it from your home you need to check with county and city zoning offices to find out whether your home address is properly zoned for a home business. If you are going to run the business out of an office location, it is still important to verify the space is zoned for such an endeavor.

Step 3

Hire an abundance of nannies for each service you are going to provide. It is better to have too many than too few to send to potential clients when they begin to call for service. The hiring process should at a minimum include a face to face interview, a resume, verifiable references, a background criminal and credit check and an observation of the applicant around a child with you in the room.

Step 4

Market and promote your nanny service to potential clients. Provide brochures and fliers to pediatrician offices, daycare centers, private schools and other venues where parents frequent. Hold a fundraiser to raise awareness of childhood cancers and use the opportunity to meet and greet community families that may need nanny services in the future. Advertise in your local newspapers and on free public access television. If you are going to be paid on an ongoing basis as part of providing the nanny to a client, offer the client a free week after one month of service with your company. You will

Step 5

Check the background of potential clients as well as nannies. While the majority of families that use your service will be legitimate clients you always want to be mindful of the safety of your nannies, therefore, a background check on your clients, with a strong focus on the clients requesting a live in nanny should be conducted before any contract is signed.