Nannies can find work through an agency or find families directly. Neither route is right for everyone. The best choice depends on how much of the business side you want to handle yourself.
How agency fees work
Most US nanny placement agencies charge the family, not the nanny. On our site’s typical figures, a placement fee is 15 to 25 percent of the nanny’s salary. You don’t pay it, but it is part of what a family spends to hire you, which can affect what they feel able to offer.
Some agencies work differently. Those that employ nannies directly, often for temporary or backup care, usually pay you an hourly rate and keep a share of what the family pays. Always ask who pays what, and get it in writing. Be wary of any agency that asks you for a fee just to register.
What agencies actually do
A good agency earns its fee. It screens candidates, checks references and runs background checks, which reassures families before you’ve even met. Many provide a work agreement and help negotiate pay, hours and paid time off. Some offer temporary work between placements. Many point families to payroll services, so you’re paid on the books with taxes withheld. And they bring families to you, so you spend less time searching.
What independent nannies handle themselves
Going independent means you find families, set your rate and agree terms directly. You keep full control over who you work for. You also take on the jobs an agency would do.
That means writing a strong profile, answering inquiries quickly and running your own interviews. It means keeping references and a recent background check ready to share. It means asking for a written work agreement and making sure the family pays you legally, with taxes withheld. And it means planning for gaps between jobs, since nobody else will find your next family.
A balanced checklist
An agency may suit you if you’re new to nanny work, you’d rather not negotiate pay yourself, you want help with contracts and payroll, or you want someone else to bring you families.
Going independent may suit you if you have strong recent references, you’re comfortable talking about money, you can keep your paperwork organized, and you want to choose every family you work with.
Many nannies do both: they register with an agency and keep an independent profile at the same time. Read your agency agreement first. Some limit working directly with families the agency introduced you to.
Wherever you land
You can list free on findanannyonline.com either way. Add verified badges for your ID and certificates, keep your availability current, and reply to families promptly. Those habits help whichever route you choose.