Just how difficult can it be to start a nanny agency?

Hi there,

I know that this post is old but I wonder how difficult it can be to set up a nanny agency now... I have been working in Early Years for many years and I am considering to start my own business. I've been reading and getting info about legal stuff but my main worry is how to make a new agency known, families need to reach out to you but where can they find you, online, advertising?
Has anyone tried setting up an agency? So many things to consider but maybe worth it a try. Thanks in advance!! :)

[quote GoodMorningSunshine]@Nicadooby
Once before Julie wouldn’t put me up for a job as it was a 25/30 minute drive from my home. At the time I had been commuting Herts to London 🤣[/quote]
Silly

Many nannies I know drive a good 30/40minnplus

My last position was an hour drive Tho obv different as my jobs a few short term as a mn

However I did really like her…. Except that time 🤭

@Nicadooby
Once before Julie wouldn’t put me up for a job as it was a 25/30 minute drive from my home. At the time I had been commuting Herts to London 🤣

I know this post is 10 years old but this made me laugh, I found Julie at Hawthorn nanny agency so scary. She didn’t interview me she interrogated me 😂

Sorry @Kiki68 ignore that

Your reply was 7yrs ago

I replied originally in July 2010

But yes what happened @hobbgoblin

I own a Nanny Agency overseas - established now for over 2 decades and I can tell you haqnd on heart it "looks" easy but by christ it isn't. It consumes your life if you want it to succeed and to keep succeeding and if the unreasonable customers expectations don't send you reaching for the paracetemol then the nannies lack of integrity and unreliability will. So dont be fooled by appearances.......it is not easy. I have watched countless nanny agencies appear and disappear in the blink of an eye. Finding nannies isn't difficult, finding good ones is. I wouldn't recommend starting a nanny agency without some working capital to tide you over and be prepared to lose it shoud you not prevail. Good luck.

Hi there,

I know this thread is two and a half years old, but I was just wondering how any of you got on with starting up your agency. Hobbgoblin, did you go ahead with it?

I am interested in hearing how it went for any of you that tried, as I am keen on starting one myself.

Its not as easy as you think. I've worked as a nanny and in a couple of nanny agencies.

You get nightmare clients, nannies who don;t have a clue, matches that don;t work out and you need to refund, reference checks have to be done, no one can go out for interviews without a CRB in place (or at least in process).

A lot of hard work for not that much money. Nannynick made some great points.

However saying that, when you do get a great nanny in and a lovely family its great.

You would certainly be able to even out income and control workload more effectively charging an hourly rate, with fewer loss leaders, I think.

i know 2 nannys who run their own agency and it is bloody hard work and takes money,time and effort

both also work part time as nannies to make ends meet, yes fab earning a fee of £1000+ when they place a nanny but some months no one gets placed and still have overheads etc and for first year or 2 they ran at a loss but have no picked up

also depends on area and if many other agencyes about and if lots of nannies etc

CRBs can be done via an Umbrella Body such as Civil & Corporate.

I think Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 is still the main legislation to do with running an employment business.

I would love to know how agencies decide on their fees... like the concept mentioned by BoffinMum that sounds far more fair.

What about charging per hour as a nanny finding consultant type person instead of this six weeks net pay rubbish? There used to be a woman around Battersea way that did that, and she found great nannies for people and the parents loved her and did not feel so ripped off.

Association of Nanny agencies or the people that accredit recruitment agencies might help. I suspect, scarily, it might be as simple as 'I want to be an agency, I'll start now'.

For CRBs you'd either need to register yourself as a registering body or get them done through a checking agency.

Can anyone please advise (just shortly!) on the legalities - who would you need to go to in order to make this a reality? Is there any 'governing body' as such that has to accredit you? How do you apply to start checking CRB's? Can you just one day claim to be an agency and take nanny/parent details and start up? Surely not?

That was my point pretty much! If you have the USP then go for it, but if you don't then it all comes tumbling down rather...

Fingers cross it works for you though. Or that in the worst case you can think up another USP!

Have you tried talking to parents to see whether it's something they're interested in and/or willing to pay for?

I think it depends and, TBH, matching nannies isn't a USP if you can't get your background checks done. Most small, local agencies do that including one I know that covers the St Albans area.

IMO you would also need to know and be able to advise on - contracts, tax and NI, maternity rights etc. You'd also have to be up to speed on visa regulations and restrictions (to ensure eligibility to work).

I'm periodically tempted but fall down because I'm in a position where I could either be in the same country as the nannies or as the parents/nanny when placed. Will need to move back closer to the UK to make it viable!

hobbgoblin if your DH isn't working, could he not have the children?

My DH works days and I work nights so that we can juggle our childcare between us.

I think I may have once been in contact with you about helping you very brielfly or am i getting you mixed up with someone else?

I have no idea about starting a business but from what I've seen it does eat quite a bit of cash quite quickly... so you're taking a huge risk in case it doesn't really take off and bring in the cash you need, iyswim. Unless you have the capital and then some savings to use if things don't go well.

How awful that you and dh both lost your jobs so quickly So sorry to hear that. How stressful. I hope something works out for you very soon.

I've wanted to set up an agency for quite a long time. I am in the opposite direction from London than you, and while the demand for nannies in THIS area isn't as great, the demand/supply of nannies in Southwest London (Clapham, etc.) is enormous.

The problem I've had is that I have absolutely no idea where to start, who do I need to apply to, what do I need to apply for, how do I get the CRB's done? Hob, do you know anything about this side of the biz? Or anyone else? I'd really appreciate some advice!

I have the USP down and will also do 'matching' - as a previous nanny I know how annoying it can be when agencies send your CV blindly.

hobbgoblin.... I too am in St Albans have have thought about setting up an agency. I have over 18 years experience in childcare (mostly as a nanny).

One of the reasons I haven't acted upon it is that i would hate to go up against Julie at Hawthorne. She is fantastic.

Would you consider working as a night nanny? I am always very busy and have to turn clients away most weeks. There is a real shortage of very good maternity night nannies locally.