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

[hobbgoblin]

As I am in dire straits financially - lost my job in the blink of an eye along with DP and soon my house and car if I don't Do Something - I'm just throwing around possibilities whilst all advice places and offices are closed and all I have is the internet to investigate ideas...

So, I have the experience and contacts but surely every woman with children who wanted to work from home would have thought of this..?

What are the pit falls, anyone know?

I'm pretty desperate so hope this isn't perceived as a sneaky ask on here, I certainly couldn't afford to pay for a media request thingie to ask about this whilst it's just an idea.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

@Kiki68

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.

It’s ten years old

I replied originally in July 2010

But yes what happened @hobbgoblin

Sorry @Kiki68 ignore that

Your reply was 7yrs ago

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 😂

@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 🤣

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

[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

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!! :)