How does the one-year limited guarantee work?
Where do your candidates come from?
What experience do your candidates have?
How much are we expected to pay a nanny?
How old are your candidates?
What is the difference between a nanny and a mother's helper?
What other benefits do I offer the nanny?
What about taxes and social security?
How long does it take to hire a nanny?
Who pays for the nanny to travel to (and from) the job if she resides out of the area?
How do I interview candidates I can't meet?
How do you screen your candidates?

How does the one-year limited guarantee work?
We screen our candidates for those who can give a minimum of a one-year commitment. We look for candidates with backgrounds that appear stable enough to keep this commitment. Since the nanny is your employee, you are welcome to have a contract with her if that would make you feel more comfortable. We give you a one-year limited guarantee. That means if the nanny leaves within the first year for any reason, we will replace her for the balance of that year. For example, Nanny #1 leaves after 4 months. Be Our Nanny owes you 8 months of nanny service and we will replace her with Nanny #2. Since we require a one year commitment from our candidates, it is possible that nanny #2 will stay beyond the 8 month balance of your one year period (for her one year period). In that event, you would be billed for the balance of the time beyond your one year period, or in this example, for 4 months at $250 per month.

Where do your candidates come from?
We recruit from all over the United States as well as locally. All of our candidates are US citizens or can legally accept work in the United States. Although we do not actively recruit from other countries, we have found that the internet has made it possible for candidates living in other countries to locate and contact us as part of their job search. Our criteria for these candidates are the same as those we recruit domestically; they must be legally able to accept employment in the United States.

What experience do your candidates have?
First and foremost, they must all have childcare experience. Beyond that, it can vary from extensive babysitting to having previously been engaged as a nanny. We seek quality and consistency in childcare and other work experience over mere quantity of references. Some candidates possess teaching backgrounds or worked in day care centers or preschools. Other candidates may have formal nanny training and/or formal college education.

How much are we expected to pay a nanny?
The nanny's salary depends on her background and experience. It can range from $375 per week to $700 per week. The average salaries for live-in, live-out, temporary and 24-hour care are listed below for your convenience:

Positions		Range		Average
Live-In		$500-700/week		$525/week
Live-Out		$550-700/week		$600/week
Temporary		$13-20/hour		$15/hour
24-Hour Care		$150-200/day		$180/day
back to top

How old are your candidates?
They range in age from 19 to 65 years old. Most candidates are either
in the younger range (20 to 25 years old) or in the older range
(50 to 65 years old). We have screened our candidates for maturity
and an understanding of the seriousness of the responsibility entailed in the position.

What is the difference between a nanny and a mother's helper?
The term "mother's helper" is basically a description of the job. A mother's helper works as an assistant to the mother who is at home or working part time, while a nanny has full charge of the children because both parents work full time.

What other benefits do I offer the nanny?
In addition to salary, the nanny gets room and board if she lives in with the family. Most families offer two weeks paid vacation, use of a car during the nanny's time off and a private telephone line. Increasingly, families are offering health insurance. We provide families who apply for our service with information about insurance agencies that can assist you to obtain policies for nannies. Let them know that Be Our Nanny referred you. Suggested benefits are listed below for your convenience.

Fixed Minimum Salary Room and Board for Live-In Paid Vacation Health Insurance Travel Opportunities Use of Car Personal Telephone Line Tuition Reimbursement

What about taxes and social security?
You'll need to discuss that with your accountant. We provide families
who apply for our service with information about a tax service.
Let them know that Be Our Nanny referred you.

How long does it take to hire a nanny?
Typically, we advise families to allow 3 to 6 weeks from start to finish.
We have experienced placements that were completed in one day and others that took up to 2 months to complete. We will not compromise our screening quality to expedite a placement. The speed of the process is also dependent upon how responsive you are. That is one of the reasons it is so important you complete your questionnaires and applications fully and accurately. Ultimately, the answer to this question may depend on our current pool of candidates and the precise needs and desires of the family.

Who pays for the nanny to travel to (and from) the job if she resides out of the area?
Usually, for live-in nannies, the family pays and for live-out nannies, the nanny pays. For live-in nannies, we suggest that you have the nanny pay for her travel expense and you reimburse her after an agreed period of time. Some families decide to split the airfare with the nanny. There is no "right" or "wrong" answer here. Ultimately, this is something that needs to be worked out between family and nanny.

How do I interview candidates I can't meet?
Most families will interview the candidates over the telephone. On some occasions, families will fly a candidate out for a personal interview. We suggest doing that only if both sides are 99.9% certain that this is the right match. Some families interviewing one particular nanny may split the airfare to meet the candidate personally.

How do you screen your candidates?
Our process is in five phases. First, we screen the candidate over the telephone to qualify them for an interview. Then we schedule an in-depth interview, in person if they are local or over the telephone if they are from out of the area. Thirdly, the candidate completes a comprehensive 6-page application form. We check all of the candidate's references by completing a detailed telephone inquiry of each childcare reference, as well as a verification of all non-childcare employment references. Finally, we engage a private security firm to perform a comprehensive criminal history check, motor vehicle (DMV) driver abstract check and social security number verification.