How to Start an Online Babysitter's Referral Business
Parents in need of a reliable sitter whom they can trust to care for their kids may turn to the Internet if they can't enlist a family member or friend. Do your community a great service and earn a living by matching up reliable sitters and anxious parents via an online babysitter's referral business.
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Things You'll Need
- Business license
- Website
- Liability insurance
- Screening process
- Web designer
Instructions
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Decide how you intend to make money with your site. You can charge a one-time fee for babysitters and parents who utilize your site, or make revenue via online advertising.
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Select a domain name for your referral site using searchable terms such as "sitters" "reliable" and "babysitters." Check that your name is available and then purchase it immediately. Using the same name, register your business with your county clerk's office. Then purchase a website. Hire a website designer to help you develop your site.
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Rent space for your office in a safe area with good visibility, if your budget allows. Purchase colorful signage for your office front. Use your space to conduct interviews of potential sitters. If a location isn't an option, you can conduct telephone interviews with applicants.
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Create a list of qualifications that sitters can review prior to setting up an interview. Sitters should be at least 18 years of age, have some experience working with children, provide references and be CPR and First Aid certified. Detail this information on your website, as well as what your expectations are for your sitters. Require member families and sitters to register and create accounts. Have sitters create personal profiles and detail their hourly rates. Offer tools to help members schedule appointments, track invoices, leave feedback on sitters and family members, and view sitters' profiles.
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Implement a screening system for families and babysitters. Hire a screening company to conduct background checks. Require babysitters and families to pay for the background checks or include this in the one-time membership fee. Create a detailed list of interview questions to ask both sitter and family members. Visit family members' homes to ensure that they are safe for your sitters.
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Hire an employee to match up suitable babysitters with families, or allow the family members to conduct an online search and select their own sitter.
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Create a system to market your service to babysitters and parents. Detail the benefits of using your sitter service for birthday parties, corporate sitting, travel, regular events and one-time events, as well as information about your screening process and details about how you match each sitter and family. Include testimonials. Post this information on your site and in colorful brochures that you can give to potential members.
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Tips & Warnings
Once your business expands, you will need to hire a team to help you match sitters with families or conduct interviews. Put your employees through extensive training to ensure that they know exactly what you expect out of your sitters and how to determine whether to accept a sitter.
Purchase liability insurance. This will protect you in the event that you damage property while conducting a home interview.
