If you love kids, you should be getting paid for it!
Babysitting is one of the most popular business ventures for teenagers today and has been for many years. You may not think of it as a business, but if you set it up right, it can be a very profitable one for you.
Here are some simple and important steps to take to develop a successful babysitting business:
Make a plan
The plan is the most important part of every business. How detailed it is will depend on what you are and what you work best with. If you need to plan things out step by step, then do it. Even if you are more inclined to just winging things, you should still have at least a basic plan so that you have some idea of what you’re doing.
Advertise
Getting kids to watch is the most important part of babysitting. If you have no kids, you have no business. The first place to look is within your own family. Ask Aunts, Uncles, cousins, or whoever you know that has kids. They will most likely trust someone in their own family that they already know more.
Put up fliers on your church bulletin board. Pass out fliers to people you know. Ask people you know, even if they don’t have kids, to ask people they know. The best form of advertising is word of mouth. This way you’ll get more yeses than maybes because someone they know liked you.
Think Ahead
If you are babysitting kids at a location other than their own house, bring toys for them to play with. Even if you are at their house, you can still bring some new toys because kids love playing with new toys. Of course, make sure you bring them back home.
You can bring things like small dolls, coloring books, crayons or markers, crafts, and projects. Things that they can work on will help keep them busy. Before you leave, take a look at what movies they have and see if you have anything different that they might like that you can bring over next time.
Be prepared and responsible
Make sure that you know all important contact information. If they don’t give it upfront, it will look good to ask for it yourself. Also, make sure you know where the bandages are and any emergency medicines they might have are.
Go the extra mile
If you notice there are dirty dishes in the sink, wash them. Keep the house straightened up. Not only will their parents be impressed and thankful, but you will have something to keep you busy. I’m not saying you should start washing the floor and windows, but I’m sure they would appreciate that, too. Who knows, you may just get a little extra tip?
What should I charge?
Payment is the whole reason why you are doing this, and maybe you love kids. It is important that you get what you deserve, but that you don’t overcharge. For one kid you should charge around $4-$6. For every kid after that, add $1 – $2. It will also depend on their ages. Younger kids are a lot more work than older kids who usually can take care of themselves. For kids under 8, you should charge the higher end and older, you should charge the lower end.
The parents may prefer to have a set rate if you are a regular babysitter for the same time every week. In that case, just figure out how much you would charge. For example, If you are babysitting 3 kids under 8, charge $10 and hour. For 4 hours, that would be $40. If they have a problem with it, just explain to them how you came up with it.
If you feel comfortable, you may want to ask how much they pay first. They may pay more than you would charge. Make sure you know how much you would charge ahead of time so that you can compare. If it’s less than what you would charge, just let them know. If you don’t want to end up in that situation, just tell them ahead of time.
Confronting problems
If you ever feel like you are being taken advantage of, don’t just let it go, tell them. If one of the kids has a friend over make sure they pay up. If that kid is a trouble maker, let them know so they can pay you extra for the inconvenience. Don’t just let it slide because they might just try to get away with more and more.
Show them who’s boss, but be nice
You need to find a balance between friend and knowing who’s in charge. If they won’t do what they’re told, take care of it. Don’t just do it yourself, give them an ultimatum. If they don’t clean up their toys, they have to go to bed early. Make sure you don’t go overboard. Don’t spend the whole night bossing them around. They may have their chores, but you can still play with them and have a good time.
If you follow all these tips, I’m sure you’ll have a great babysitting business and experience. If you’re willing and you have a lot of jobs, join in with your friends and expand your business.