Business and Financial Arrangements - Making Them Clear Upfront

Business & Financial Arrangements

Business Arrangements

It is important that you keep a business-like attitude when you go about offering your skills as a babysitter. This will make sure that your clients (the parents) are happy and keep them coming back to you in the future.

You should always remember that you have a job to do and someone is paying you for your time. This is not a time to invite a friend in or have a lengthy phone call. If you do need to call someone, limit your conversation to a few minutes. It is important to keep the line open for parents to call home, or for someone else who has an important message. You should never have visitors unless special arrangements have been made with the parents.

Leave the house in good order. If dishes have been used, wash and rinse them. Help the children pick up toys and games with which they've played. Messages for the parents should be correctly taken. Parents should also receive a brief report about the children's behavior and any unusual happenings.

Financial Arrangements:

To prevent a misunderstanding, both the sitter and the parents need to make some business arrangements prior to babysitting for the first time. Some of the questions to discuss include:

1) What is a fair rate of pay? Check with others who babysit in your community. Talk with your parents.
2) Do you charge by the hour or the job?
3) Do you charge the same for every family and every job?
4) How do you state your charges and collect your money? The time to discuss the fee is when you accept the sitting date. After discussing the job, just say "My charge is _____ an hour." Your working time begins when you arrive and ends when the parents return home. Make a note of the time, figure the total hours and be prepared to give the amount. Most parents will ask "How much do we owe you?" Be prepared to say: "That is 3 hours at ____ an hour, so it is ______."