Start a Caregiver and Nanny Placement Agency

It feels saturated, but demand for vetted caregivers keeps outrunning supply, especially at the high end of the market.

1. 1

   Check your state's rules

   Some states require placement agencies to register or hold a license, and rules differ for childcare versus senior care referrals. Confirm this before you take a dollar.

2. 2

   Set up entity and contracts

   Form the LLC, get general liability insurance, and have two agreements drafted: a family services agreement and a caregiver agreement that makes clear you place, not employ.

3. 3

   Build a real screening stack

   Background checks through a service like Checkr, reference calls you actually make, CPR and certification verification, and a structured interview. Your vetting is the entire product.

4. 4

   Recruit a starter bench

   Vet 10 to 15 caregivers before you market: care job boards, nursing schools, churches, and referrals from caregivers you reject for fit but treat well.

5. 5

   Price with a guarantee

   Placement fees commonly run from one month of the caregiver's gross pay to a flat $2,000 to $4,000, with a 30 to 90 day replacement guarantee that makes families comfortable paying it.

6. 6

   Court the referral sources

   Senior living discharge planners, geriatric care managers, and pediatric therapists meet families in urgent need every week. Two warm referral relationships outproduce any ad budget.

7. 7

   Place, then ask for proof

   After each successful placement, collect a testimonial and a review. In a trust business, five named happy families are your best marketing asset.