The 8 Step Guide to Growing Your Care Provider Business
The care provider’s guide to fast growth in a competitive marketplace.
Here at CareGuide, we’re all about growth. As one of the fastest growing startups of our kind in North America, we embrace a philosophy of experimentation and are always looking for ways to push the status quo. Here are a few ways that you too can kickstart your care business (nanny, babysitter, housekeeper, elder care, pet sitter, house sitter, tutor, etc) and build a healthy following of families that want your services.
Get a Headstart
Online forums like CanadianNanny.ca, ElderCare.com, and Sitter.com give you great exposure and outreach to potential families. But don’t forget your local community! Offering services to people you know like friends and family can be a great way to gain valuable experience and add credibility to your online presence. A bonus is that you also have the option to encourage marketing through word of mouth.
Be Memorable
Most nannies, senior care providers, housekeepers and babysitters operate as individuals. We have designed our online services to help individuals connect with one another. But Individuals can have brands too! Work hard to identify where your strengths and expertise lie and decide what exact type of care services you will provide. Explore options such as live in maids or even petcare!
Remember, families have a lot of choices when hiring a provider, it is important that they have you on their minds when they decide to make the call. By investing in some simple branding such as a logo, a catchy business name, and some business cards, you can help make sure that you’re the one that gets the message or call when a service is needed.
Be the Best
Once you have a memorable brand, it’s important to think about how you can differentiate the services you provide from those of your competitors. By being a caregiver, housekeeper, babysitter or nanny that goes a little above and beyond, you’ll find that families will go out of their way to recommend you to others. For instance, if you are a babysitter, this could mean making sure the child’s room is clean or having a fun activity planned. This may be extra work, but going above and beyond is a surefire way to growing your care business fast.
Find your niche
If you want to grow even faster, try finding a unique market that is more specific than just babysitting or housekeeping. Some babysitters differentiate themselves by offering to help with homework or other educational needs.
If you speak another language, consider offering to teach the language that you are fluent in. Families will be impressed with these offerings and may offer to pay you more. You will also be able to market these skills and grow your business faster.
Develop Professionally
Many care providers that are serious about their profession choose to take courses related to the work they will be doing. For example, there are many babysitting courses that are offered by organizations like the Red Cross.
You should consider taking basic first aid courses as well as courses that specifically cover the proper care of infants. In addition to these common courses, there are also courses that cover pet care, nutritional cooking, and much more! These courses will improve your credibility and help you grow by showing families that you are qualified and committed.
In addition to courses, you should also show initiative by offering a completed background check before you are asked.
Be Specific
As a provider, it is important that you describe in detail the services that you offer and the job that you are looking for. When posting on one of our sites, make sure to write a detailed and specific description of yourself and your services. More detailed profiles get many more views and being specific helps you grow by differentiating yourself from your competitors.
Need help writing a great caregiver profile? Read: How To Write Listings That Get Noticed on Babysitter Sites
You should also be specific and confident about your pricing. Start doing some research, ask friends and family what they would be willing to pay and set your rate accordingly. The truth is, while it may be uncomfortable to be clear and assertive about your pricing, many families don’t know what they should be paying and it makes it easier for everyone involved if you are clear about what you expect.
Want assistance with determining how much to charge for your service? Read:
Grow Online
In addition to posting a profile on one of our sites, consider creating a Facebook page, a website, and other social media accounts. These accounts will not only help you market your services but also increase your credibility and provide a place for others to leave you recommendations and reviews. You could even consider starting a blog where you can write about things just like this! Blogs are a great way to share your expertise with parents and help to show others that you are thoughtful and trustworthy.
Encourage Referrals
When you really start to grow, you may consider encouraging further growth by creating a referral program. A referral program could be as simple as providing a free night of babysitting to a family that introduces you to a new client. It is important to think of the lifetime value of a family, that is, the future income that you can expect from adding another family to your roster. Providing a free night of babysitting is a worthwhile investment if you open up another steady source of income for yourself.
Conclusion
Ultimately, growing your business requires commitment, a good personality, a positive attitude and a certain amount of assertiveness. At CareGuide we hope to simplify the growth process and help you build the business of your dreams. Get out there! Give some of these tips a try. Thank you for trusting us as one of your partners.
Hand Picked Related Articles
Need a Sitter?
Sitter.com is an online community connecting parents with a nationwide network of sitters, child care providers and nannies for hire, offering the opportunity to find the care that best matches their specific needs.
Need a Sitter Job?
Quickly and easily find a nanny, babysitter and child care jobs in your area, anywhere in the United States and Canada.
