For care professionals · Child care

How should I set my babysitting or nanny rates?

Set your babysitting or nanny rate by starting from what the care involves: the number and ages of children, the hours, your training and experience, and your costs. Check what similar care costs in your area, then write your rate down with what it includes, how extras are handled and your cancellation terms, before a family asks.

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In 60 seconds

A fair rate reflects the care itself, including how many children, their ages, any additional needs and the time of day.
Your training, such as a child care first aid course with CPR, and your experience are legitimate reasons for your rate to differ from someone else’s.
Costs such as travel, course fees and recertification, supplies and time spent on records are part of what your rate has to cover.
Writing down your rate, what is included, how overtime and late pickups work and your cancellation terms prevents most disagreements.
Maple Care does not set rates or handle payment for care; you and each family agree on rates and payment directly.

What should a babysitting or nanny rate cover?

A babysitting or nanny rate should cover your time and the real costs of providing care. That includes travel to and from the family’s home, first aid and CPR courses and their renewal, any checks you pay for, supplies you bring and the time you spend on messages, scheduling and records. Count these before choosing a number.

Many new sitters price only the hours spent with the children and forget everything around them. A Canadian Red Cross child care first aid certificate, for example, is valid for three years and then needs a recertification course. Spreading costs like that across your bookings gives you a more honest picture of what care costs you to provide.

What factors change a babysitting or nanny rate?

The main factors are the number of children, their ages and needs, the hours and time of day, and your training and experience. Caring for a newborn, several children, or a child with medical or additional needs asks more of you. Overnight, early morning, holiday and last-minute care also commonly cost more.

Number of children, and whether they are from one family or two
Ages, especially infants and toddlers, and any medical or additional needs
Time of day, overnights, holidays and last-minute requests
Duties beyond supervision, such as meals, school pickup, homework help or driving
Your training, such as child care first aid with CPR, and years of experience
Regular, scheduled hours compared with occasional evenings

How do I find out what babysitters charge in my area?

Ask around rather than guessing. Talk to other sitters and nannies you know, ask families what they have paid before, and look at what local caregivers post publicly. Rates differ a great deal between cities, towns and provinces, so a figure from another region or an online forum is not a reliable guide.

Use what you learn as a range, not a rule. Then place yourself within it honestly based on your experience and training. Being the cheapest option rarely builds a steady client list; being clear, reliable and fairly priced usually does. Revisit your range from time to time, because what families pay locally changes, and so do your own experience and costs. A rate that made sense when you started may no longer reflect the care you now provide.

How should I present my babysitting rates to families?

Present your rates in writing before care starts, in a short, plain summary families can keep. Say what the rate includes, how extra children, overtime and late pickups are handled, when and how you expect payment, and your cancellation terms on both sides. Clear terms up front prevent awkward conversations later.

The Canadian Paediatric Society suggests parents ask caregivers about fees, extra charges and whether late pickups cost more, and that they ask for a contract covering fees, receipts, payment method and frequency. Answering those questions before a parent asks shows you are organized.

Base rate and what it includes
Any change for extra children, overnights, holidays or last-minute bookings
How late pickups and extra hours are handled
When and how payment is made, and whether you provide receipts
Cancellation notice, for you and for the family

How do I raise my rates with a regular babysitting family?

Raise rates with regular families by giving clear written notice well before the change, explaining briefly why, such as new training or more children, and applying it from a set date. Most families accept a fair, predictable increase. What upsets them is a surprise at payment time or a change mid-arrangement.

If you have a written agreement, check what it says about changing rates and follow it. Some professionals review rates once a year, or when a family’s needs change, such as a new baby. An honest concession: a family may decide the new rate does not work for them, and that is their choice to make.

Should babysitting and nanny care have different rates?

Many professionals price occasional babysitting and regular nanny care differently, because the arrangements are different. Occasional evenings involve travel for short visits and less predictability. Regular care brings steady hours but more responsibility for a child’s day, and it can raise tax and labour standards questions that occasional care may not.

Some professionals use a simple hourly rate for occasional care and a set weekly amount for regular care, with clear terms for extra hours. Whatever you choose, make sure the family understands which rate applies to which kind of booking. If you provide regular care in one family’s home on their schedule, check with the Canada Revenue Agency and your provincial labour standards office about how that arrangement is treated, since rules differ by province.

Does Maple Care set babysitting or nanny rates?

No. Maple Care does not set rates and never collects or handles payment for care. You and each family agree on rates, schedule and payment directly. Families post requests describing what they need, which helps you judge the care involved before you decide whether to pay for their contact details.

Your profile at /apply/ is free, and you only pay when you choose to get a family’s contact details, with the price shown first. Ask our team for our care agreement template if you want a written starting point for rates, cancellations and payment terms.

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Frequently asked questions

Should I charge more for more than one child?

Many babysitters and nannies do, because each additional child adds work and responsibility. Some charge per child, others use a family rate. Whatever you choose, state it in writing before care starts, and be clear about how children from two families in one visit are handled.

Should nannies charge by the hour or by the week?

Both approaches are common. Hourly rates suit variable schedules, while a set weekly amount suits regular, predictable hours. Regular care in one family’s home can raise tax and labour standards questions, so check with the CRA and your provincial labour standards office about how your arrangement is treated.

Should I charge for cancellations?

Many professionals set a cancellation policy, because a late cancellation can leave time unpaid that you could have booked elsewhere. Decide how much notice you need, apply the same rule to your own cancellations, and write it into your agreement before the first visit so it is never a surprise.

Do babysitters charge GST/HST?

Part IV of Schedule V to the Excise Tax Act lists child care services for children 14 or under, for periods normally less than 24 hours a day, as exempt supplies. How the rule applies depends on what you actually provide, so confirm your situation with the Canada Revenue Agency or an accountant.

Should I give receipts to families?

Yes, giving receipts is good practice, and some families need them for their own records. The Canadian Paediatric Society suggests parents ask for a contract that covers receipts. Keep your own copies as well; the Income Tax Act requires people carrying on business to keep records.

Is it okay to charge less for a family I like?

It is your choice, but be careful. Discounts are hard to reverse, and other families may hear about them. If you want to help a family, consider a clear, time-limited arrangement in writing, so everyone understands when your usual rate applies again.

Sources and evidence

Last updated: 2026-07-12