From temporary help to long-term contracts, Lighthouse Nanny connects you with reliable, pre-vetted caregivers in Berlin. Each Lighthouse Nanny has:
Heading back to work before your baby starts Kita? Or need some solo time during your Elternzeit? We have full time and part time nannies specializing in infant (under 12 months) care, ready to fill in at home.
Need help collecting the kids after school and Kita? We’ve got part-time nannies eager to jump in during this time slot once, twice, or up to five days per week.
Planning a kid-friendly wedding or a big summer party? Whatever the occasion, Lighthouse will help you form a sub-party catered to your littlest guests. We’ll plan games and crafts, help with meals and snacks, and make sure everyone stays safe, happy, and totally entertained.
Generally speaking, a nanny is a private caregiver for children who works on a contract (in Germany, that can be either freelance or employed). They have a regular job with a family, and build a relationship over time.
A babysitter is a caregiver who works more irregularly. They are usually not on a contract, but might come by for things like date night or occasional weekends. Babysitters often have another job or studies outside of their babysitting role.
At Lighthouse, we almost always refer to our caregivers as “nannies”. This is because they are all professional private childcare workers. They make their living working with families and children, and thus fit into the category of dedicated nanny.
Let’s break this down into steps.
The search process is 100% free! We’ll only take a fee once you approve the candidate we found, and we draw up your contract.
Lighthouse takes a 12% commission fee on top of what the nanny earns. That means, if you create a 12-month contract, during which time the nanny will earn €20,000, Lighthouse’s fee for this is €2,400 + 19% VAT (€456).
This is a one-time fee. If you would like Lighthouse’s support thereafter with adjusting any terms for contract renewal, you are able to do so for a flat fee.
The Lighthouse fee is due as soon as the nanny passes her probation period.
There is a minimum booking fee of €50 (incl. VAT) for a temporary nanny contract, or 20% of the nanny’s total earnings during the duration of her work with the family.
This is due as soon as the contract is signed.
With Lighthouse, nannies can set their own rates. However, we do impose a minimum rate to set clear expectations and help our nannies earn enough to maintain a fulfilling career in childcare.
The minimum rate for an “angestellt” or nanny with an employment contract is €20/hour.
The minimum rate for a freelance nanny is €25/hour.
While these rates might seem high, there is a reason behind this. Each nanny is responsible for certain expenses, unique to this career.
We ask nannies to provide proof of the following:
Freelance nannies have even more costs to bear:
At Lighthouse, we search for candidates who make their career in childcare. It’s generally only these individuals that remain in the field long enough to form reliable, lasting relationships with families. However, in order to remain in the private childcare field, it’s important that these individuals earn enough income to fully participate in the German social system. This means paying taxes, insurance, trainings, and other professional costs—while still having enough income left over to cover living expenses.
*Optional
Yes! In Germany, you’re able to deduct either two-thirds of your childcare expenses, or up to €4,000 when you spend €6000 in childcare costs. €4000 is the maximum deduction per child, but families may make this deduction for every child in their home.
Any invoices you collect for childcare itself, whether they come directly from the nanny, babysitter, or Lighthouse Nanny, can be deducted from your taxes for that year.
However, the Lighthouse booking fees and contract creation fees are not tax deductible.
To learn more about tax deductions for families, visit www.germantaxes.de.
Unfortunately it’s not possible to predict how long a nanny search will take. We generally recommend a buffer time of 1–3 months for a long term contract, and at least a month for a short term contract.
It may be possible to book an emergency nanny on short notice for an additional fee, but this is not a service we can always guarantee.
Brand new to being an employer? Lighthouse partners with Quitt to handle initial registration with the appropriate tax office, accident insurance, payroll, and more.
