FAQ

Question 1

What is the difference between a nanny and a babysitter?

Accepted Answer

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 therefore fit into the category of dedicated nanny.

Question 2

How does the nanny search process work?

Accepted Answer

Let's break this down into steps.

1. Schedule an intro call with Lighthouse Nanny. This is the first step into finding your perfect nanny. During this call, we’ll ask some questions about you and your family. We’ll use this information to put together a short profile for our internal nanny pool. We’ll also answer any questions you might have about us.

2. We’ll share your profile with our pool. After the initial call, we’ll determine whether or not we have capacity to satisfy your request. If it’s clear from the beginning we won’t be able to help, then we’ll let you know right away. But if everything looks good, we’ll share your profile with our internal pool. Then our nannies will have the chance to review your offer, and apply if they are interested. We may also approach certain candidates individually if there is a potentially great fit.

3. We’ll share the candidate profile(s) with you. Once we hear back from our nannies, we’ll share the CVs (references also available upon request) of any interested candidates with you. You’ll have the chance to review these documents, and then let us know which candidates you’d like to meet with.

4. We’ll set up a first meeting. Once you approve a nanny’s profile, we’ll go ahead and set up a first meeting. When and where this meeting takes place is up to you—online, in your home, in the park. You’re also free to choose whether or not your children should be present. This meeting lasts for 30 minutes and is completely complimentary.

5. Trial day, if needed. If you need a bit more time to reach a decision after a first meeting, you’re welcome to set up a trial day. This day will be paid at the nanny’s full rate, but will take place without the contract.

6. Contract creation. After you’ve decided positively on your nanny, we move on to create the contract. Once the contract is signed, you are free to start working together.

Question 3

How much does the nanny search process cost?

Accepted Answer

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 (long-term care) or service agreement (on-demand care).

Question 4

What is Lighthouse's fee for setting up a nanny contract?

Accepted Answer

€600 or 10% of the nanny’s total income during her contract period, if the total earning is less than €6000.

Question 5

What is Lighthouse's fee for on-demand care (aka babysitting)?

Accepted Answer

There is a €50 booking fee for setting up a one-off session with a babysitter. This fee is the same for both babysitting and emergency care. Although there is no contract for these types of care, the family will be sent a service agreement confirming the booking and clarifying Lighthouse’s cancellation policy. The €50 fee must be paid at the time the service agreement is signed.

Once the initial booking fee has been paid and the relationship officially established, the family may book future sessions with the babysitter without additional booking fees. However, we cannot guarantee a babysitter’s availability at any time without the creation of a contract. If you want to ensure that the same person is available at your requested times and days, you’ll need to set up a nanny contract.

Question 6

How do you calculate your nanny rates?

Accepted Answer

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 require nannies to provide proof of the following:

Führugszeugnis (police clearance): €13/year
First aid certificate: €60 – €100/2 years
Haftpflicht or Betriebshaftpflichtversicherung: €5 – €30/month
Unfallversicherung (accident insurance): €10 – €35/mo

Freelance nannies have even more costs to bear:

Health insurance: €400 – €600/mo
Tax consultancy: €250 – €1000/year
Income tax: 20% – 40% of total yearly income

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.

Question 7

Are Lighthouse Nanny's services tax deductible?

Accepted Answer

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.

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