Small babysitting service with a few sitters
Match local families with a small group of vetted babysitters, and cover busy times when one sitter can't.
- A$500-3k
- Part-time
- From home
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in Australia, not guarantees.
What it is
You run a small local babysitting service. You take bookings, match families with checked sitters and sometimes sit yourself. Group bookings and last-minute cover become possible.
Your first three steps
- Start by building your own reputation as a babysitter, with your working with children check, first aid and references in place
- Recruit two or three sitters from your network, check their working with children checks and references, and agree pay and rules
- Set up a simple booking process with a phone number, a form and a shared calendar, then promote to local parent groups
Who pays
Local families, and sometimes holiday renters or small venues wanting a trusted sitter on call.
How it makes money
Families pay an hourly rate per sitter. You pay the sitter and keep a margin, or charge a booking fee on top of the sitter's rate.
Skills that help
- Organising and scheduling
- Good judgement when choosing people
- Clear communication with parents
Watch out for
- Check whether your sitters are employees or contractors, as this affects pay, super and workers compensation, and the rules differ by state
- Every sitter needs a valid working with children check for your state or territory
- Public liability insurance is worth checking, and workers compensation insurance may be needed once you hire
- Check whether a service placing carers in homes faces any extra registration or council rules where you live
- Look into GST registration if your turnover grows towards the threshold
🔒 Full research report for Australia
Real cost breakdown with current prices, licences and registration checklist, local competition, pricing, break-even and a 30-day launch plan, with sources.
Coming soonQuestions people ask
How much does it cost to start a babysitting service in Australia?
Startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on your setup, insurance and how you find and check your sitters. These are estimates only, so confirm current prices for your state before committing.
What should I check before hiring babysitters in Australia?
Check whether your sitters are employees or contractors, as this affects pay, super and workers compensation and differs by state. Check each sitter holds a valid working with children check, and look at insurance, registration or council rules, and GST.
How much revenue can a babysitting service make?
Monthly revenue is typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many sitters and families you have and how often they book. Plan for at least about 10 hours a week. These are estimates, not guarantees.
Other ways to run this business
Similar teaching and tutoring ideas
German classes in a hired room
Run weekly small-group German classes for adults and kids in a hired community room.
- A$500-3k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Adult short courses in hired halls and rooms
Run evening or weekend courses in a hired community room, teaching a skill, language or hobby you know well.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Online evening courses for adults
Teach live small-group courses over video in a skill, language or hobby, with no venue to rent.
- A$300-3k
- Side hustle
- Online
Themed holiday workshop camps
Run short themed camps, such as art, science or sport, in hired rooms during school holidays, using a skill you already have.
- A$800-3k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small group French classes
Run weekly French classes for adults or kids in a hired community hall or library room.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- Own premises
Small-group cooking classes at home
Teach friends-of-friends a cuisine or skill in your own kitchen, one evening or weekend session at a time.
- A$500-3k
- Side hustle
- From home