For US households hiring help at home
Hire help at home without the guesswork.
Clear, practical guides to hiring cleaners, sitters, nannies, pet care and handypeople: what to ask, how to check references, what to pay, and the tax and paperwork questions nobody explains.
Hiring in five steps
- 1
Plan
Tasks, hours, must-haves and a fair pay range.
Start here - 2
Find
A clear job post shared in the right places.
Job post guide - 3
Vet
Interviews, references, checks and a paid trial.
Reference guide - 4
Paperwork
A simple agreement, and taxes if they apply.
Tax basics - 5
Start well
A home tour, access and a week-one check-in.
First week
16 guides
Before you hire
- Work out exactly what help you need4 min read
- Agency, company or independent?5 min read
- Where to find good household help4 min read
- Setting fair pay4 min read
Finding and vetting
- Writing a job post that attracts the right people4 min read
- Interview questions that reveal a good fit6 min read
- How to check references properly4 min read
- Background checks for household help5 min read
- Start with a paid trial3 min read
Pay, taxes and paperwork
- Employee or independent contractor?5 min read
- Household employer taxes ("nanny tax") basics6 min read
- Write a simple work agreement5 min read
- Insurance when someone works in your home4 min read
Working together
- A good first week4 min read
- Keys, codes and home access3 min read
- Ending an arrangement fairly4 min read
Free download, no email needed
The Hiring Help Checklist
Every step from writing down the job to the end of week one, plus phone screen and interview questions, a reference call script and a first-day plan. Print it and keep it next to you while you hire.
One hiring tip, every two weeks
The Crew Notes: one practical tip for hiring or working with household help, an interview question worth asking and a reader question answered. Confirm by email, unsubscribe with one click, and we never pass your address to agencies or marketplaces.