What kinds of questions should I be asking potential nanny candidates during their interviews?

This is a great opportunity you to really understand your future nannies personality, likes, dislikes, etc...You should be asking questions that will shine light upon her traits, both good and bad. Although she may be extremely organized and efficient, she may not like to color or paint, which just might be a deal breaker for your 3 year old. A few good starter questions can be found on the Nanny Interview Questions worksheet.  

How much should I pay my nanny? Should I be tipping my nanny?

The standard rate in the Bozeman community is around $9-$12/hour depending on experience and number of children. Other factors to be included are any additional household duties you might ask of your nanny. $9/hour is pretty average for a family with 1-3 children over the age of 2 years. If you have very young children that tend to be a bit more work than elementary aged children, (diapers, bottle feeding, etc…) then somewhere closer to $10/hr is encouraged. Usually, nannies will be very willing to negotiate a set amount. This can be brought up in the interview and will be brought up again when you complete the nanny contract with your nanny.

As far as tipping goes, it is often encouraged to tip if your nanny did something above and beyond his or her duties. If you come home to find that every room has been vacuumed, dusted, and cleaned, it might be nice to recognize the additional work your nanny spent cleaning the house that day if it was above his or her normal duty. Tipping is often very much appreciated by nannies, and they often have a much better feeling towards their employers if they are recognized for extra hard work. Obviously, try not to make a habit of it or create expectations for your nanny. If you feel he or she deserves an extra $10 for the day, feel free to do so.

I have never been reimbursed for driving to my job, why do I need to pay for my nanny’s transportation expenses?

Although we don’t require our clients to pay for any additional expenses, we often encourage that if a nanny is driving quite far to your home, or she is taking the children to their day to day activities, that you reimburse for gas consumed during those trips. It is often suggested that if a nanny goes through a tank of gas a week, legitimately with your children, that you reimburse for that amount. This is also something that can be negotiated with the nanny during the interview. Obviously if the nanny is only driving a few miles to work, it is not necessary. If she is driving more than 20 miles one way, you may want to kick in a few bucks at the end of the day.

Do I have to pay taxes on my nanny? What are some good payroll options?

First, you should determine whether or not you employ an independent contractor or a household employee. An independent contractor usually has control over their job and determines their own schedule etc...A household employee works for a family who determines their work hours, where they work, and their roles and responsibilities.

The IRS states that anyone who pays an individual $1800 or more in a gross year, legally employs a household employee and must comply with all sate and federal tax laws. If you are interested in making the payroll portion of employing your nanny easier, there is a great company that basically does all the leg work for you. If you are interested, please visit GTM Website

Do you do background checks on the candidates?

State criminal history, driving record checks and sexual offender searches are completed upon request and notification from the family that a conditional offer has been made to a nanny candidate. The results of the state search (based on the information provided) are presented to the client at which point the client makes the final decision about whether or not a formal offer will be extended. Keep in mind that the information provided may not turn up all records on the candidate and it is up to the family (employer) to verify all background information and references on the potential nanny (employee).