Harborwell Staffing

Finding a nanny on your own means writing job postings, sorting through dozens of applications, conducting interviews, running background checks, calling references, and negotiating offers — all while managing your family and job. A good agency handles all of that for you, and brings candidates you'd never find on a job board. More importantly, we pre-screen thoroughly so you only meet people who are genuinely qualified and vetted. Your time is worth something, and so is your peace of mind.

Three things: our founder spent 10 years as a nanny before becoming a mother herself — so we understand this relationship from both sides in a way most agencies simply don't. We charge a flat fee instead of a percentage of salary (most agencies charge 15–20%, which adds up to $11,000–$15,000+). And we're not a large impersonal agency — you work directly with Allison from first consultation to final placement.

Most placements are completed within 4–8 weeks depending on your timeline, availability, and how specific your needs are. We'll give you a realistic estimate during your free consultation. We'd rather take the time to find the right person than rush a placement that doesn't work out.

Yes. All placements — full-time, part-time, and Household Manager — come with a 90-day guarantee. If the placement doesn't work out within the first 90 days for reasons within our control, we'll conduct a new search at no additional placement fee. We stand behind our matches.

Rates vary by experience, location, and specific job requirements, but here's a general guide for the DMV area: full-time nannies typically earn $28–$42/hour, or roughly $58,000–$87,000/year for a standard 40-hour week, with the highest rates in DC proper and the higher-demand suburbs across Maryland and Northern Virginia. Household Managers command more, typically $80,000–$110,000+/year depending on the scope of responsibilities and seniority. We'll help you benchmark a fair, competitive offer for your specific search during your consultation.

To attract and retain a great nanny or Household Manager, most DMV families offer: guaranteed hours (pay for the regular schedule even during a family vacation or slow week), overtime at 1.5x for hours over 40/week (required under federal law for most household employees), 2 weeks of paid vacation plus paid sick days and holidays, and a monthly health insurance stipend (commonly $200–$400/month). None of these are federally required, but they're standard practice in this market and go a long way toward keeping great caregivers long-term. We're happy to walk you through what's typical as you put together an offer — and can point you to a household payroll service to help you administer it correctly.

Once you hire a nanny or Household Manager, you become their household employer, which means you're responsible for "nanny tax" obligations — withholding and paying Social Security, Medicare, and unemployment taxes, and issuing a W-2 at year's end. It sounds daunting, but you don't have to manage it alone: Harborwell partners with trusted household payroll companies who handle enrollment, tax withholding, filings, and year-end paperwork for you, for a small monthly fee. We'll connect you with a partner as part of your placement so payroll is set up correctly from day one.

Every candidate must have a high school diploma or GED, at least 2 years of verifiable professional childcare experience, current CPR and First Aid certification, legal authorization to work in the U.S., and reliable transportation. Candidates must also pass Harborwell's comprehensive background check. If a role involves driving, a valid license and clean driving record are required for that placement — candidates who don't drive can still apply for roles that don't require it.

Every candidate in our network undergoes a comprehensive background check that includes: Social Security number verification, national criminal database search, sex offender registry check, county criminal court records, and a driving record check. Checks are conducted through an FCRA-compliant provider. We do not place candidates until results are reviewed and cleared.

We personally call every reference — we don't just collect letters. We ask specific questions about the candidate's reliability, relationship with children, communication style, and whether the family would hire them again. References are verified before any candidate is presented to a family.

Yes. Every Client Family goes through a safety verification before we begin matching, including identity verification and a public records background check. This isn't as extensive as the comprehensive background check we run on candidates, but it's an important safeguard — Harborwell is looking out for the people we place, not just the families hiring them.

The main difference is hours and schedule consistency, not quality of care — both are held to the same vetting standard. We consider part-time to be up to 30 hours per week, typically used for after-school coverage, specific days, or supplemental support alongside another caregiver. We consider full-time to be 30+ hours per week, most commonly 35–45, and it usually comes with the fuller set of benefits families offer (guaranteed hours, PTO, a health insurance stipend — see our Pay & Industry Standards section below). We use the 30-hour line because it matches the federal definition used for benefits eligibility, but we're happy to help you figure out which structure actually fits your family's schedule during your consultation.

A Household Manager oversees the day-to-day running of a home — coordinating schedules, vendors, and household staff, managing inventory and errands, and often supporting childcare logistics alongside a nanny. It's a great fit for busy families who need someone dedicated to keeping the household running smoothly. Household Manager candidates go through the same comprehensive background check and reference verification as our nanny placements.

A 10% non-refundable deposit is due at signing to begin your search. The remaining balance is due only upon successful placement — meaning you don't pay the full fee until you've found someone you're happy with. We believe that's only fair.

Percentage-based fees (the industry standard at 15–20%) mean the agency earns more when your nanny earns more — creating an incentive to push higher salaries. We think that's a conflict of interest. Our flat fee means our incentive is simply to find you the right person, full stop. It's also more transparent — you know exactly what you'll pay from day one.