General Information

• Babysitting is a part of the childcare industry. It's similar to a nanny's job, but slightly different in that the babysitter watches the children for a short period of time each day, or just once in a while. It's also a profession more commonly associated with young people in their teens and early twenties, who just want to make a little extra money on the side. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the demand for childcare workers will increase 18 percent between 2006 and 2016.
  
  

Gain Experience

• When you start any serious career, it's important to get training and experience. That also applies to a job as a babysitter. It's a bit unrealistic to believe you'll immediately jump in and start babysitting as a career, if you've never watched children in the past. Take small jobs with neighbors and family who know and trust you, to get started. Then try to expand to other clients in your area based on referrals.
  
  

Start an Official Business

• Many babysitters operate as self-employed individuals, but don't take the time to set up an official business. If you want to babysit as a career, register your company with the state and get any permits or licenses you need to work as a daycare professional. Create a business plan. Design and print professional business cards to give to potential clients and draw up a standard babysitting contract. It's important to retain your relationship with existing clients, but at the same time, you need to start to run your company like a true professional to start building long-term success.
  
  

Babysitting Agencies

• If you're not quite ready to run your own company, you can also try to work for a babysitting agency instead. You can find an established babysitting service in your area that hires workers on an ongoing basis. You must meet any employment requirements of the service and pass a background check. If approved, the service will send you to jobs and pay you an hourly rate, or flat fee, for your work. This is also a way to build up your references and experience, if you ever choose to venture out in your own babysitting business.