What is a Babysitter Contract?
A Babysitter Contract is a legal document for babysitters to use with their clients.
It covers all of your important terms and conditions, such as services, fees, payment terms, cancellations/refunds, and limitation of liability. It’s important to have a contract with your babysitting clients to ensure you are legally protected.
Do I need a Babysitter Contract?
Yes, absolutely! A contract protects both you and your clients.
You should always have a contract signed before you start a new babysitting job for a client.
A contract will help to set the ground rules in black and white so everyone is clear on their obligations and how everything will work. You need a proper written contract to enforce your rights and make sure your business is legally covered in case there is ever a dispute or a problem.
You are taking on a fair amount of risk looking after someone else’s children, so it’s important that you protect yourself!
What does the template cover?
Our Babysitting Contract template covers everything you need:
★ Term
★ Services
★ Fees
★ Expenses
★ Payment Terms
★ Work Environment
★ Cancellations and Refund Policy
★ Confidentiality
★ Warranties
★ Limitation of Liability
★ Termination
My family wants to hire a babysitter – can we use this Babysitter Contract?
Yes you can definitely still use this template.
A contract is ideal to make sure everyone is on the same page.
You will just need to provide the contract to the babysitter and ask them to fill in the blanks with their payment terms, hourly rates etc. Once you have both agreed, you can sign the last page to make it official!
Clearly communicating your expectations—and having a contract or agreement in place—can protect both you and your babysitter.
Does it matter how often you babysit for a client?
It’s completely up to you if you want to use a contract for your babysitting clients, but we recommend it to reduce the risk you are taking on.
Generally speaking, the more often you babysit them, the more helpful having a formal contract can be to manage expectations.
Can I use this template as a nanny or a family looking to employ a nanny?
No, it is NOT suitable for nannies or families looking to employ a nanny. You will need an employment contract in line with the National Employment Standards and conditions as set out by Fair Work Australia.
Many families pay their nanny an hourly rate without bothering with superannuation, PAYG tax and leave entitlements. Often this happens because the nanny advises the family that they have an ABN and are working as an independent contractor. Unfortunately, this is incorrect!
A nanny is usually classified as an employee by the ATO and they fall under the Miscellaneous Award.
Do I need to use this contract if a family member is looking after my kids?
No, it’s not common to make a family member sign a contract to look after your kids.
