Thank You

We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your family and needs. We just sent you an email so you can read through some additional details about launching a search and schedule a time to chat with Laura or Austin.

Below, you'll find our FAQs. They are a great resource as you begin to think about inviting a new teammate into your home!

Why engage my team?

A Note From Our Founder

Our size isn't coincidental- it's the result of being exceptionally good at what we do. We know that to build the service you are looking for- the one you need and deserve- we need incredible people both behind the scenes and in our clients' homes.

We attract Nashville's top-tier nannies and household professionals because they know we represent the best families and opportunities. This gives you an exclusive advantage: access to candidates other agencies simply cannot reach.

We don't waste your time with dozens of interviews. My team knows your world, understands what excellence looks like in your home, and presents only candidates worthy of your consideration. Each one vetted to the highest standard. Each one truly exceptional. We do the hard work so that you can have a peaceful experience in searching for and onboarding your household team.

‍Effortless. Refined. Uncompromising.

Get Started

" We are so incredibly grateful for the work Southern Standard Nannies did in helping find an amazing nanny for our infant son. They are diligent, thoughtful, and geared towards the right fit. Highly, highly recommended. "

Payton Bradford

You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers

DO YOU WORK WITH FAMILIES LOOKING FOR NANNY SHARES?

Our agency works with nanny shares, yes. They notoriously have lower retention than individual nanny placements, so they aren't our very favorite. We love to place long term fits in any role we're helping fill.

If you're looking for a nanny share through our firm, please schedule some time to chat with us with the other family present. We will share some best practices for shares, and some of the nuances behind finding a successful match. If both families feel our agency's approach is a good fit- we are happy to engage with you on your search.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO FIND A NANNY OR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEE?

Our process takes on average 4 to 8 weeks to find your family the best fit. We strongly suggest beginning the intake process 6 to 12 weeks prior to needing a nanny or household staff member to begin. We believe in a thorough and complete approach to your unique needs and don't cut corners in our intake, recruiting, vetting, and interview assistance steps. A signed Service Agreement + additional on boarding steps must be completed prior to the search starting, which is when we consider the 3 to 8 week window to commence. We recommend inquiring directly with us since certain times of year can impact the timeline.

HOW IS MY NANNY OR HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEE PAID?

Once you make an offer of employment to the candidate you would like to hire, they will become your employee and you are responsible for paying them directly on a weekly or bi-weekly basis at the hourly wage you have negotiated.

Things to know:
- It is not legal in Tennessee to pay any employee on a once a month basis.
- Household employees, including nannies, house managers, and family assistants are considered hourly, non-exempt employees and are required to be paid time and a half for all hours worked over 40 in a 7 day payroll cycle.

For families needing help navigating taxes, we can help. Our payroll partners will help you launch into this engagement with confidence and we'll provide a warm, direct introduction. You can have a discovery call with them and chat through any questions you have before engaging.

DO YOU OFFER BACK-UP CARE OPTIONS FOR NANNY COVERAGE?

We sure do. Our back-up care providers are some of the best human beings on earth and we're always excited to support you. Please reach out to us with any needs you have and we'll do our best to get you covered.

We offer:
-Sick day support
-PTO support
-Travel support
-Weekend support
-Date night support

WHAT IS YOUR PLACEMENT FEE?

Our placement fee covers all of the professional services Southern Standard Nannies provides to connect you with the right candidate. This fee is separate from the wages you'll pay your employee once they're hired.

‍The fee structure: We charge 20% of your employee's first-year gross wages, with a minimum fee of $8,000. This percentage-based calculation is simply how we determine our service fee— it doesn't mean the fee only covers the first year of your placement.

‍To get started: A $500 New Search Fee is due before we begin recruiting. This covers the costs associated with launching your search and is non-refundable.

Here's what's included in every placement fee:
‍
‍Comprehensive Background Check + Screening
‍Every candidate we present goes through a thorough professional background screening that includes:
-Maiden name and alias search
-Social Security number verification
-Residential history search
-State and county criminal court records (past seven years or since age 18)
-Nationwide sex offender registry search
-Department of Motor Vehicles driving records from each state where they've been licensed (including accidents and tickets, with license validation)

Our candidates are interviewed multiple times. We check their references. We engage with them about scheduling and can thoroughly assess their communication skills as they step up to interview with our firm.

We also perform an extensive social media screening.

Reference transcripts are available upon request.
‍
‍Ongoing Support
‍You'll have unlimited access to our team throughout the entire duration of your placement. We're here to answer questions, troubleshoot challenges, and provide guidance as your needs evolve.

‍Tailored Work Agreement
‍We provide an attorney reviewed employer/employee work agreement template specific to your placement and household needs. You'll be able to edit this to make it super specific for your own household and children.

‍One-Year Replacement Policy
‍If your placement doesn't work out within the first year, we'll work with you to find a replacement at no additional placement fee.

Access to Back-Up Care
You'll be given access to our extensive back-up care network for as long as you employ a nanny we've introduced you to. Needs run through our Client Concierge and her assistant and we can support you in a wide array of situations.

DO YOU HAVE A GUARANTEE OR REPLACEMENT POLICY?

Yes. All standard permanent placements have a 1 year replacement policy.

WHAT IS THE COST TO GET STARTED?

New and return clients will be charged a $500 New Search Fee prior to beginning a candidate search.

HOW MANY CANDIDATES DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR POOL?

We're the largest agency in Nashville and we receive dozens of applications every week- spanning all categories. Our recruiting team maintains relationships with top talent both locally and nationally. Our database is large- partially due to the amount of time we've been in this industry, and partially due to how incredible the families we represent are- they attract top talent and we're so grateful for that!

We do a lot of outbound recruiting for our clients- but our inbound candidate applications maintain constant flow.

DO YOUR NANNIES HAVE TO EXCLUSIVELY WORK WITH YOUR AGENCY?

No, and we ancourage them to apply with as many agencies as they can. We want nannies to feel supported in their job searches and for them to have every opportunity they can find as they are deciding who is the best fit for what they are looking for.

A lot of our nannies do exclusively work with us, but this is their choice and I have always believed this is because we are so well known for working with incredible families. Once a nanny engages with us, we stay very communicative until they have found what they are looking for- and this is GOLD in the nanny industry, where communication isn't always top knotch.

WHAT HAPPENS IF IT DOESN'T WORK OUT WITH MY EMPLOYEE, OR THEY QUIT?

We really hope you do feel like you’ve got the perfect fit for your family, but just in case, we offer a one year replacement policy on permanent services. After one month of a match, we find that you either get into a groove with your nanny or household staffer, or you don’t. Sometimes it takes a bit longer, or life happens- so you can call us at any time, for any reason, and we can talk through options for your situation. If we do need to find you a replacement we'll discuss your timeline and a few options for coverage when we connect to discuss.

IS MY NANNY AN EMPLOYEE OR AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR?

Your nanny or household staffer is considered your employee, not an independent contractor working in your home. You are responsible to pay Employment taxes for a household worker who is older than 18 and makes more than the current compensation threshold. Household employees cannot be an independent contractor and need to be given a W2 form each January. The employer is responsible for the payment of all Social Security and Medicare taxes to the IRS.

CAN I PUT MY HOUSEHOLD EMPLOYEE ON SALARY?

Household employees cannot be in a “salaried” position unless they are a manager of more than 3 other household employees (i.e Estate Manager, Household Manager of fully staffed home, etc.) “Tennessee defers to the FLSA, which requires that all domestics, excluding companions, be paid at no less than the greater of the state or federal minimum wage, and that all live-out workers be paid an overtime differential of 1.5 times the hourly wage for hours over 40 in a work week. Live-in domestics, again excluding companions, must be paid their hourly wage for all hours worked, without an overtime differential.” – HomeWork Solutions, Tennessee Household Employment Tax Compliance. In lieu of the term salary, the industry term guaranteed hours or guaranteed wages is used (see below).

WHAT IS GUARANTEED PAY?

We require our clients to offer guaranteed hours, which is similar to a salaried position in terms of offering a consistent income each week for your household employee or nanny, even for weeks that they are not needed by you, their employer.

For hours worked over 40 in a 7 day period, even with guaranteed pay, they are legally required to be compensated at the overtime wage per state requirements. Banking hours is not legal, therefore if a nanny works 30 hours one week and is paid for 40, those 10 hours unworked cannot roll over to another week.

We find that offering guaranteed pay is mutually beneficial to both the family and the nanny in solidifying a schedule, offering financial stability and lending to long-term retainment.

TLDR; Think of this as being like a daycare arrangement. You're paying for the slot whether you need it every week or not. With nannies, they are guaranteeing their availability, and for you as an employer, you're paying them for that.

HOW LONG DOES THE VETTING PROCESS TAKE?

Our vetting process is thorough and consists of multiple interviews with our team over the phone and video, contacting at least three professional references, a social media screen, a background check, and some required communication back and forth. This process can take a few days to complete, however, if we hit setbacks with contacting references or scheduling next steps throughout the vetting process, it can take longer. We’ll always check in with you on where we’re held up and make sure to be communicative throughout this process - please return the favor!

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I INDICATE INTEREST ON THE JOB BOARD?

Our team is notified of your interest and if your experience and qualifications align with the family’s needs (and our agency’s requirements), we will reach out with next steps. Please be advised that indicating interest in a position does not directly notify the family.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BE PLACED WITH A FAMILY?

Placements are not guaranteed for every candidate who applies. The most important piece is finding the best fit! It can take anywhere from a week to a few months to find your perfect match. Having access to our clientele is all about relationships- so our best advice is to maintain regular touchbases with our recruiting and placement team- read our newsletters, and engage with us on social media when you see us posting. Finding great opportunities is all about who you know and trust- and who knows and trusts you.

HOW DO I GET PAID?

Our clients will be your direct employer. Many go through a payroll service- who is a third party that will directly deposit funds in your bank account. Typical payroll cycles are every other week- but some household staffers request weekly payment. Our clients are always happy to accommodate these requests.

WHAT TYPES OF BENEFITS ARE OFFERED?

Our clients are known for being generous and we love this about them. That said, benefits aren’t a one-size-fits-all. Our clients DO all offer the following:

⭐ Guaranteed Hours
⭐ PTO
⭐ Paid Sick Days
⭐ Paid Holidays

On top of that, some will offer a health stipend, bereavement pay, parental leave and the option to bring your kiddo, and 401k matching.

HOW DOES THE FAMILY GO ABOUT GAS AND MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT?

Many of our clients provide a vehicle for your use during work hours. This keeps your vehicle free of all the things that come with toting littles around. However, sometimes our clients would prefer you drive your own vehicle. Most will offer the Federal Reimbusement Rate but some will offer a weekly gas stipend to keep you from needing to track miles. If you are tracking miles, we can recommend a few apps that are helpful. Additionally, many of our clients add their household staffers to their credit cards and gas can be put on that card (as mutually agreed upon with the principal).

WHAT TYPES OF SUPPORT DOES YOUR AGENCY OFFER ME ONCE I SIGN WITH ONE OF YOUR FAMILIES?

We’re as here for you as you’d like us to be- and we’re social butterflies. We’ll be checking in often after you’re placed- will send you newsletters as we host events and list new positions, and will always @ you on social media if you @ us.

If ever an issue arises that you need to chat through, we want to hear from you. Silent suffering isn’t good for anyone and we know childcare and household work can be very isolating. If you need us, call our business line or email a member of our team. If it makes sense to have a call, great. If it makes more sense to go for a walk or have lunch- even better.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND NETWORKING GROUPS ARE THERE?

Follow us on Instagram @southernstandardnannies for upcoming networking events. We’re completely revamping our social media- so you’ll be seeing us in a big way. Additionally, we run an exclusive Facebook group called Nashville Nannies & Babysitters. You can find opportunities through us (or other community members) on there.

We are forever sponsors of Nannypalooza and will show up there every year.

We host an annual International Nanny Training Day in the Nashville area.

Starting in 2026, we’ll be hosting CPR and Safety Refreshers- which do not re-certify you, but re-introduce you to current CPR and safety methods- just to keep you sharp.

Starting in 2026, we’ll also be hosting an annual holiday party. They are themed. They are way extra. They are absolutely magical and fantastical in every way and if you’re placed by us or working on our back-up care team, you’re invited.

AM I ALLOWED TO USE OTHER RESOURCES TO FIND A JOB?

You absolutely can. Our philosophy has always been this: we want you to find the best opportunity for you. Is that always us? No. Is it often with our clients? Yes. Do our clients love to counteroffer other opportunities you may be offered while interviewing with them? Yes. Always stay communicative with us and our clients as you’re looking for opportunities and stay open to pursuing every opportunity that comes your way.

HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY RESUME?

Use a template. Provide concise dates and information about what you did within your role and why the roles ended. It’s always nice to see a line about whether you’re still in contact with your previous nanny employers as well. Make sure references are clear and their contact information is up to date. Check in with everyone you list to make sure they are comfortable giving a fair reference.

WILL YOU CONTACT ME IF THERE IS A JOB THAT FITS MY NEEDS?

Sure will. Several different ways, as well. Newsletters, social media, our job board, and direct emails and texts from our team if a role looks perfect for you.

WHERE CAN I UPDATE MY CPR AND FIRST AID?

You can take any accredited CPR and first aid course but please make sure it includes certification in providing care for pediatric patients and includes an in-person component. Your certification must be up-to-date by the time you begin interviewing, or you must be able to tell us when you’re getting it re-instated.

We will keep a copy of this certification on file after verifying it. We’ll let you know when it’s coming up for renewal, and our clients are happy to pick up the cost of the renewal when that time comes.

ARE ALL OF YOUR CLIENTS FAMOUS PEOPLE?

We're adding this here to have a little lighthearted fun. No. In fact, most of our clients are not high profile. Our agency represents a wide array of families. Most are in medicine, higher education, the tech industry, or are entrepreneurs. Some have one working parent with one at home. Most have two working parents within the home.

This said, we do represent high profile families occasionally and we'll discuss this with you if we feel you're a good fit for the role they are looking to fill. Most do request household staffers who have worked within households like theirs before- but on the other hand, many don't require this- it's more of a nuanced personality fit that they are looking for.

WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE PRIOR EXPERIENCE BUT FEEL I WOULD BE A GREAT FIT ANYWAY?

We hear you and we want to hear from you. Everyone has to get started somewhere, right? Here is what we'll say about this: our clients are usually looking for ample experience working within busy households. That said, many are looking for specific worth ethic, skills, experience within correlative spaces, foreign language fluency, a degree in a certain area, or a nuanced person who can help within a very nuanced role.

It never hurts to apply- and we'll let you know how you can position yourself for success if we don't have any opportunities for you in the immediate future. Could be that one is on the horizon, and if you've already met our team- we'll know who to reach out to when that time comes. Network, network, network!

WHAT HAS CHANGED NOW THAT AUSTIN IS ON THE TEAM?

Everything and nothing. We’re still us. I’m still here.

You may notice a few thoughtful tweaks to our systems and processes; improvements made with you in mind. Behind the scenes, our operations have evolved so we can move faster, work more efficiently, and comfortably support larger initiatives and events as we grow.

On a personal note, I’m eight months pregnant with my second and preparing for a (hopefully) relaxing maternity leave full of baby snuggles. This is possible in large part because of Austin and her team and their ability to step in seamlessly and maintain Southern Standard Nannies’ rhythm, flow, and standards while I take that time.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON NANNY RELIEF FUND?

Check out the Nanny Relief Fund tab on our page or go straight to their website at Nanny Relief Fund.

CAN I PICK UP EXTRA SHIFTS THROUGH YOUR AGENCY?

You sure can. We have a back-up care system that supports our nannies and clients with care in a pinch, and pre-planned care. If you'd like to partner with us on this- please reach out to valerie@southernstandardnannies.com and we'll make sure you are connected with the right person!

DO YOU RESTRICT ME FROM APPLYING WITH OTHER AGENCIES IF I APPLY WITH YOU?

Again, absolutely not. If any agency does this- they are looking out for themselves- not you. We consider this an unethical practice. Apply with as many agencies as you can. You'll find the family you're meant to partner with.

Privacy and discretion are foundational to how we work. We don't circulate profiles or share personal details beyond what's included in our job descriptions. Deeper information is reserved for the interview stage, when both families and candidates are exploring a potential match.

If you are a candidate represented by our agency and have a question about a position that is listed: schedule some time with Valerie, Laura, Helen, or Austin to discuss your questions.