Invoice templates for freelance and self-employed nannies billing families for childcare, babysitting, and household support.
A nanny invoice is issued by a self-employed nanny to a family for professional childcare services. Self-employed nannies in the UK are typically hired by families who prefer a nanny-to-parent direct arrangement, giving both parties more flexibility in pay and working arrangements than through an agency. However, it is important to note that HMRC's guidance on nanny employment status is clear: most nannies are employees of the family, not self-employed. A nanny is usually employed (and the family must register as an employer, operate PAYE, and pay employer's National Insurance) unless the nanny genuinely sets their own schedule, works for multiple families simultaneously, and meets other employment status tests. Self-employed nannies who genuinely meet the self-employment criteria include those providing ad hoc or occasional childcare to multiple families, nanny-share arrangements with two or more families, or registered childminders caring for children in their own home.
| Service | Typical Rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime care (per hour) | 14 | hour |
| Overnight care (per night) | 120 | night |
| Babysitting (evening, per hour) | 14 | hour |
| Holiday care (daily rate) | 100 | day |
| Mileage for school runs / activities | 0.45 | mile |
| Activity expenses (reimbursement) | 0 | at cost |
Nannies are usually paid a set gross hourly rate, often bundled into a weekly guaranteed-hours package rather than billed per-visit, with add-ons for extra children, overnights and holidays. Rates vary widely by metro: Care.com's 2026 Cost of Care puts the national one-child average near $21.75/hr (~$870/week), from roughly $18/hr in lower-cost cities to $29+/hr in San Francisco.
Weekly or biweekly pay is the norm, based on a written work agreement with guaranteed weekly hours; timesheets are submitted each pay period and the family runs payroll (often via a service like Care.com HomePay, Poppins Payroll or GTM) that withholds taxes and issues the paycheck.
The family is a household employer: once 2024 cash wages reach $2,700 ($2,800 in 2025, $3,000 in 2026) they owe the 'nanny tax', 7.65% employer FICA (6.2% Social Security + 1.45% Medicare), must withhold the matching 7.65% from the nanny, pay 6% FUTA on the first $7,000 (often reduced to 0.6%), report it on Schedule H of their 1040, and issue the nanny a W-2, never a 1099. Live-out nannies are also owed FLSA overtime at 1.5x over 40 hours.
This is general guidance, not tax advice. Tax rules vary by country, state, and situation, so confirm with a qualified accountant before relying on it.
Genuinely self-employed nannies providing ad hoc care to multiple families should invoice each family separately, weekly or monthly. Each invoice should itemise dates, hours worked, and rate. For nanny-share arrangements, each family invoices their proportion of the nanny's hours. The nanny typically invoices both families separately at the agreed per-hour rate for their share. For childminders working in their own home, a more formal billing arrangement is typical, often monthly or weekly, with receipts provided for Tax-Free Childcare scheme purposes. Before invoicing as self-employed, ensure you have established genuine self-employed status. Misclassification as self-employed when you are actually an employee can lead to significant tax liabilities for both you and the family.