How to Build Babysitting App Like Uber: Our Experience, Challenges & Tips

If you want to build babysitting app like Uber, you have probably heard about UrbanSitter, one of the top babysitting apps which has made a significant mark in the babysitting app space. Lynn Perkins, the founder of the platform, is a mother herself, so the idea for UrbanSitter came from her personal needs.

The idea was to digitize the word-of-mouth process. The first version of UrbanSitter, launched in 2010, allowed parents to see which babysitters their friends had used and recommended. For this, the UrbanSitter team integrated an app with Facebook, enabling parents to easily see reviews and bookings from people within their social circles. Now, UrbanSitter is available in more than 60 cities of the USA and provides a wide array of services, including pet sitting, household services, senior sitting, and tutoring.

Although dozens of prominent babysitting apps have appeared on the market, there are still a lot of regions where parents would like to have access to such a service.

Recently, the Clockwise Software team developed a marketplace project from scratch - an Uber for babysitters. And now we have some meaningful insights worth sharing. If you’re about to create your own nanny app - this article will be your comprehensive how-to guide.

Why is there a demand for babysitting apps?

According to Babysitting Services Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, the demand for babysitting services has been growing stably since 2018, only seeing some decline in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic, and will continue to grow in the future across the continents (North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America, Middle East & Africa).

The report highlights the following reasons for this growth:

1. Increasing number of working parents with busy lifestyles
2. Growing participation of women in the economy
3. The rise of nuclear families
4. Challenges of managing work-life balance for working parents
5. Growth of the population of newborn babies

The process of babysitter search has been revolutionized significantly by technological advancement. Thanks to babysitting apps, parents now have access to benefits they couldn't get addressing traditional babysitting services:

• Fast search process

Instead of spending months interviewing candidates and screening through agencies, parents can download a babysitting app and find a perfect fit within hours or even minutes. For example, Hello Sitter offers a personalized matching system that automatically matches users with suitable babysitters as they provide corresponding details.

• Increased safety

Babysitting apps are able to dispel fears associated with entrusting a child to a stranger. They offer features like real-time tracking, video chat, and others. Bubble, for example, uses social media to connect parents with sitters who have been trusted and hired by their relatives, friends, or neighbors.

• Cost savings and secure payment

Unlike traditional babysitting agencies, babysitting apps don’t charge users for searching suitable caregivers and don't ask for upfront costs. Apps allow users to set their own rates to choose sitters only within their budget, book sitters on a per-as-you-go model instead of full-time hiring, etc. Babysits, for example, offers parents that haven't yet registered in an app to search and view babysitters. Thus, users can ensure that the platform can really meet their needs before committing to it and paying money.

As you can see, the babysitting apps market is growing because of the rising demand for such services. So, if you have a viable idea and build the development process the right way, there is a high chance you will succeed.

So, you have an idea for a babysitter app like Uber, what’s next?

How to build a babysitting app like Uber step-by-step

We have developed a step-by-step guide based on how to create Uber for babysitters containing our own recommendations, taken from our experience developing Toddy - a marketplace for babysitters. So keep on reading!

Step 1. Research the market for babysitting apps

You may want to start the development process ASAP. But you don’t really know the market you are going to enter. First, you need to find out more about your competitors.

Create a list of companies that already deliver services similar to those your future startup will offer. Define local businesses, international companies, and niche products. Here’s why this is important:

• You research the market demand
  If there is only one local solution with a dozen users, this probably means that there’s no actual need for such a service in your region. However, poor marketing may also be a reason for this.

• You understand the essentials of the industry
  You’ll become familiar with the basic features each babysitting app should have, find out more about the marketplace business model, how P2P marketplace functions, and think of possible partnerships. Market research takes you closer to creating your startup business plan.

• You know how to stand out How to raise funds for startup? Make it stand out from dozens of others. Most nanny apps are similar. So why would a client choose your platform? Knowing what others have to offer makes it easier for you to outplay them. Attract clients with special deals and unique services.

First of all, define the niche for your future product. Are you helping people find full-time nannies, or are you focusing on “Uber babysitting” - providing a database of on-demand sitters that are available at the last minute?

Depending on this choice, search for available platforms in your niche. Here are a few of the on-demand babysitting apps we have analyzed in our research:

Care.com

This is the biggest babysitting platform available in the US and 17+ countries. Parents can post a job for free. Along with the timeframe, they can also include some additional work for the sitter, such as help with homework or dog walking. Also, it’s possible to filter nannies according to their education, skills, and experience. The job posting, chat, payments, etc., occur in the mobile app for Care.com (available both for iOS and Android).

Helpr

Helpr targets working parents. Currently, the platform is available in 175 countries. They promise to find you a sitter in less than three hours. The company also regularly screens babysitters, including in-person interviews, ID verification, reference checks, etc. This means that only the best and most reliable service providers make it through. Helpr is also available as a mobile babysitter app on iPhones and Android smartphones.

Zūm

The story of Zūm started in San-Francisco. The startup offers transportation for school children. Zūm's mobile app contains a live bus map that allows for real-time tracking of buses, notifications for parents, and detailed view on the driver's profile. Zūm currently serves over 4,000 schools across the USA.

As you can see, each of the above-described companies has something special. And narrow targeting is one of the key reasons why these companies are successful. They stand out. And you should, too. So here is what you should do next:

Step 2. Define what makes your babysitting app like Uber unique

Hundreds of companies have positioned themselves as “Uber for babysitters.” Each of them has a unique strength.

Care.com has the largest base of babysitters.

Helpr targets working parents and works only with proven sitters.

Zūm provides transportation for school children.

When working on an online marketplace for parents and babysitters, Toddy, we identified two unique advantages of the service. First, we were primarily working for the Australian market, where the competition was relatively low. To beat the rest, Toddy has introduced a unique system called the circle of trust.

The application requests access to your social media accounts (Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter) and list of contacts. When you browse the app looking for a babysitter, you can see all the contacts you share with this person. This enables you to contact your friend directly and ask for their personal opinion about this person you consider as a babysitter. Of course, there are also real reviews from other parents this sitter has worked for.

What will your strength be?

You have to decide what your competitive advantage will be.

Offering something extra, something that your competitors don’t have, may be your path to stable orders.

What can these extra services be?

Special sitters

• Bilingual babysitters who can teach a child a second language
• Male babysitters
• Babysitters that can cook for the child
• Grannies “for rent”

Unique app features

• Babysitter sharing (collaborate with other parents in your neighborhood)
• Real-time photos or video streaming

Local marketplace

If some international solutions still aren’t available in your city or country, you can adapt the concept of a babysitting app like Uber to your market. In some regions, you’re lucky since there is no actual competition. On the contrary, you have no successful example and no one to chase. So, you have to learn from your own mistakes.

Anyway, never copy successful business models. Find your unique strength and go for it.

Step 3. Find the right tech partner

Building a marketplace is technically difficult. You won’t make it far with just basic knowledge of front-end development. There are many things to consider and many professionals you will have to work with. You’ll need a team.

Business analysts, designers, frontend developers, backend developers, quality assurance engineers, and project managers – you’ll need them all if you are serious about your intention to develop a nanny app and make it your business.

Where can you get all these people? There are two options:

1. You address IT staff augmentation services.
2. You outsource your babysitter app development and just overview the process.

Your choice should depend on the resources you currently possess and your own plans.

For example, you have an in-house software development team that is ready to fulfill your babysitting app project. But, you may find out that your team lacks some expertise in the field you are about to enter. In this case, you should consider cooperating with a company that provides IT staff augmentation services and has experience with babysitting app development. This will allow you to extend your team with the necessary professionals on the project basis (for example, you may need to address a third-party company that provides location-based app development services); the service provider will take all the HR-related responsibilities. All you will have to do is to control the development process from your side.

Software outsourcing can make your life as a product owner much easier. In this case, you’ll assign the job to a whole competent team and receive a ready-made application as a result. You won’t spend days revising their work, but a regular call is a must to sync all these processes. But there is a risk, too. You may be lured by low rates and find your babysitting app in the hands of low-skilled developers. To avoid the main mistakes, check out our article about software development outsourcing.

The good news: While your app is in development, you can work on strategic questions, partnerships, marketing, etc. Partnership with a reliable and experienced software development outsourcing company gives you time for more important things.

Step 4. Decide what MVP features you want

You should already be aware of the concept of a minimum viable product (if not, go through this article on what MVP is).

According to the MVP concept, you have to decide which features on your babysitting app are a high priority and put the rest on the waiting list. This is done with one clear aim: to develop and release the application in the shortest possible time and with the least amount of expenses.

Next, you’ll estimate the market response, listen to your users and decide whether it‘s worth it to keep investing in this business or not. Failing early may prevent future debt.

If your babysitting app gets positive reviews - good news! You can now move on and develop a full-featured application.

How do you decide what belongs in a marketplace MVP?

The less, the better. Take your features list and reject features until there are no more to reject.

You should have only basic functionality (including the unique feature that is your competitive advantage).

Features to include in an MVP:

• Social sign in
  Personal profiles are a must for a marketplace. However, you will make the life of your users much easier by enabling social sign in. Then they don’t have to fill out every field. And your tech team can use a ready solution for social sign-in, which saves you time and money.
• Recommendations/Rating
  Marketplaces are based on trust. And you can grow this trust by enabling ratings and recommendations.
• Chat
  Let your users discuss the details in a chat. Moreover, there are easy, ready-made solutions for this, so you don’t have to spend weeks building a custom chat.
• Push Notification
  When talking about an on-demand babysitting app, push notifications are essential. Nannies should be notified about the new request and parents need a timely acceptance notification.
• Geolocation
  Apps like Uber for babysitters are heavily based on location intelligence. Geolocation enables the right people to be matched quickly.
• Search and filters
  When a client knows exactly what they are looking for, filters can save their time and effort. In the case of a babysitting app, parents usually have certain criteria for the babysitter in their mind. Let them filter the offers to get the job done quickly.
• In-app payments
  Marketplaces usually provide escrow payment functionality. This means that the client is charged upfront, but the service provider receives the money only when their work is done properly. Enabling such payments wins you more trust.

Depending on your initial idea, you can remove features from this list or add unique functionalities, which will make you stand out from the apps alike.

Development approaches to create a babysitting app MVP

When you know what to develop, it is time to decide how to develop it.

The majority of established babysitting apps today employ a hybrid approach; they have web versions with limited functionality and mobile applications. This approach allows them to maximize reach and accessibility and adapt to a broader range of users’ needs. Typically, the mobile app is used more often due to access to specific features such as push notifications, real-time location tracking, and access to the camera. On the other hand, parents or babysitters may want to use the web version from a desktop or laptop for an extended view of profiles or detailed browsing, while the mobile app is more convenient for quick checks, updates, and communications on the go.

For an MVP, we recommend starting with a cross-platform mobile application for two simple reasons:

1. A mobile application will allow you to implement the core features required for a babysitting app.
2. A cross-platform approach will let you make your application available on both iOS and Android without significant investment.

You shouldn’t wonder how to make a website for babysitting in the initial stages of your startup development; you should start with a cheaper alternative and move on when your project starts generating stable revenue.

Step 5. Move on to advanced features

If you’ve come this far - congratulations! Unfortunately, most startups fail early due to various reasons. But a successful MVP launch and user feedback already make your project one of the few candidates for success.

Your efforts have been rewarded by extensive user feedback so you have ideas for further development. In the future, you may start questioning how to make a babysitting website, or you just keep on developing your mobile app.

Which features will make it into the next release?

• Calendar of availability
  Before sending the request, the parents can check the nanny’s availability calendar. This greatly saves time and improves communication.
• Upload an introduction video
  Videos tell much more about a person than text. Enable introduction videos to make the choice of an app nanny easier for parents.
• Live streaming video
  It is always scary to leave your child with a stranger, even if this stranger has hundreds of reviews and tens of certifications. A live video may bring peace of mind.
• Profiles for kids
  Enable parents to create profiles for their children telling about themselves, their hobbies, schedule, duties, etc. This will help the sitter to better understand the requirements.
• Verification of references and certifications
  People tend to trust verified references more. However, verification will require more effort from your side and is usually manual. If you’re ready to provide this extra service - go for it.
• Additional services (help with homework, baths, cooking or walking a dog)
  Some nannies can offer more than just babysitting. Enable parents to book additional services right in the app; this will be beneficial for both parties.
• Multiple languages support
  If you live in a multicultural region or plan to expand abroad, you have to think of localization. However, if this is your primary feature - prioritize it and move it to the MVP bundle.
• Work time tracker
  Such a tracker works well when it comes to hourly pay. It helps to track exactly how much time the babysitter spent working and how much they should be paid.

You definitely have ideas for tens of other features and this is great. It’s important not to chase the number and properly prioritize. Also, constantly asking your users about their opinion will greatly help you when choosing which feature to develop in the next sprint.

Uber for babysitters: lessons learned from our experience developing Toddy

Knowing the theory is good, but there are some insights you get only after making a few mistakes on your own.

When building Toddy, there were some problems we had to overcome quickly. These are the lessons we’ve learned:

Lesson 1. When building a marketplace app, learn about both of your target audiences.

Toddy is a hybrid application built with Ionic. We started building an app for iOS first, which seemed logical for the team. After launching the application, we collected dozens of parent profiles. But the babysitters didn’t sign up.

Would you guess the reason? Most of the potential babysitters were students with limited income using budget Android-based smartphones. By focusing on iOS app development, we haven’t even given them a chance to start working on our platform.

This problem was quickly solved since hybrid app development enabled us to reuse much of the code. So, the Toddy Android app launched three months later and opened the door to many babysitters that still work within the platform.

Lesson 2. Think about possible collaborations in advance.

When starting to work on a project, we were quite sure that our potential nannies were individuals. Later, it turned out that babysitting agencies were also interested in joining the platform.

We had to quickly develop functionality for agencies. This move enabled the application to experience significant growth.

Lesson 3. When hiring remote teams, ensure that you have a good project manager.

Basically, there were three teams in different time zones working on the same project. We were in danger of miscommunication, missed deadlines and, as a result, poor quality for the final app. However, employing a skilled project manager enabled us to avoid this problem.

When deciding to outsource your app, choose a contractor that can provide A-Z product development. If you have to work with distributed teams for some reason, don’t neglect the role of the project manager. This professional will make sure that the process is smooth, deadlines are met, and the budget is spent correctly.

How to monetize your babysitting application’

It’s pretty clear how babysitters can earn money from using your app, but what about you as a provider? There are several ways for babysitters marketplace monetization:

Charge parents. Charge a small fee (10% - 15%) everytime a user books a babysitter.

Charge babysitters. Bill nannies for the opportunity to use your marketplace or offer a range of paid features. For example, better profile ranking, or see who viewed their profile.

Charge agencies. Recruiting agencies use babysitting apps, too. By taking a fee from them, you can make your app free for caregivers and families.

Charge per subscription. You can develop two or several pricing plans with different tiers based on features.

Advertising. If you have an opportunity to partner with relevant businesses, like children's clothing brands or toy manufacturers, you can make your app free for everyone and get money from advertising.

Choose a monetization strategy based on the specifics of your app. Moreover, you should also consider that in the initial startup development stages you should offer users some features for free to let them check the benefits of your app.

Costs to build an app for babysitters

It’s nearly impossible to develop a more or less detailed cost estimation of babysitting app development before you even start the planning process. From our experience, the cost to build a basic MVP starts from $20,000. However, if you want to build a solid MVP, the price will be around $100,000.

The cost of the babysitting app depends on a bunch of different factors. They include business goals, the app’s specifics, features, composition and location of the development team, and numerous other factors.

Ask your team to provide a detailed cost estimation during the planning stage.

Conclusion

The first babysitting applications appeared many years ago and, since then, become more and more popular with each year. So, if you are serious about starting a business with a babysitting app, start with thorough market research in the region you want to spread your application to analyze your competitors’ and users’ needs. The other essential component is finding the right tech partner.

Our experience with Toddy, a marketplace for babysitters and parents, gives us reason to believe that we can be useful to founders who want to create a similar startup. So fill in the form below and tell us about your idea!