1) In your own words Please tell us how Quick Sitter came to be and what it is.
A: QuickSitter.com provides a quick, safe, simple way of hiring a qualified babysitter, pet sitter or senior care provider in the DFW metroplex. When I had my youngest child, it took a long time before my husband and I felt comfortable leaving her with a sitter, but with the changes that came with a new baby, my husband and I needed to have some alone time to remember US. We had no family close and finding a sitter that we felt was qualified and experienced was an overwhelming task. We interviewed several to find out that many of them were not truthful about their experience, qualifications, etc. In talking with other mothers, I found out that this was a common problem, so QuickSitter.com was born. With QuickSitter.com, we provide an easy and quick way for parents to hire qualified, experienced sitters that are all pre-screened, background checked, and trained in CPR and First Aid before joining the QuickSitter staff. All of the sitters that accept babysitting assignments can be trusted, and parents can feel comfortable with who they leave their children with while they get back to focusing on the things they like to do. We allow parents to hire sitters on short or advanced notice by simply filling out a brief form on our website.
2) How long has QuickSitter been in business?
A: We've been in business for 2 years - established in 2009
3) If this is your personal business have you thought of expanding into other countries or setting up franchises?
A: We do plan to expand, but it will be a gradual expansion. We will expand to various cities in Texas, then to various states. We may establish franchises in the future, but have not made any definite moves toward that yet.
5) How many sitters do you have on staff?
A: We currently have approximately 100 sitters on staff across the metroplex.
6) Do they pay you or do you pay them?
A: We absolutely pay our sitters for their service. Because our sitters work for us, and we employ them, we pay them per hour, per assignment.
7) What one service would you like to add to your business?
A: We currently do not provide full time childcare for parents who may need a sitter/nanny for 40 or more hours per week; we provide hourly, on-call care for parents who need occasional or part time care for their children, pets or elderly loved ones. Because we have received several requests for full time sitter services, we will be adding that within the next few months.
8) For someone looking to start a business what one thing would you tell them?
A: I would advise anyone looking to start a business to identify something that they have a problem with or a service or product that they could benefit from, and chances are, others could benefit from that product or service as well. If something can make the lives of others easier, especially moms, there is a much better chance that business will be successful.
9) If we contact you to watch our child but do not like the sitter who is sent what happens?
A: We do our best to match parents with their perfect sitter. However, if parents dislike the sitter we match them up with, for any reason, we will be sure not to book that sitter for them again. If parents have an issue with a sitter before they leave and do not feel comfortable leaving their child, we ask that parents contact us and let us know the concern. It is QuickSitter's policy to book two sitters for each assignment - a primary sitter who is scheduled to arrive at the parents' home, and a secondary sitter in case the primary sitter has an unexpected emergency and has to cancel. The secondary sitter may also be contacted to replace the primary sitter if a major issue arises, but is not guaranteed that the primary sitter will be replaced on such short notice.
10) How do you know you can trust the people you hire to take care of our Loved ones?
A: All of our sitters go through a rigorous pre-screening process in which we interview them, check references, etc. before we hire them. They are all background checked, and we require them to be trained in CPR and First Aid prior to joining the QuickSitter team. Because QuickSitter's management team is comprised of individuals that are both parents and business men and women, our parenting instints also play a role when it comes to the type of people we hire. We know what we would want in an ideal sitter, and we've done research to find out what many parents want in a sitter. We pride ourselves on hiring the best of the best when it comes to the level of child care providers we have on our staff.
11) Besides caring for children what other services do you provide and why?
A: We also provide pet sitting and senior care because we realize that it is sometimes just as hard to find qualified, reliable care for pets and seniors as it is to find quality care for children, and we wanted to eliminate the hassle for those who may need help in those areas, as well.
12) Is it the same staff or is it different?
A: We do have sitters that are qualified in all areas, but we mostly hire different staff for the different areas. Those with professional pet sitting experience are staffed for our pet care service, etc.
13) Does the sitter come provided with ways to entertain the kids?
A: Yes our sitters do come prepared to entertain the children they care for. One thing that makes QuickSitter unique is that our sitters do not simply sit children in front of the television or with video games to entertain themselves, rather our sitters engage children while they are in their care. Our sitters come prepared to play games, do arts and crafts, read to children, etc.
14) Do they make dinner for the kids?
A: Our sitters are able to make dinner for the children, but we prefer that parents prepare meals ahead of time, and allow our sitters to serve the children the pre-prepared meals when necessary. This eliminates the possibility of children not eating because they do not like what the sitter has prepared, or the possibility of sitters preparing something a child may be allergic to, etc.
15) How much do you charge for a child? or more?
A: We have lowered our rates for the summer, but they are subject to change in the fall. Please visit our website to see our current rates.
16) Are they certified to take care of children?
A: Yes, our sitters are certified to care for children, pets and seniors.
17) How can someone apply to become a sitter?
A: Applying to be a sitter with our company is easy. Individuals simply visit our website - www.quicksitter.com - and complete the "Be a Sitter" form and someone will contact them for an interview to see if they are a fit for the company.
Websites to include:
Facebook.com/quicksitter
Twitter.com/quicksitter
