Our service areas are quire large and typically cover a metropolitan and all surrounding areas.
Each location listed on our website also offers more insight to neighborhoods and areas serviced.
When you enter your address during the registration process the system will alert you if we do not service the area. Chances are we most likely service your area!
You can also reach your SMS® Location to learn more about the specific areas we service and whether we can add your area!
The free membership plan allows access to our platform to request the SMS® Sitters with a $20 scheduling fee.
The annual membership fee is $50 and allows access with a $10 scheduling fee for those who need to use the services more frequently. Annual members get additional access to our Favorite Sitters feature, consistent childcare, family share services and MORE!
Both memberships can be canceled at anytime. Our Annual members also receive a 30 and 7 day notification in advance of the annual automatic renewal. Annual members can also downgrade to the free membership at any time.
You can upgrade from a free to annual membership at anytime. The Annual Membership is $50 once per year and gives you access to $10 scheduling fees when booking a sitter.
You can also downgrade from an annual to a free membership at anytime. The Free Membership does not have an annual charge and the scheduling fee is $20 when booking a sitter.
All active and paid member have access to visit or relocate to another SMS® location directly from their account page from any device.
No extra Membership fees are charged while visiting or relocating to any location. The fees may be different in other SMS® locations. Be sure to double check the scheduling fees and sitter hourly rates listed in the location you are visiting.
Yes, of course! All members can cancel the free or annual membership directly from your account from any device.
Annual members receive an email and text notification 30 and 7 days in advance to the automatic renewal date.
Once the renewal fee has been charged to an annual membership, there are no refunds available. Annual members must cancel the membership before the renewal date and transactions are completed.
SMS® is the reason you are here! We recruit, interview, and work with the SMS® Sitters so you continue to receive local, safe and reliable childcare!
The scheduling fee covers the work completed to confirm you with a sitter. We also provide a backup coverage in the case your confirmed sitter is not able to complete the sit as planned.
Scheduling Fees vary from $10 - $25 depending on the type of membership you have, the service you are requesting and the amount of notice given to a date submitted. Holiday rates may apply.
Once your requested is confirmed, the scheduling fee is non-refundable. Members can cancel a pending request before a confirmation is received for a full refund to the scheduling fee.
If we cannot confirm you with a sitter, you receive a full refund to the scheduling fee.
Yes. A scheduling fee is charged for each date you request a sitter to be confirmed. The scheduling fee covers the work completed to confirm you with a sitter. We also provide a backup sitter in the case your confirmed sitter is not able to complete the sit as planned. At no extra cost!
Scheduling Fees vary from $10 - $25 depending on the type of membership you have, the service you are requesting and the amount of notice given. Holiday rates may apply.
Once your requested is confirmed, the scheduling fee is non-refundable. Members can cancel pending request before a confirmation is received for a full refund.
If we cannot confirm you with a sitter, you receive a full refund to the scheduling fee.
Scheduling fees are non-refundable once a sitter has been confirmed. Members cancel confirmed requests through their online account at anytime.
Our annual members have access to a Favorite Sitters ONLY option and do receive a refund if none of their favorite sitters are available. This option is only accessible through our Annual Membership level.
Cancel fees apply if within 24hrs notice or less. This fees are transferred to the sitter in place of the sit confirmed.
**Consistent Care requests are handled with care to confirm the least amount of sitters and are non-refundable once submitted.
Additional fees are paid to SMS® and the sitters during all holidays and special rate dates.
Holidays can include Martin Luther King Jr. and weekend, President's Day and weekend, Spring Break, Memorial Day and weekend, Independence Day, Labor Day and weekend, Thanksgiving and weekend, Christmas Eve & Day, NYE and other special dates based on high volume.
Holiday & Special Date fees vary. See your SMS® location for more details.
All sitters are paid in cash, check, Venmo and CashApp at the end of each sit.
If the sitter does not receive the correct compensation by the end of the sit, SMS® will charge the card on file for the remaining balance owed + $5.00 transaction fee.
Should any parking, valet or related fees be charged, the member is required and responsible to reimburse the sitter for all costs involved.
It is important you only request the time you actually plan to utilize the sitter. The amount owed to each sitter is the confirmed start and end time listed online. We want to be respectful to everyone's time and budget.
If you release a sitter earlier than the end time confirmed online, you are still responsible for the full amount each party originally committed to per the online sit details.
Members can request a time change to any original request. The time change feature allows you access to check whether the sitter can change the original time requested.
Sitters are alerted immediately and can respond to confirm or let us know if they can or cannot commit to the new time requested. This does not remove or change the original request if they cannot. Members can choose to keep the original time requested if the sitter declines or cancel the request to submit a new time with a sitter who is available to confirm.
The full amount listed online as confirmed is the fee charged by the sitter and paid by the member per our terms and conditions. No exceptions.
Members can cancel any sit per the platform at anytime and must be conducted online. The cancel feature is located under each sit details and the sitter is alerted immediately. Both the sitter and office are notified.
3hr+ sits cancelled with less than 1hr notice is 3hrs min fee, all other cancellations within 24hr are $25 fee.
Should you forget to cancel the sitter, a they've shown up, please send the correct 1hr notice fee owed to the sitter via Venmo before their departure.
At this time, we do not offer nanny placement services. However, we offer both part-time and full-time through our consistent childcare services.
We know the importance of having familiar faces and those who know the routines to avoid extra stress to our members. Our Consistent Childcare services offer families the same sitters throughout a requested duration. Members submit all dates in advance to allow us enough time to work with sitters who are available to confirm. This does require a schedule or dates submitted in advance with as much notice as possible.
Many families need help with before & after school coverage, part-time or full-time, an extra hand in the evenings and weekends too!
Spring season is January - May. Enrollment opens in November each year.
Summer season is June - August. Enrollment opens in March each year.
Fall season is September- December. Enrollment opens in July each year.
While we do not offer an interview with sitters, SMS® has an onboarding and screening process that is completed by our team of professionals. We personally interview, screen and provide support to the SMS® Sitters. They are an important part of this process!
All sitters undergo an application, interview, background and driving record screenings and are CPR certified at all times!
We suggest you request the sitter to arrive earlier to your planned departure to say Hello and settle in while you finish getting ready. You also have access to the contact sitter feature to leave specific details, instructions or notes in writing for the sitter to reference and have available during the sit.
Contact the office for any questions or concerns. We are happy to help you locate the best fit possible based on your family's needs.
While we are not always able to guarantee the same sitter for all of your requests, we focus on consistency FIRST! We start with your favorite sitters and those whom have visited the home. If you are confirmed with a new sitter, chances are they become a new favorite!
Our annual members have access to our Favorite Sitters feature as well as our Consistent Childcare services.
The office is always a phone call, email or text away to discuss any feedback or concerns. We likely know a lot about the sitter and can share more information to alleviate unnecessary worry and help you keep as many options available online as possible!
SMS® cannot offer services to any member if anyone in the home is contagious. Should a child, parent or anyone be ill or contagious in the home during the sit time confirmed online, SMS® requires the member to cancel online immediately.
SMS® fees are non-refundable and cancel fees may apply. SMS® does not participate in the spread of illnesses to sitters, members and the community.
Yes, each sitter is CPR certified, passed a background check, driving record and has a valid drivers license. We also update these certifications ongoing!
All sitters can be found transporting to and from school, extracurricular activities and more!
If you have a carseat requirement, we can help with coordinating the installment and/or pick up prior to any sit if needed.
The mileage fee is the current federal rate listed per mile. Your sitter will track any mileage completed and report to include in the total compensation owed at the sit departure.
Should any parking, valet or related fees be charged, the member is required and responsible to reimburse the sitter for all costs involved.
If a sitter conducts any driving during your sit a $0.70 per mile fee is owed
There is an additional $15 fee charged to members who live outside of the SMS® service area or confirm a sitter who is outside the driving distance. The flat fee is paid in addition to the hourly rate owed to the sitter at the end of the sit.
*The $15 mileage fee only applies in Columbus, Cincinnati, Nashville and Raleigh locations.
Members do not have to confirm with these sitters and will see the mileage fee alert when choosing sitters.
If a member is confirmed with a sitter outside of the driving distance and does not want to keep the request, the member can cancel to receive a refund on the scheduling fee.
Should any parking, valet or related fees be charged, the member is required and responsible to reimburse the sitter for all costs involved.
While we cannot guarantee a vaccinated sitter, you are able to see which sitters are vaccinated when you book appointments online. We cannot guarantee a vaccinated sitter will be available if your sitter declines.
SMS® is does NOT authorize refunds to members who need to cancel a confirmed sit for any reason or due to vaccines.