Members can receive a 50% discount each renewal:
Military
Teachers
First Responders
And all Corporate Partners (members can add their employer to our list and all employees receive the same discount).
Your card on file is charged annually on the same date each year, typically the original date you became a member or renewed your membership.
Members receive a 30 day reminder email + text alert just in case they do not need to renew their membership. You can cancel your membership at any time directly from your SMS® Account.
Yes, of course! All members can cancel the SMS® membership directly from your account from any device.
Each member receives an email and text alerts 30 days before the annual renewal date as a friendly reminder.
Choose to cancel now or upon the upcoming renewal date to enjoy the services before you no longer need or have access to them.
Once the renewal fee has been charged, no refunds are available. Members must cancel the membership before the renewal date and transactions are completed.
All active and paid member accounts are transferable. Contact your SMS® Location for assistance.
*You can also visit all other SMS® locations with your annual SMS® Membership. No extra Membership fees are charged. The Member will pay the SMS® locations scheduling and sitter hourly rate fees during their visit.
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!
Scheduling Fees vary from $10 - $30 depending on the type of service you are requesting and the notice given.
Once SMS® has confirmed your request online, the scheduling fee is non-refundable and cancel fees may apply. Members can cancel pending requests to receive a refund.
Scheduling fees are non-refundable once confirmed. Members cancel confirmed requests through their online account and cancel fees may apply.
Members who cancel pending requests through the One-Time scheduling feature receive a refund.**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 SMS® Sitters during all holidays and special dates.
Holidays can include Martin Luther King Jr., President's Day, Spring Break, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Day, NYE and other special dates.
Holiday & Special Date fees vary. See your SMS® location for more details.
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.
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.
All SMS® Sitters are owed the Full Amount confirmed online from the start time to the requested end time. If a member confirms an SMS® Sit from 6pm - 10pm, the sitter is owed the full amount confirmed online whether they are needed or not. Members who come home early or no longer need the SMS® Sitter 1hr prior or during the sit will still owe for the time confirmed online.
Members who cannot abide by these policies will be terminated immediately and fees will not be refunded.
SMS® does not offer nanny services or placements of any kind. Household cleaning is prohibited.
Our Consistent Childcare services offer families the same sitters throughout the year. We work to locate 2-3 sitters for all your childcare needs and provide backup coverage when needed.
Options available:
Before & After School Care
Part-time
Full-time
Evenings and weekends
We accept these requests in advance each season to ensure all families can be confirmed.
January - May, Spring Submissions open early November
June - August, Summer Submissions open early March
September- December Fall Submissions open early July
We do not offer interviews or meet and greets with the SMS® Sitters.
The SMS® Team conducts all on boarding, including an interview with each sitter. Your sitter can be scheduled a half hour before you leave the home for a Hello and walkthrough if preferred.
In order to be confirmed with the sitters you'll need to become a member. Once you've registered and paid the membership fee you can book sitters 24/7/365.
Yes, each sitter is CPR certified, passed a background check, driving record and has a valid drivers license. We also update these certifications ongoing!
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.
All users are required to wear a mask.
SMS® is does NOT authorize refunds to members who need to cancel a confirmed sit for any reason or due to vaccines.
Depending on your childcare needs and whether you can provide a consistent schedule determines how many sitters will be confirmed. Members can request the least amount of sitters through our Consistent Care services.
If a sitter conducts any driving during your sit a mileage fee is owed, $.56/mile
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.