Household staffing without an agency: a self-serve alternative

Most families who search for household staffing find two options: a household staffing agency that runs the search for you, or a job board where you sort through applicants yourself. HomeHire is a third option. It is a nationwide, self-serve household hiring marketplace. You describe the role in a confidential brief, review structured profiles and hire directly. The family is the employer and does its own checks. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

This page explains how the two models differ, who each one suits, and what you take on when you hire directly.

How a traditional household staffing agency usually works

Agencies vary, but most follow a similar pattern:

Consultation. A recruiter learns about your household, the role and your preferences.
Search and shortlist. The agency draws on its candidate network and advertising, screens applicants and presents a shortlist.
Agency services vary. Ask each agency exactly what its service includes and what you remain responsible for.
Placement terms. Agencies usually charge a placement or service fee, and some offer a guarantee or replacement period if a hire doesn't work out. Terms differ widely, so get them in writing before you start.
Ongoing support. Some agencies also offer temporary cover, payroll referrals or contract templates.

An agency can be the right choice when you want someone else to run the whole search, especially for senior or highly specialized roles.

How self-serve hiring works with HomeHire

Write a confidential brief. Describe the role, location (city, neighborhood or ZIP, never your address), schedule, start date, duties and the experience you need. Long-term, part-time, temporary and one-off work are all in scope. Household briefs are private unless the family chooses to publish a public job listing. Public listings show only the role, town/ZIP area, schedule, pay range and start date — never the family's name, address or contact details.
Review structured profiles. Candidates present relevant experience, availability and written answers, and control how discoverable they are. Video is optional.
Do your own checks. Contact references and confirm identity, right to work and relevant qualifications.
Message and request introductions. You decide whom to contact, interview and invite to a trial.
Agree terms directly. You and the worker agree pay, hours, duties and start date. HomeHire is not part of the employment relationship.

Side-by-side: agency vs self-serve

Side-by-side: agency vs self-serve
	Traditional household staffing agency	HomeHire (self-serve)
Who runs the search	Agency recruiter	The family
Candidate screening	Agency's own process, which varies	Do your own hiring checks
Who is the employer	Usually the family, after placement (confirm with the agency)	Always the family
Fees	Agency fee, which varies by agency and role	Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.
Candidate fees	Varies by agency	Candidates never pay HomeHire
Confidentiality	Agency-managed	Confidential brief; candidates control their own discoverability
Temporary and one-off work	Depends on the agency	In scope, with the same direct model
Replacement guarantee	Often offered (terms vary)	None. You run the process yourself

Do your own hiring checks

Families are the employer and do their own checks. Contact references, confirm identity and right to work yourself, and check qualifications relevant to the role. See safety & hiring tips.

A status tells you what evidence was reviewed. It is not a safety certification and does not replace your own interviews, reference calls and judgment during a trial period. Read safety guidance before you meet anyone.

The family is the employer

When you hire through HomeHire, you are the household employer from day one. HomeHire does not employ workers, run payroll or hold wages. In practice that usually means:

Classification: the IRS generally treats household workers whose work you control as employees, not contractors. See the IRS Household Employer's Tax Guide (Publication 926), which also explains Schedule H.
Right to work: household employers generally complete Form I-9 for employees they hire on a regular basis.
State and local rules: some states and cities have domestic worker laws. New York, California and Seattle are examples. Check before you make an offer.
Payroll: many families use a household payroll provider. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

HomeHire does not give legal or tax advice.

Who self-serve hiring fits

A good fit if you:

are comfortable writing a clear brief and interviewing candidates yourself
want direct contact with candidates from the first message
are hiring for part-time, temporary, seasonal or one-off help as well as long-term roles
want to keep household details out of public job ads
prefer to pay nothing in platform fees while HomeHire's launch lasts

An agency may suit you better if you:

want a recruiter to run the entire search and screening
need a contractual replacement guarantee
need very fast, guaranteed cover. HomeHire does not promise availability or keep a roster.

Roles you can hire directly

Household staffing by city

HomeHire's free period is nationwide. Local guides include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Bay Area, Seattle, Miami and South Florida, Palm Beach, Nashville, Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, Chicago, Washington DC and Boston.

What it costs

Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay. Candidates never pay HomeHire. It is not charged now, and it would need advance notice and your explicit acceptance. Launch-period hires will not be charged later. See pricing. Worker pay is separate. The US household salary guide gives context.

Explore more hiring guides

Explore the US Salary Guide for national, state, and metro pay context.

Frequently asked questions

Is HomeHire a household staffing agency?

No. HomeHire is a self-serve household hiring marketplace. Families review profiles and hire directly. HomeHire does not place staff, employ workers, run payroll or hold wages.

How is HomeHire different from a household staffing agency?

An agency runs the search and screening for you, usually for a fee. Free for families until January 2027, and candidates never pay.

Who is the employer when I hire through HomeHire?

The family. You agree pay and terms directly with the worker and are responsible for employer obligations such as wages, taxes and any required insurance.

Who checks a candidate's suitability?

The family makes its own hiring decision and does its own checks, including interviews, references, identity, right to work and relevant qualifications.

Can I use HomeHire for temporary or one-off household help?

Yes. Temporary, seasonal and one-off engagements are in scope alongside long-term roles. HomeHire does not guarantee that a worker will be available.

Do candidates pay to join HomeHire?

No. Candidates never pay HomeHire to find work.

Get started with HomeHire

Start a confidential family brief · Register as a household professional (never pay)

HomeHire is a trading name of Talent First Ltd.

Learn about hiring for families · Learn about opportunities for candidates