A 12-year-old can start a babysitting business in the U.S. because federal law carves casual babysitting out of its child-labor rules, and the real work of starting one is getting trained, preparing a few documents, setting a rate, and finding clients through people your family already knows. If you want to know how to start a babysitting business at 12, the legal door is open; what separates sitters who get called back is treating the job like a business from the first booking.
The Fair Labor Standards Act bars children under 14 from most non-agricultural jobs, but it excludes work not covered by the FLSA, including “completing minor chores around private homes or casual baby-sitting.”1U.S. Department of Labor. Fact Sheet #43: Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for Nonagricultural Occupations No work permit, no employer paperwork, no hour cap. You’re a self-employed person providing a service in someone’s home. A few states add their own rules on minimum caregiver age or parental consent for paid work by minors, so have a parent check your state labor department’s site before you start taking jobs.
Get Trained First
Parents hiring a 12-year-old want proof you know what you’re doing, and a certificate does that better than a promise. Training also protects you when a toddler chokes on a grape or a baby won’t settle.
A Babysitting Course
The American Red Cross runs Babysitting Basics online for youth ages 11 and up at $45.2American Red Cross. Babysitting Basics – Online Babysitting Course It covers feeding, diapering, managing behavior across different ages, and the basics of running the business. There’s also an in-person Babysitter’s Training course for ages 11 to 16 that adds hands-on practice with an instructor.3American Red Cross. Babysitting Classes and Child Care Courses Either produces a certificate you can show prospective clients.
Pediatric First Aid and CPR
A separate Pediatric First Aid/CPR/AED certification teaches you to handle choking, do chest compressions, and use an AED. The Red Cross online portion is $37, and a full two-year certificate requires an in-person skill session with manikins at an additional cost that varies by location.4American Red Cross. Adult and Pediatric (Child and Baby) First Aid/CPR/AED Online If you plan to watch infants, your training should also cover safe sleep: the CDC says babies must be placed on their backs on a firm, flat surface like an approved crib with only a fitted sheet, no blankets, pillows, bumpers, or stuffed animals.5Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Providing Care for Babies to Sleep Safely
What to Bring to Every Job
A Family Information Form
Before your first session with any family, sit with the parents and fill out an information sheet. Capture both parents’ phone numbers, at least one backup emergency contact, the pediatrician’s name and number, and any allergies, medications, or medical conditions. Walk through bedtime routines, approved snacks, screen time limits, and off-limits rooms. This eliminates the panicked texts at 9 p.m.
Signed Medical Consent
Ask parents to sign a brief authorization letting you seek emergency medical care if they can’t be reached. It doesn’t have to be a formal legal document. A signed note with the child’s name, allergies, the parent’s signature, and a line authorizing emergency treatment is enough for most ERs to act on. Keep it with you on every job, not at home in a drawer.
Your Kit
Pack a portable bag that covers both safety and entertainment. A small first-aid kit with adhesive bandages, antiseptic wipes, and disposable gloves handles minor scrapes. Add a flashlight for power outages and a notebook to record each family’s house rules. For the kids, bring a few age-appropriate activities: coloring supplies, card games, simple crafts. Having your own materials signals you take the work seriously and keeps you from being stranded with nothing to do on a slow evening.
Setting Your Rates
Hourly rates vary by region, but most younger sitters charge somewhere between $10 and $17 an hour for one child. Adding a second or third child usually warrants an extra $2 to $5 per hour per additional kid. If the job includes meal prep, homework help, or bathing younger children, your rate should reflect that. Settle on a number before you show up, not after. Tell the family your rate when you confirm the booking so there’s no awkwardness at the door.
Getting Paid at 12
Most digital payment platforms are closed to you. PayPal requires users to be at least 18.6PayPal. PayPal User Agreement Standard Venmo accounts also require 18, and while Venmo offers a teen account a parent can set up, that one starts at 13.7Venmo. Teen Account FAQ for Teens Care.com and similar childcare platforms require caregivers to be 18 as well.8Care.com. Why Can’t I Enroll as a Caregiver if I Am Under 18
Cash is the simplest option and what most 12-year-old sitters use. If a family prefers digital, teen-focused debit cards like Greenlight let a parent set up an account where clients can send money directly. A check made out to one of your parents, who then deposits it, also works. Agree on the method when you confirm the job so payment is smooth when the parents get home.
Finding Your First Clients
Start With People You Know
Your first clients will almost certainly come through your family’s existing network. Neighbors, parents of your siblings’ friends, your parents’ coworkers, families from your place of worship. A simple flyer listing your certifications, your availability, and a parent’s contact number can go on a community bulletin board or get shared through your parents’ social media. One good job tends to generate the next two or three referrals.
Do a Meet-and-Greet
Before accepting a job with a new family, schedule an introductory visit with a parent present. Meet the kids, see the home, and get a feel for whether it’s a good fit. Walk the house and locate exits, fire extinguishers, first-aid supplies, and the fuse box. Ask about any hazards: a pool, a dog, medications stored at child height. If something feels off, it’s fine to say no. A family that respects a 12-year-old’s boundaries during a meet-and-greet is the kind of client you want.
Confirm in Writing
After the meet-and-greet, confirm the date, arrival time, expected end time, your rate, and the payment method. Send a text, or have a parent send one, so everything is in writing. If the parents might run late, agree in advance on what happens to your rate past the scheduled end time.
Taxes Once You Earn $400 in a Year
This is the part most young sitters skip, and it matters. Babysitting income is self-employment income under federal tax law. If your net earnings reach $400 or more in a calendar year, you’re required to file a federal return and pay self-employment tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare.9Internal Revenue Service. Self-employment Tax (Social Security and Medicare Taxes) The $400 floor comes from the statutory definition of self-employment income.10Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC Ch. 2 – Tax on Self-Employment Income That threshold applies regardless of your age or whether your parents claim you as a dependent, and it kicks in well before the regular income tax threshold a dependent would hit.11Internal Revenue Service. Publication 501 – Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information
A 12-year-old sitting through a summer and most weekends can clear $400 faster than you’d think. Keep a simple log of every job: date, client, hours worked, amount paid, and any supplies purchased. Supply costs are business expenses that reduce your net earnings, so saving receipts matters. Your parents should help you track this and handle the actual filing.
Insurance Is a Conversation for Your Parents
Accidents happen even with careful sitters. Most families’ homeowners or renters insurance includes some liability coverage for injuries on their property, but whether it extends to injuries caused by a hired babysitter’s negligence varies by policy. Your parents’ homeowners policy may provide some protection for you as a minor in their household, though standard policies generally don’t cover business activities. Have your parents call their insurer and ask whether their policy covers liability for your babysitting work; some offer an endorsement for incidental business activities at a modest additional premium. For occasional, casual sitting the risk is low, but knowing the coverage exists is better than finding out it doesn’t after something goes wrong.