How to earn money as a childminder in Copenhagen

Where families in Copenhagen look for childminders

Families who need childminding in Copenhagen look in several places at once. Many start with online search - they type childminder or pasningsperson into Google along with their neighbourhood or district, or they search on Facebook groups dedicated to parents in specific parts of the city. Word of mouth from other parents at schools, playgrounds or workplaces is still a major source of customers: a recommendation from someone they know carries weight.

Some families post tasks on marketplaces asking childminders to make offers to them; others search directly for available childminders in their area and contact them. Workplace networks matter too - parents often ask colleagues if they know anyone. A Websta profile with your services, prices and online booking becomes a page you can send to anyone who asks, and it appears when families search by service and location in Copenhagen on Websta's marketplace.

Setting a price for childminding in Copenhagen

Setting your first price is one of the hardest decisions because you need to know what the market in Copenhagen actually looks like. There is no single standard rate - prices vary by neighbourhood, by what care you offer (babysitting, school pickup, full-time care), by your experience, and by the families' ability to pay. Some families have access to childcare subsidies from the municipality; others pay out of pocket.

Start by asking other childminders in Copenhagen what they charge - not just once, but a few conversations to get a sense of the range. Look at profiles of childminders already working in the city to see what they have listed. Then think about what you need to earn per hour to make it worth your time, given that you will have gaps between bookings at first, and you will spend unpaid time answering messages and organising schedules.

Many childminders in Copenhagen price by the hour, but some charge daily rates or weekly rates depending on what families want. You can adjust your price later if it is too low or if you find you can only attract one type of customer. A Websta profile lets you list multiple services at different prices - for example, pickup and homework help might cost less than full evening babysitting - so you can test what works.

Talking about money with your first customers

When you agree to work with a family, be clear about your price, what it includes, how you want to be paid, and when payment is due. In Copenhagen, most childminders work with card payments through Websta - the family pays by card on the platform, and the money goes straight to your bank account - or they arrange bank transfer or cash. Write down the agreement, even if it is just an email, so both of you know what was decided.

If a family asks you to lower your price, you can say no. You can also offer to give them a small discount if they book several weeks in advance or commit to regular weekly slots. The families you attract first are usually not the ones hunting for the cheapest rate - they are the ones who value what you offer and want to book you. Focus on those, not on trying to undercut other childminders to win customers.

What you need to sort out as an independent childminder in Denmark

If you earn money as an independent childminder in Denmark, you need to register as self-employed and handle taxes and VAT correctly. The exact rules depend on how much you earn and whether you are registered as a sole trader. You should contact the Danish business authority VIRK or speak to an accountant who knows childminding work to understand your obligations. You may need to register for VAT, declare income to the tax authority, and pay social contributions.

If you work through Websta, payments from customers come to your own bank account via Stripe, the payment processor. You are responsible for reporting this income. Keep records of all payments you receive and all expenses (materials, transport, insurance, professional fees) because you will need them for your tax return. It is worth getting help with this from the start rather than trying to sort it out later - the cost of an accountant is tax-deductible.

What usually goes wrong in the first months

Most childminders who are new to earning money this way find that the first few months are slower than they expect. You may take weeks or months to get your first booking, then have gaps between customers. This is normal and does not mean your price is wrong or that you are not good at childminding - it means you need time to be found and for word of mouth to build.

A common mistake is changing your price too often or dropping it too low when customers are slow to come. Resist this. Instead, focus on making sure your profile and any online pages you use have clear information, good photos if relevant, and genuine details about what you offer. Answer messages quickly. Ask families you work with to recommend you to other parents.

Another thing that catches people by surprise: parents often cancel or reschedule, especially with young children who get ill. Set clear cancellation terms so both of you know what happens if a booking is cancelled last-minute. Some childminders ask for payment even if a regular booking is cancelled within 24 hours; others are more flexible. You decide, but write it down and tell families in advance.

How a Websta profile helps you earn from childminding

A Websta profile gives you a professional page that looks like a website - it shows your services, your prices, photos, a contact form, and online booking. It lives on Websta but also has its own URL that you can send to anyone - a family who found you through Facebook, a parent at your child's school, a colleague. They can book you directly from that page without you having to manage emails and scheduling yourself.

Websta also has a marketplace in Copenhagen where families search for childminders by service and location. Your profile appears there, and families can post a task (for example, 'I need a childminder for three afternoons a week') and you can make an offer. This brings customers to you without you having to hunt for them, though it takes time to be found.

The platform handles card payments - you never touch the money yourself, which removes friction and gives families confidence. The payment goes to your own bank account through Stripe so you keep control of your earnings. You set your own prices and can change them when you want.