Updated October 21, 2026
Where to find paying customers in Liège
Parents in Liège who need childcare are spread across the city, not concentrated in one area. They work in schools, hospitals, offices, shops, and run their own businesses. Some look for childminders online through search. Others find providers through word of mouth - friends, neighbours, or other parents at their child's school. A smaller number check local noticeboards or Facebook community groups.
The most direct path is to be visible where parents actually search: online platforms where they can see your services, your availability, and how to contact you. Websta has a marketplace for childcare in Liège where people nearby look for providers and post tasks. A profile there - with your services listed, your prices visible, and online booking available - gives customers a way to find you without you having to chase them individually.
Setting your first price
Pricing childminding work in Liège depends on what you offer. A parent booking an hour of babysitting on a Saturday evening will expect a different rate than someone booking 40 hours a week of regular care. Your price should reflect the type of work, your experience, and what parents in Liège are actually willing to pay.
Before you set a price, talk to people doing similar work in the city. Ask questions. What do they charge for after-school pickup? For evening babysitting? For full-time care? This gives you a realistic range. You can also check what other providers on Websta and similar platforms charge - it's public information. Start at a level you feel confident about, knowing you can adjust later once you understand what works in your local market.
When you tell a potential customer your rate, be clear about what it includes. Do you provide meals? Are there extra charges for late pickups? Do you charge by the hour or by the day? Clear pricing stops misunderstandings.
Talking about money with customers
Many childminders in Liège work with families who prefer straightforward arrangements. You set a price, the customer pays you. On Websta, payments come through Stripe - the customer pays by card, and the money goes directly to your own bank account. You see the payment, and you know it's coming to you.
Some families may ask if you offer discounts for multiple children or longer-term bookings. You can decide that for yourself. Others may negotiate. Being clear about your price from the start makes these conversations simpler.
What you need to sort out with Belgian authorities
When you work as an independent childminder in Belgium and earn money, you have tax and social obligations. The exact requirements depend on whether this is your main income, a side income, and how much you earn. You need to register as self-employed (indépendant) with the right authorities and pay social contributions.
The details are specific and change based on your circumstances. You should check with the SPF Finances (the Belgian federal tax authority) about income reporting, and with INASTI (the social security body for self-employed people) about contributions. A local accountant or your town hall in Liège can also direct you to the right office. Do this early - it's easier to start correctly than to fix things later.
What your first ten customers usually look like
Your first customers are often people who find you through direct search or referral. They may not be looking for a long-term arrangement - the first customer might need one afternoon of care, the second might want weekend babysitting. Some may become regulars if they like your work and you suit their needs.
Early customers often ask practical questions: Can you collect from school at 3.30pm? Do you have experience with younger children? Are you available on Thursdays? They are checking whether you can do the job they need. A few will book quickly; others will hesitate or not book at all. This is normal. Your job is to answer clearly, show that you take the work seriously, and give them a way to book and pay.
Common problems in the first months
Many new childminders find that their first month or two is quieter than expected. You may get only a few bookings. Building customer base takes time. Some customers cancel at short notice. A few may pay late or dispute a charge. These things happen in any service business.
Another common issue is underpricing out of nervousness. You set your rate too low, take on too much work for too little money, and burn out. It is better to price yourself fairly from the start. If customers don't book at your price, you can adjust downward later - but raising prices once customers expect a lower rate is harder.
Some childminders also struggle with boundaries. A customer asks for an extra hour without extra payment. Another books at very short notice and expects you to be available. Being clear about your terms - what you charge, when you need notice, what your cancellation policy is - prevents many of these issues.
How a Websta profile helps you earn
A profile on Websta gives you a page that looks like a small website. You list your services - after-school care, babysitting, full-time minding, whatever you offer. You set your prices. You add photos if you want. Customers can see your profile through search, book time with you online, and pay by card. The payment goes to your bank account.
The value is simple: you do not have to manage your own website or payment system. You have one place where customers can find you, see what you do, check availability, and pay you. When someone in Liège searches for a childminder - on Websta or through a search engine - your profile can appear. You can also post that you are looking for work, and customers can make you offers. You control your prices, your availability, and which jobs you take.
Building real income from childminding takes consistent work - staying responsive to customers, delivering good service, and being visible where parents look. A Websta profile handles the visibility part. It gives you a professional page to send to anyone who asks how to contact you, and it connects you to the marketplace where parents in Liège are actually searching for help.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I do childminding as a side income in Liège?
- Yes, but you still need to register as self-employed with INASTI and report income to the tax authority. Check with SPF Finances and INASTI about the specific rules for your situation - they depend on how much you earn and whether this is your main job.
- How much should I charge as a childminder in Liège?
- This depends on what you offer - hourly babysitting, after-school care, or full-time minding - and what parents in Liège are actually willing to pay. Talk to other childminders in the city and check what providers on Websta charge. Start at a rate you feel confident about and adjust once you learn the market.
- How do I get paid if I use Websta?
- Customers pay by card through Stripe when they book. The payment goes directly to your own bank account. You see the payment and keep it.
- Will I get lots of customers quickly?
- No. Building a customer base takes time and effort. Your first month or two may be quiet. Expect to work on staying visible, responding to inquiries, and gradually building a regular client list through good service and word of mouth.
- What if a customer does not pay or cancels last minute?
- These problems happen. You can set a cancellation policy and be clear about it upfront. Websta handles payment before the service, so the money is in your account when the customer books. For late cancellations, your policy should protect you - for example, charging a fee if someone cancels less than 24 hours before.
About the numbers
Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.