How to earn money as a childminder in Shumen

Where families in Shumen find childminders

In a city like Shumen, families looking for childminding usually start with word of mouth - they ask friends, neighbours, and people at work if they know someone reliable. Your own network is often your first source of customers. Parents with young children talk to each other at playgrounds, online parent groups, and through schools and kindergartens. If you have worked with families before or have friends with children, let them know you are available.

Online search is the second way families find childminders. When parents search for childcare in Shumen, they look for someone nearby, check availability, see prices listed clearly, and read how to get in touch. An online profile on a platform like Websta makes you visible when a parent in your city searches for childminding services. The platform also has a marketplace where people post childcare tasks and providers can make offers, which is another way to be found.

Local employers - schools, medical clinics, offices - sometimes recommend childminders to their staff. If you know people who work in larger workplaces in Shumen, you can ask them to mention you to colleagues with young children. Word of mouth from a trusted workplace contact is strong.

How to set your prices in Shumen

Pricing is not easy when you are starting out, especially in a city where the cost of living is lower than in Sofia or Plovdiv. You need to charge enough to make the work worth your time, but also to be competitive for families in Shumen who are price-conscious.

Before you set a price, think about what the work actually costs you - your time, attention, transport, meals or snacks for the child, wear and tear on your space or equipment. A childminder is responsible for a child's safety and wellbeing for several hours; this is skilled work, not casual babysitting. Do not undercut yourself to get a first customer.

Look at what others in Shumen charge if you can find out - ask other childminders (some will tell you), or check if there are any profiles on local services platforms. A good starting point is to think about your hourly rate: what would you need to earn per hour to make this work worthwhile for you? Then set your total price for a half-day or full day based on that. You can always adjust after a few months when you know what works in your market.

Be clear about what your price includes - hours of work, meals and snacks, activities, transport, or any extras. Write this down so you can explain it to families when they ask.

Talking about money with your first customers

When a family contacts you, have your prices ready to state clearly. Do not apologize for what you charge or make it complicated. Say 'My rate is X BGN per day' or however you have decided to price your work. If a family thinks it is too high, they will tell you, and you can explain what is included or negotiate.

Agree in advance how and when you will be paid. Will they pay you at the end of each day, each week, or each month. If you work as an independent person (sole trader), you might prefer to invoice families at the end of the month for all the childminding you have done. This is cleaner for your records.

For online booking and payment, a Websta profile lets families pay by card directly on the platform, and the money goes to your own bank account through Stripe. This removes awkward conversations about cash or transfers and gives both you and the family a clear record.

Working as an independent childminder in Bulgaria

If you want to earn money from childminding in Shumen, you have two main paths: work informally (cash in hand, no registration) or work as a registered sole trader (self-employed). The informal route is easier at first but carries risks - no income security, no tax record, and if something goes wrong, no legal protection.

To work legally as a sole trader in Bulgaria, you need to register with the tax office and the social insurance system. This involves some paperwork and ongoing obligations, but it is not complex. Your income is taxable, and you will need to pay social insurance contributions. The exact requirements and rates change, so check with the National Revenue Agency (Nacionalna agenciya za prihodite) and the National Social Security Institute (Nacionalen institute za socialnoobsledvane) for the current rules.

Registering as a sole trader also protects you: you have a legal record of your income, you can claim business expenses, and you build a record for loans or other financial needs later. Some families also prefer to work with registered providers because it shows you are serious and legitimate.

For insurance, check whether you need childcare liability insurance in Bulgaria. This is something to ask your insurance broker or the relevant authority about.

Keep records of every job - who, what dates, what you did, what you were paid. This helps you track income, spot problems, and answer questions from the tax office later.

What your first ten customers will probably be like

Your earliest customers often come from your own circle - friends, family friends, or people who know you already have childcare experience. They might be willing to try you even if you have no reviews online yet, because they trust the person who referred you. These first few jobs are crucial: they give you confidence, real experience, and material for an online profile (with permission, you can mention a job you did well).

After word of mouth picks up, you will start to get inquiries from families who found you online or through someone else's recommendation. These customers may be more cautious - they want to know your experience, availability, and how to pay. Having a clear profile with prices and a way to book reduces friction.

Some early customers might have difficult schedules (very early mornings, irregular hours) or low budgets. You do not have to take every job. Be selective even when you are starting out; a bad fit wastes your time and can damage your reputation.

Your first few months are a test: you learn what kind of childminding you are good at (full-day care, after-school pickup, evening babysitting), what schedule works for you, and what kind of family you work well with. Use this to refine your offering.

Common problems in the first months

Money can be slow to arrive. Even if you do good work, it takes time to build a customer base. Do not expect steady income in your first month. Plan to live on savings or another income source while you build up.

Families may cancel or be flaky about confirming bookings, especially early on. Have a clear cancellation policy - how much notice do you need, do they pay if they cancel last-minute. Write this in your profile so there is no confusion.

Managing your own schedule is hard. If you take on too many irregular jobs, you will burn out. Start with a few regular customers (same days each week) rather than many one-off bookings.

You might underestimate the work. Childminding is physically and emotionally tiring. The first few weeks, you may feel exhausted and question whether it is worth it. This is normal. Give yourself time before deciding.

Without an online presence, you will miss customers who search for childminders but do not know you. Creating a profile takes an hour or two but opens a new way to be found.

How a Websta profile helps you earn

A Websta profile is a page that shows your name, the services you offer (childminding, after-school care, babysitting), your prices, your location in Shumen, photos if you want, and a way for families to contact you or book online. You can update it yourself in a few minutes.

When someone in Shumen searches for a childminder, your profile appears in the results if you have set it up. Families can see your prices and book directly without calling or messaging first. This saves time for both of you.

Payments go through Stripe to your own bank account, so you do not have to handle cash or ask for transfers. The family has a record, you have a record, and the transaction is secure. This is especially useful when you work with multiple families.

Having a profile also makes you easier to recommend. If a satisfied customer wants to tell a friend about you, they can send them your Websta link instead of trying to describe you or give your phone number.

The marketplace on Websta also lets people post childcare tasks - 'I need someone to pick up my daughter from school on Thursdays' - and you can make an offer. This is another way to find customers beyond your network.