How to Make Money as a Childminder in Split

Where Split families look for childminders

Parents in Split find childminders through several routes. Word of mouth remains strong - a recommendation from a friend, neighbour or colleague is still how many families start their search. If you work in a neighbourhood or near schools, parents who know you will ask directly.

Online search is growing. Parents type into Google, Facebook groups, and service directories to find someone quickly. A profile on Websta puts you in front of people searching for childminders in Split and nearby areas - they see your services, your prices, photos, and can book or contact you directly.

Some families post tasks online asking childminders to make offers. On Websta's marketplace, families can describe what they need - a few hours after school, full days, emergency care - and providers can reply with their own terms.

Many parents work in tourism, hospitality, retail or office jobs across Split. Some study at the university or attend courses. Shift work and unpredictable schedules mean these families often need flexible childminding. Expat families are also present in Split and may actively search online for someone trustworthy.

Setting a price for childminding in Split

You set your own price. There is no fixed rate for childminders in Split - what you charge depends on your experience, what you offer, how many children, how often, and what the local market will bear.

Talk to other childminders in Split if you know them. Ask parents what they have paid. If you are new to this, start by researching: call a few families, ask what they paid their last minder, check what people mention in local Split parent groups on Facebook. This gives you a real sense of the range.

In a city like Split, where average incomes are lower than in Northern Europe, pricing too high will mean fewer bookings. Pricing too low will mean you work hard for little return and set an expectation that undervalues your work. A middle ground - fair to you and realistic for local families - usually works best.

You can adjust your price after your first few months. Once you have worked with families and have some reviews, you can raise your rates or keep them where they are. Websta lets you change your prices whenever you want.

Money and taxes: what you need to know

In Croatia, if you work as a self-employed person providing childminding services, you need to handle registration and tax obligations. Payments come through your own bank account, and you keep the full amount - Websta does not take a cut on bookings.

Before you start taking regular payments, check your obligations with the Croatian tax authority (Porezna uprava) or a local accountant. Self-employed work typically requires registration with the relevant authorities and filing of tax returns. The rules may differ if you are working alongside employment, working part-time, or working full-time.

Keep records of money you earn: dates, client names, amounts, and what the work was. This protects you if questions arise and makes tax filing easier.

Stripe, the payment system Websta uses, will send money to your bank account. Make sure your bank account details are correct on your Websta profile.

Your first customers usually look like this

Your first customers are often people who know you or find you by word of mouth before they ever see your online profile. A neighbour, a parent at a school gate, someone from your local area who heard you do childminding.

Early customers tend to ask for trial bookings: a few hours, a single day, or one week to see if you are a fit. They may want to meet you first and ask questions. This is normal and healthy - parents should feel confident about who looks after their children.

Some first customers will come from online search and Websta. They will have found your profile, read your services and prices, and contacted you through the form or booked directly. These customers are usually already decided and ready to pay.

Expect a mix: some bookings are regular (same family, same times each week), others are one-off (parents need emergency care or a babysitter for an evening). Both types help build income.

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Many childminders in their first months struggle with pricing - either too high (no bookings come in) or too low (they work hard and earn little). If you do not get bookings, consider whether your price, your availability or your profile visibility are the issue.

A profile with poor or missing information does not work. If you do not fill in your services, working hours, prices and contact details clearly, parents will not book. Websta profiles that are incomplete sit invisible.

Some minders take bookings but do not show up or cancel often. This destroys trust immediately. Once you commit to a booking, keep it. If you cannot commit, do not take the booking.

Handling cancellations and changes is also tricky early on. Families may cancel at short notice. Discuss your cancellation policy with customers upfront: how much notice do you need, do you charge for cancellations, what happens if they cancel or if you need to cancel.

Getting paid can also be a point of friction. Make sure you and the customer agree on payment timing before the work starts. Websta handles online bookings - the payment goes to your bank account automatically - but if customers contact you directly, agree on payment method (cash, bank transfer, card) and timing beforehand.

A Websta profile as your working base

A Websta profile is a page that shows parents who you are, what you offer, your prices, photos, your working hours and how to contact you or book. You own this page and can send the link to anyone - a parent, a friend, a group chat - as a way for them to learn about you and book or pay you.

The profile includes an online booking calendar. When someone books a time slot through Websta, you get notified and the payment goes directly to your bank account. This removes the back-and-forth of negotiating and arranging payment.

Your profile also appears in Websta's marketplace when families in Split search for childminders. They can see your services, prices, reviews and contact you. This is one of the main ways you will be found online.

You can upload photos of your workspace or yourself working (if parents consent), which builds trust. You can list your services in detail - after-school care, full days, babysitting, special needs care, whatever applies to you.

A Websta profile does not replace direct contact and word of mouth, but it gives you a professional presence and a tool for taking payments online. Combined with talking to parents you know, it helps you build a client base.

Getting started in Split

Start by building a small network. Talk to parents you know: in your neighbourhood, at schools, through friends. Let them know you do childminding and that you are available. Ask for referrals.

Create a Websta profile with clear information: your name, services, prices, working hours, photos if possible, and a phone number or email where parents can reach you. This takes an hour or two but gives you a page you can share and a way to accept bookings online.

Post in local Split parent groups on Facebook or other platforms where parents gather. Keep it simple: say what you do, who you work with, your availability and how to reach you.

Be patient with the first months. Earning takes work, and building a client base takes time. Your first customer might come through word of mouth. Your fifth customer might find you on Websta. Your tenth customer might be a repeat booking from your first client. Growth is usually slow and uneven at first.