What is a nanny share and how does the money work?
Reviewed September 2026 against the same data that powers Kindred's free calculators.
A nanny share is two families hiring one nanny together, with the kids cared for as one group (usually at one home, or alternating). The nanny earns a higher combined hourly rate than she would with a single family, while each family pays meaningfully less than hiring solo. It is the main way families get nanny-quality care near daycare prices.
How the money typically splits
The usual structure: the nanny's combined rate is set above her solo rate to reflect the extra work, and the families split it. Each family also handles its own share of employer taxes, since legally each family is an employer. Put the split, sick-day policy, and exit terms in writing before the first day; most share breakups trace back to a missing agreement.
What makes shares work
- Kids within a year or two of each other, so naps and routines align
- Families within a short drive, with one hosting home (or a fair rotation)
- Aligned values on screens, food, and discipline, discussed before hiring
- One shared calendar for time off, so the nanny is never mediating