Nanny Poppinz and College Nannies & Tutors: Helping to Meet Increasing Demand for Nannies

by Patricia Schaefer

What do you think of when you hear the word "nanny"? Does it conjure up images of a buttoned-up steadfast English nana taking care of her charge by day and sleeping in the upstairs quarters at night? If so, you need to modernize your definition of nanny.

Today's nanny may be young or old, male or female, part-time, full-time or an emergency-care provider. But what all nannies do have in common is that they are child care specialists.

Perhaps the International Nanny Association says it best with their definition of nanny: "A nanny is a child care specialist. A nanny's workplace is in a family's private home and his/her job is providing one-on-one attention and the best possible care for the family's children. The work may be full-time or part-time, and the nanny may or may not live with the family. The nanny's role is to provide support to the family by serving as a loving, nurturing and trustworthy companion to the children. A nanny offers the family convenient, high quality care to meet each child's physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs."

And it seems today's parents are increasingly seeking nannies as a preferred child care choice for their beloved children. Joe Keeley, President & CEO of College Nannies & Tutors, says there are a number of reasons for the increase in demand for nannies: "Some such reasons include the increase of dual income and single parent households; increased threat and fear of illness from traditional daycare centers; and the logistical challenges that families face resulting in schedules that just don't fit traditional daycares and after-school programs."

Keeley -- in his 20's -- is already an award-winning entrepreneur, business owner and franchisor whose success is founded on his ability to see and act upon a need in the marketplace: "I was a nanny/"manny" after my freshman year of college for a family in a Minneapolis suburb and found myself more as a "big brother" than a babysitter. It was this summer of structuring educational and athletic activities for my charges, as well as the masses of neighbors soliciting me to find them a like candidate, that I knew I was on to something. I did a significant amount of primary research on the company by surveying parents as well as ongoing research on the entire United States. College Nannies & Tutors strives to foster a child's happiness and success. There is not a parent in the world that can't relate to that."

Keeley's franchise system offers both nanny and tutoring services. College Tutors provide support for homework help, test prep and projects as well as skill building individualized programs in all subjects, study skills, organization and standardized test prep. College Nannies are child development focused nannies who are recruited from local colleges and universities and "they love kids." Keeley says parents today are seeking college-educated nannies: "School readiness is an important topic for parents due to the increased competition in our education system. For most parents, the primary caregiver for their children other than them is the most important decision they will make. They want the absolute best."

Franchising since 2005, College Nannies & Tutors presently has eight franchises. Keeley says they'd "like to be at 25 franchises by the end of 2007 and greater than 50 in 2008."

"College Nannies & Tutors has been designed to be a high quality, easy to learn and easy to manage business," noted Keeley. "It's a business that operates in two of the top ten businesses to start in 2006 (childcare and educational services) according to the Small Business Administration and it is a business that franchisees can 'do well while doing good.'"

If interested in becoming a College Nannies & Tutors franchisee, be aware that this franchise system is "seeking out candidates that have experience or an understanding of the challenges parents face regarding childcare and education; someone who wants to build a business and be successful, but also someone who wants to positively impact the community more than opening just another sandwich shop."

Whereas College Nannies was founded by a "Manny," Nanny Poppinz -- another nanny franchise -- was founded by a "Mommy." In fact, their slogan is "A Nanny Agency Created by Moms for Moms." President Deneane Maldonado says they gave birth to their dream, Nanny Poppinz, Inc. after years of consulting and managing other nanny agencies. They offer their services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Susan Priem, Vice-President of Nanny Poppinz Corporate, Inc., says the definition of nanny is changing: "Parents who presume nannies are all live-ins are incorrect." Their nanny services are many and varied, and include: conventional childcare, "Day at the Park" nannies, emergency childcare, foreign language nannies, newborn specialists, live-in nannies, live-out nannies, summer nannies and tutors/home-schooling nannies, to name a few.

All Nanny Poppinz nannies are experienced childcare providers, CPR-certified and trained in First aid. Candidates are put through an extensive screening process that includes a national background check. Nanny Poppinz nannies do not need to be college educated, but Priem says any education is a plus: "We feel that experience is a better indicator of a nanny being a great nanny. Education is a wonderful addition but experience is a better indicator of their abilities." Prospective nannies must have at least three years of childcare experience, and a minimum of three verifiable childcare related references.

Priem says their nanny franchise is a win-win for all: "In addition to being personally rewarding that you're helping families with their precious children, the nannies are appreciative because they're finding gainful employment and a family that's a good match; as opposed to doing this on their own." Priem recalled, "A couple with children came to us that moved out-of-state and hadn't gone out for two years because family wasn't there." Nanny Poppinz came to their rescue. With so many families today separated geographically, says Priem, nannies can be a welcome solution.

Florida-based Nanny Poppinz was founded in 1999 and has just begun franchising. Today they have three franchises and two company-run stores. Their franchise goal is to have 200 franchises within five years. They are looking for franchisees "who will be hands-on with their business, want to be their own boss and still be very active in their family life." Priem says their franchise system is a good choice for someone looking for a home-based business with little overhead.

Copyright 2006, Attard Communications, Inc.