Our Childcare Overnight Sittings offer services from 11 PM to 6 AM, tailored for use during the hours when children are typically asleep. During this time, the caregiver/Sitter assumes sole responsibility for the household and can also rest for the majority, if not the entirety, of this timeframe. Please note that Overnight hours do not apply if the Sitter is expected to return home within the aforementioned time frame. For instance, if you book a session from 6 PM to 12 AM (midnight), your Sitter will continue to be compensated at the regular hourly rate.

In the unfortunate event that a Sitter needs to cancel an appointment due to illness or family emergency, they are required to promptly notify both the agency and the affected families prior to the scheduled appointment time. With the consent of the family, Portland Sitters will make every effort to secure alternative coverage by arranging for another Sitter. However, it's important to note that we cannot guarantee the availability of a replacement Sitter. In the event that a Sitter cancels an appointment, and the family has paid a deposit or the full amount in advance, the funds paid will be refunded promptly. Refunds may take up to 14 business days to be fully returned to your bank or debit card.

At this time, we do not have capacity to offer postpartum services.

At this time, we do not have the capacity to offer senior care.

Each Sitter has different levels of experience with a variety of disabilities (including physical, cognitive, and behavioral). As a company, we've provided care to children with Autism, ADHD, Pathological Demand Avoidance, Anxiety, and Depression. We've also helped care for children who are deaf, and have physical limitations that require accommodation. We are here to help, and are always willing to learn!

While not all Sitters are fluent in multiple languages, you can explore each profile to discover any additional languages spoken, or feel free to reach out to us for further information.

At Portland Sitters, we prioritize fair compensation for all our Sitters, who are eligible for both tips and mileage reimbursement. Our Sitters' pay rates typically range from $18.00 to $22.00 per hour as a base rate for most childcare services. The exact base rate varies based on experience and tenure with our company. Additionally, we offer differential rates for various services, including holidays, last-minute appointments, appointments with more than two children, group/event appointments, and our Pet Sitting and House Sitting services. It's important to note that the owner of Portland Sitters does not profit from the company, except when personally providing babysitting, house sitting, or pet sitting services. Administrative hours are not compensated for the owner. Instead, all revenue generated is reinvested back into the company to cover expenses and ensure fair compensation for our dedicated Sitters

To receive income based childcare, we require proof of government assistance such as Medicaid (OHP, etc), SNAP, TANF, TA-DVS, SSDI, or refugee services. Please note we will never ask for account/routing info or other sensitive personal information. We will request specific documentation from you, please do not preemptively send us documentation. At this time, we cannot support clients through ERDC programs and cannot take payment directly through government assistance programs. Our low-income childcare is offered at $15/hourly, has a 5 hour cap, and clients can receive up to 3 appointments per calendar month for occasional care. We additionally waive the mileage fee for our low-income clients. Invoicing and late fees may still be applicable. Like with any of our services, we cannot guarantee availability, but will try our best!

Our Sitters come to each equipped with Square card readers. Clients can pay in-person with the sitter any remaining balances and mileage. We also offer invoicing for childcare clients who prefer it, and invoicing is our standard for Pet and House Sitting appointments. While Sitters can take Cash and personal and third-party platform payments (Venmo/Cash App/ Etc.) in-a-pinch, we prefer all transactions occur with a debit card to make sure that all accounting is accurate. We appreciate your understanding. With Square, our Sitters can take in-person payments by: - Swipe debit and credit cards - Support Contactless NFC transactions (card/chip tap-to-pay) - Android and iPhone Tap-to-Pay - Cash App Pay ( please note that this is not a personal peer-to-peer transaction, but a scannable code). We do not currently support payment with checks.

Tipping is NOT required, but encouraged. Tips can be done through card or cash with the sitter.

At Portland Sitters, we strive to provide exceptional service to families across a wide range of locations, including Portland, OR, and surrounding areas such as McMinnville and Hood River. We understand that our Sitters often travel varying distances to accommodate our clients' needs, and we value their commitment to delivering quality care. To alleviate some of the challenges associated with the variable nature of their job, we have implemented a mileage reimbursement policy. We believe that compensating Sitters for the mileage they incur, whether by vehicle or on foot, is essential in recognizing the mobile nature of their service. Over the years, we have experimented with different forms of mileage reimbursement. We have found that a per-mile rate is the most equitable solution for both families and Sitters. Unlike a flat rate, which may not accurately reflect the distance traveled, or a mileage cap, which can result in inconsistencies, charging per mile ensures fair compensation for every family and simplifies tracking for both Sitters and administrative staff. While we strive to pair families with Sitters who are closest to them whenever possible, we acknowledge that varying needs and availabilities may prevent this in every case. Nonetheless, our commitment to providing reliable and convenient childcare remains unwavering. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to enhance the childcare experience for families and Sitters alike.

We charge a mileage rate of $0.81 per mile, which includes roundtrip mileage as well as any miles traveled while your child/ren are in the vehicle, such as school pick-up/drop-off and outings. This rate covers both the transaction fees required to process mileage payments, as many families pre-pay for appointments online before mileage is calculated, and the actual mileage reimbursement for our Sitters. At Portland Sitters, we believe in transparent pricing and fair compensation for our Sitters' travel expenses. Thank you for your understanding and support.

-All Babysitting appointments 3+ hours in length -All Pet Sitting -All House Sitting -All Group / Event Sitting

At Portland Sitter, we strive to provide transparent pricing to our clients. Our regular hourly rate includes a built-in fee of 4.5%, which covers various Square transaction fees for all major payment methods (swipe, tap, and online payments at booking), as well as an agency fee. The agency fee is reinvested directly into our business operations, including website hosting, domain registration, appointment system maintenance, and onboarding costs such as CPR/First Aid/AED training and background checks for our Sitters. In addition to the regular hourly rate and agency fee, we charge a 3.3% invoice fee to cover additional Square transaction fees. This ensures smooth and secure payment processing for our clients. For Event & Group Sitting appointments, we also charge a flat non-refundable coordination fee of $50.00. This fee reflects the extensive coordination required to ensure childcare coverage for your event, contributing to its safety and success. We appreciate your understanding of these fees and their importance in maintaining the quality and reliability of our services.

At Portland Sitters, we understand the importance of timely payments for our services. Therefore, we implement a policy regarding overdue invoices: Overdue Invoice Fee: A fee of $5.00 per day will be charged for any overdue invoices. Consequences of Non-Payment: First Infraction: If an invoice becomes overdue, the client will not receive services until the previous invoice, along with any applicable late fees, is paid. Second Infraction: In the event of a second infraction, the client will be banned from receiving services until all outstanding invoices are settled. We appreciate your cooperation in adhering to our payment policies, as they enable us to maintain the quality and reliability of our services. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding invoicing or payments, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Thank you for choosing Portland Sitters. Please read the following cancellation policy carefully before booking our Event/ Group Sitting services. Deposit: Upon booking, a non-refundable deposit of 50% of the total fee is required to secure your reservation. This deposit is due at the time of booking and is non-refundable under any circumstances. Additionally, there is a non-refundable coordination fee of $50.00 included in the deposit invoice. Remaining Payment: The remaining 50% of the total fee is due no later than 2 weeks before the scheduled event date. This payment is refundable if the event is cancelled 7 days or more prior to the event date. Cancellation Timeline: If the event is cancelled 7 days or more prior to the event date, and the second invoice has been paid, the remaining 50% of the total fee will be refunded. If the event is cancelled 6 days or less prior to the event date, and the second invoice has been paid, the remaining 50% of the total fee is non-refundable. If the event is cancelled 6 days or less prior to the event date and the second invoice has not been paid, the client is still liable for the remaining balance of the total fee. Cancellation Procedure: All cancellations must be communicated to Portland Sitters in writing via email. Refund Process: Refunds for cancellations will be processed within 5 business days from the date of cancellation confirmation. Refunds can take up to 14 business days from the date the refund is initiated to be fully refunded to your bank. Exceptions: In the event of extenuating circumstances such as natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other unforeseen events beyond the control of both parties, Portland Sitters reserves the right to review and possibly waive or amend this cancellation policy at its discretion. Late Fee: A $5.00/day late fee will be incurred for any invoice that is not paid by the due date. This late fee applies to both the first (deposit) and second (remaining payment) invoices.

As the designated contact for the event or group sitting, you will be required to sign a liability release form provided by Portland Sitters. Additionally, we will send you a link to a form to share with attendees that must be signed by a parent or guardian of each participating child before we can provide care during your event or group sitting appointment. Depending on the size and nature of your event or group, we may also require the presence of designated adult(s) for each child at pick-up, along with the presentation of identification. At Portland Sitter, safeguarding the well-being of children under our care is our utmost priority.