How much does a domestic staff agency cost?
The agency's fee is not the same as the employee's salary. Here is exactly what you pay, when you pay it and what it covers, with no small print.
Before you hire domestic staff, it helps to separate two costs that are often confused: the employee's salary (what the person earns each month) and the agency's fee (what the firm that finds, interviews and vets that person charges you). They are different line items, paid to different people and worked out in different ways.
The salary is set by the official wage table: full-time it comes to around €1,801/month once Social Security is included (we break this down on our prices page). The fee, by contrast, depends on each agency's model, and this is where they diverge sharply: some charge up front or through monthly subscriptions, whether the hire works out or not; others, like Maids & Co, only charge if you actually hire.
On this page we explain, in full transparency, what our service costs, when you pay and what it covers, so you can compare like with like and decide with the full picture.
Maids & Co fee breakdown: what it includes and what it doesn't (2026)
| Item | Detail | Included in the fee? |
|---|---|---|
| Search & selection | Profile definition and candidate shortlist (first profiles within 48 hours) | Yes |
| In-depth interviews | Assessment of experience, skills and personal fit | Yes |
| Reference checks | We contact previous employers directly | Yes |
| Contract & Social Security registration | Guidance to keep everything legal from the first hour | Yes |
| 6-month guarantee | Free replacement if the person doesn't work out | Yes |
| Placement fee | One month's gross salary + 21% VAT · single payment, only if you hire | This is the fee |
| Employee salary & Social Security | ≈ €1,801/month full-time; paid separately, not to the agency | No (see our prices page) |
What you pay: an agency fee, not a salary
The fee is what Maids & Co charges for finding, selecting and vetting the right candidate. It equals one month of the agreed gross salary, plus 21% VAT. For example, if the agreed gross salary is €1,424.50, the fee would be €1,424.50 + VAT = €1,723.65 (indicative; yours will depend on the salary you agree).
That fee does not include the employee's salary, which is a separate cost you pay directly to the person each month through their payroll. The employment cost (gross salary + the Social Security you pay as the employer) is broken down, with a calculator, on our prices page: full-time it comes to around €1,801/month.
In short: the agency is paid once; the salary is paid every month for as long as the employment lasts. Mixing up the two figures is the most common mistake when comparing quotes.
When you pay: success-based (nothing until you hire)
We work on a success basis: throughout the search you pay nothing. We define the profile, present candidates (the first within 48 hours), arrange interviews and check references at no cost to you.
The fee is only triggered once you take the person on and are happy, as a single payment. There are no monthly subscriptions, no lock-in and nothing to pay up front. If we don't manage to find the right person, you pay nothing.
We confirm the exact amount in advance and with no obligation, so you know where you stand before deciding.
What the fee covers
The fee covers the whole selection process, not just a list of contacts. It includes defining the profile with you, an active search across our own database and channels, and shortlisting only the candidates who genuinely fit your household.
It also includes in-depth interviews, where we assess experience, skills and personal fit, and direct reference checks: we contact previous employers ourselves rather than simply asking for letters.
And it goes beyond the person: we guide you through the contract and the Social Security registration, which is mandatory from the very first hour worked, so the arrangement is legal from day one. All of this as a licensed agency, SNE licence no. 1300000318.
Why the success-based model protects you
Charging only if you hire aligns our interests with yours: we earn nothing for sending you lots of profiles, only for placing the right person, the one who actually stays. Unlike models that charge up front or by subscription, where the agency is paid whether the hire works out or not, here we carry the risk.
That protection is completed by the 6-month guarantee: if the person doesn't work out within that period, we find a replacement at no extra cost. You don't pay twice to solve the same problem.
It is also a trust signal: 4.8 stars across 78 Google reviews show the model works for the families who have already used it. Our price transparency is there precisely so you can compare without surprises.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a domestic staff agency charge in Spain?
- At Maids & Co, the fee equals one month of the agreed gross salary plus 21% VAT, in a single payment due only if you actually hire. We charge nothing during the search and no subscriptions. Other agencies use different models (up-front payment or monthly fees), so it is always worth asking exactly when and how they charge.
- Does the fee include the employee's salary?
- No. The fee is what the agency charges for the selection; the employee's salary is a separate cost you pay monthly through their payroll. Full-time, the employment cost (salary + Social Security) is around €1,801/month in 2026; we break it down, with a calculator, on our prices page.
- Do I have to pay anything up front?
- No. We work on a success basis: nothing to pay until you hire. During the search, interviews and reference checks you pay nothing; the fee is only triggered once you take the person on and are happy.
- What happens if the person we hire doesn't work out?
- You have a 6-month guarantee: if the person doesn't fit within that period, we find a replacement at no extra cost. That is why the fee is a single payment and not a subscription: it covers the outcome, not just the introduction.
Ready to start?
Tell us what you need and we'll confirm the exact fee with no obligation: you only pay if we find the right person.