How to choose a domestic staffing agency and get it right first time
An honest guide for discerning families: the seven criteria that set a trustworthy agency apart, with a checklist to help you decide with confidence.
Letting someone into your home — to look after your children, cook or keep the house running — is one of the highest-trust decisions you will make. And not all domestic staffing agencies work the same way: legality, guarantees, how rigorously they vet candidates and how they charge can vary enormously.
This guide brings together the criteria that genuinely matter when comparing agencies in Spain, with a checklist so you can decide on facts rather than instinct. The aim isn't to point fingers at anyone, but to give you a clear yardstick for choosing with confidence.
One important note before we start: it helps to separate two costs. The agency's fee (what it charges to find your candidate) is different from the cost of the employee (salary plus Social Security). In Spain, a full-time employee costs around €1,801/month; we break this down in full on our pricing page.
Checklist for choosing a domestic staffing agency in Spain (2026)
| What to check | Why it matters | Maids & Co |
|---|---|---|
| Official SNE licence and authorisation number as a placement agency | Only an authorised agency can legally select and place domestic staff; the number is verifiable | Licensed agency, SNE no. 1300000318 — public and verifiable |
| A written guarantee with a set period and a free replacement if the hire doesn't work out | Protects your investment if the placement fails in the first months | 6-month guarantee with one free replacement |
| Direct reference checks with previous employers, not just a CV | Cuts the risk of surprises; confirms real experience and conduct | We verify references by speaking directly with previous employers |
| A clear fee, quoted upfront and paid only if you hire (success-based) | Avoids retainers, tie-ins and 'search' fees; aligns the agency's interest with yours | One month's gross salary + VAT (21%), a single payment only if you hire |
| Guidance on the contract and Social Security registration from the first hour | Registration is mandatory from hour one; without it there's no cover and no legality | We guide you through the contract and Social Security registration |
| Specialisation in the profile you need (live-in, nanny, cook, house manager...) | A well-matched profile lasts longer and fits your household better | Premium selection tailored to demanding households |
| Public, verifiable reviews (Google), not just testimonials on their own site | Independent reviews show the real experience of other families | 4.8 stars from 78 verifiable Google reviews |
1. SNE licence: check it's an authorised agency
In Spain, selecting and placing domestic staff is reserved for placement agencies authorised by the public employment service (SNE/SEPE). Before anything else, ask for the licence number and check it: it's the difference between a properly regulated business and an informal middleman. An authorised agency takes on real responsibilities around data protection, contracts and the fair treatment of workers.
What to ask for: the authorisation number, a documented selection process, and a clear explanation of who is responsible for what at each step. Maids & Co is a licensed agency, SNE no. 1300000318 — a public, verifiable detail you can check without taking our word for it.
2. Guarantee, replacement and genuinely verified references
A good hire can still fall through for any number of reasons, and that's where a written guarantee earns its keep. Look at the period it covers, whether it includes a free replacement and the conditions for triggering it. Be wary of verbal promises — insist it's set out in the service agreement.
The second decisive filter is how references are checked. Reading a CV is not the same as calling previous employers to confirm real experience, duties and conduct. That direct verification is probably what reduces risk the most. At Maids & Co we back every selection with a 6-month guarantee and one free replacement, and we check references by speaking directly with each candidate's previous employers.
3. Transparent, success-based fees
How an agency charges tells you a lot about it. The fairest model for a family is a clear fee, quoted upfront and paid only if you actually hire — the so-called 'success-based' fee. That way the agency's interest is aligned with yours (finding the right person), and you avoid retainers, tie-ins or paying just to 'search'.
The Maids & Co fee is one month's agreed gross salary plus VAT (21%), in a single payment you only make once you take someone on and are happy. We confirm the exact amount beforehand, with no obligation. Remember this fee is separate from the cost of the employee (salary plus Social Security, around €1,801/month full-time), which we set out in full on our pricing page.
4. Help with the contract and Social Security registration
Employing domestic staff comes with legal obligations that are not optional: you must draw up a contract and register the person with Social Security from the very first hour of work, including for hourly roles. Paying cash-in-hand without registration is not legal and leaves both sides without cover in the event of sick leave or an accident.
An agency worth its fee won't leave you alone with the paperwork. Check that it guides you through the contract, the registration and the terms (salary, hours, extra payments, holidays). At Maids & Co we support you with the contract and Social Security registration so the placement is fully compliant from day one.
5. Specialisation, verifiable reviews and when an agency is worth it
Not every agency covers every profile well. If you're after a live-in housekeeper, a nanny with languages, a cook or a house manager, prioritise specialisation: a well-matched profile lasts longer and fits your household better. And sense-check reputation with verifiable, independent reviews — on Google, for instance — not only the testimonials a website hand-picks. Maids & Co holds 4.8 stars from 78 Google reviews and a premium selection built for demanding households.
In fairness: you don't always need an agency. Hiring a candidate directly or through a platform can cost less and work well if you have the time to advertise the role, screen, interview, check references and handle the contract and registration yourself. An agency earns its place when you want to save that time, lower the risk with real verification and a guarantee, and have a single point of contact who answers if something doesn't go to plan. Choose based on how much you value your time and peace of mind.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I know if a domestic staffing agency is legal?
- Check that it's a placement agency authorised by the public employment service and ask for its licence number. Maids & Co operates under SNE licence no. 1300000318, a public and verifiable detail. A legal agency documents its selection process, respects data protection and works with proper contracts.
- How much does a domestic staffing agency charge, and when do you pay?
- It varies, but the most common and fairest model is a fee of roughly one month's salary, paid only if you hire. At Maids & Co it's one month's gross salary plus VAT (21%), in a single success-based payment with no retainers or tie-ins. That fee is separate from the cost of the employee (salary plus Social Security, around €1,801/month full-time).
- What should a good guarantee include?
- A clear, written period and a free replacement if the person doesn't work out. Maids & Co offers a 6-month guarantee with one free replacement. Always ask for the guarantee to be stated in the service agreement and check the conditions for triggering it.
- Should I use an agency or hire on my own?
- If you have the time to search, interview, verify references and handle the contract and registration, hiring directly can cost less. An agency is worth it when you want to save time, lower the risk with genuine reference checks, and have a guarantee and a single point of contact. With Maids & Co you also only pay if you hire, and you receive your first profiles within 48 hours.
Ready to start?
Ready to choose with confidence? Tell us what your home needs and receive your first verified profiles within 48 hours — with nothing to pay until you hire.