Standard
11% of gross annual salary + VAT
Minimum fee R4 000 + VAT
3-month replacement guarantee
Agency fees
A once-off fee. 19 years of getting it right.
Our fee covers the work that happens before you ever meet a candidate: screening, interviewing, reference checking, testing, and matching. It is charged once, and it comes with a replacement guarantee.
- 19 yearsof placement experience
- 5,000+successful placements
- 98%placement success rate
- Up to 6 monthsreplacement guarantee
What your fee pays for
For every 100 people who apply to us, about 5 make it past our first two screening stages. Your fee pays for that care, so you only meet candidates worth meeting.
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100 people apply
We screen hundreds of CVs daily, and every one is checked against our minimum requirements.
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10 pass our CV review
Only 1 in 10 applicants reaches the interview stage.
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5 pass the structured interview
Roughly half get our stamp of approval after an interview built on psychologist-designed questions.
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1 becomes your match
A single bad reference ends representation. After our final checks, you choose the one who fits your family.
What families say about the service
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“I have used Au Pair Extraordinaire three times over the past five years, and the personal attention they provide is truly unparalleled. They take the time to understand exactly what you are looking for and only send candidates who closely match your requirements, which saves a great deal of time and effort.”
Angelique du ToitGoogle review, August 2026
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“I have always had only the best service from Au Pair Extraordinaire. They always manage to find me multiple candidates that fit my requirements and I have never been disappointed by the caliber of individuals that I have hired”
Nicholine MaritzGoogle review, April 2026
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“I filled in the ‘Contact Us’ form on the Au Pair Extraordinaire website on a Sunday afternoon, and by Monday midday, Ashleigh had already called to understand our needs. By Wednesday, I had a selection of brilliant CVs to choose from, and by Saturday, we had interviewed and selected our perfect au pair.”
Kate MacfarlaneGoogle review, May 2026
Schedule of agency fees
Permanent placement fees are once-off and payable before the candidate starts work. The same fees apply whichever role you are hiring for.
Premium
12% of gross annual salary + VAT
Minimum fee R4 500 + VAT
6-month replacement guarantee
All plans include
- Criminal check
- Standardised agency interviews
- Reference checks
- Childcare Competency Test
Fixed-term placements
| Contract length | Fee | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 7–11 months | 15% of gross salary for the contract term | Minimum R4 000 + VAT |
| 4–6 months | 20% of gross salary for the contract term | Minimum R3 500 + VAT |
| 2–3 months | 25% of gross salary for the contract term | Minimum R3 000 + VAT |
| 1 month or less | 25% of gross salary for the contract term | Minimum R2 500 + VAT |
Choose your placement type, add the monthly salary and see your estimated fee straight away.
We multiply this by 12 to get the gross annual salary.
6 months
4–6 months · 20% of gross salary
Your estimated fee
Add the monthly salary to see your estimate.
R0 incl. VAT
- Annual salary
- R0
- Agency fee (11%)
- R0
- VAT (15%)
- R0
- Total
- R0
Your fee covers
- 3-month replacement guarantee
- Criminal check
- Standardised agency interviews
- Reference checks
- Childcare Competency Test
This is an estimate. We'll confirm your final fee before the placement goes ahead.
FAQ
Agency fees: your questions answered
For permanent placements, our Standard plan is 11% of the candidate’s gross annual salary plus VAT, with a minimum fee of R4 000 plus VAT. Our Premium plan is 12% of gross annual salary plus VAT, with a minimum fee of R4 500 plus VAT.
The Standard plan comes with a 3-month replacement guarantee. The Premium plan comes with a 6-month replacement guarantee. Both plans include a criminal check, standardised agency interviews, reference checks, and our Childcare Competency Test.
On a monthly salary of R10 000, the gross annual salary is R120 000. On the Standard plan the fee is 11% of that, which is R13 200, plus R1 980 VAT, for a total of R15 180. Use the calculator on this page to work out your own estimate.
Permanent placement fees are once-off and payable before the candidate starts work.
Fixed-term fees are a percentage of the gross salary for the contract term: 15% for contracts of 7 to 11 months, 20% for 4 to 6 months, and 25% for 3 months or less. Minimum fees range from R2 500 to R4 000 plus VAT, depending on the contract length.
No. Our fees are shown excluding VAT, and VAT of 15% is added. The calculator on this page shows your estimate including VAT.
No. The agency fee is separate from the salary. The family pays the candidate’s salary directly.
Yes. The same fee structure applies whichever role you are hiring for.
Still have a question?
Our team is happy to talk it through with you.
Ready to find your family’s extraordinary fit?
Tell us what you need and we’ll start matching you with pre-screened candidates.
Start my family application