If you're starting or growing a nanny agency, you've likely come across Enginehire as a software solution designed specifically for staffing and placement agencies. While Enginehire offers a robust platform, many small and boutique nanny agencies discover that they don't need all the complexity—or cost—that comes with a specialized staffing system.
That's where 17hats comes in.
As a customizable client management and workflow automation platform, 17hats can provide everything many nanny agencies need to streamline operations, automate client communication, and deliver an exceptional client experience.
In this article, we'll compare 17hats and Enginehire and help you determine which solution is the best fit for your nanny agency.
What Is Enginehire?
Enginehire is an agency management platform designed specifically for nanny agencies, household staffing agencies, and babysitting services. It offers tools for:
- Applicant tracking
- Candidate matching
- Family management
- Scheduling Invoicing
- Client portals
- Staff onboarding
- Reporting and analytics
For larger agencies managing multiple recruiters and a high volume of placements, Enginehire can be an excellent solution.
What Is 17hats?
17hats is a business management platform designed to automate administrative tasks and improve the client experience. While it isn't built specifically for nanny agencies, it can be customized to support nearly every step of the placement process.
With 17hats, nanny agencies can:
- Capture new family inquiries
- Collect nanny applications
- Automate follow-up emails
- Schedule consultations
- Send contracts and agreements
- Invoice clients and collect payments
- Create onboarding workflows
- Manage referrals and reviews
- Track leads and placements
For many small nanny agencies, these are the exact tools needed to run a successful business
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Why Small Nanny Agencies Choose 17hats Over Enginehire
1. Lower Startup Costs
Many new agency owners are working to establish their client base and placement process before investing in specialized staffing software.
17hats allows agencies to create professional systems without the expense of a full staffing platform.
2. Better Client Experience Automation
Families expect timely communication throughout the hiring process.
With 17hats workflows, agencies can automate:
- Inquiry responses
- Consultation reminders
- Application follow-ups
- Placement confirmations
- Review requests Referral campaigns
This creates a consistent and professional experience while reducing administrative work.
3. Fully Customizable Workflows
Every nanny agency operates differently.
Unlike industry-specific software that follows a predetermined process, 17hats allows agencies to build workflows around their unique client journey.
You can customize:
- Family intake forms Nanny application forms
- Consultation scheduling
- Placement agreements
- Follow-up sequences
- Client onboarding
4. Ideal for Boutique Placement Agencies
Many nanny agencies focus on permanent placements and high-touch service rather than managing daily staffing schedules.
For these agencies, relationship management and communication are often more important than advanced staffing features.
17hats excels at creating a personalized and professional client experience.
17hats vs. Enginehire: Feature Comparison
| Feature | 17hats | Enginehire |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Family Intake Forms | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Contracts & Agreements | ✓ | ✓ |
| Invoicing & Payments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Workflow Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Candidate Tracking | Customizable | Advanced |
| Nanny Matching Tools | Manual Process | Built-In |
| Shift Scheduling | Limited | Advanced |
| Staffing Operations | Limited | Advanced |
| Best For | Small & Boutique Agencies | Large Staffing Agencies |
Who Should Choose 17hats?
17hats is a great fit if your nanny agency:
- Is in the startup or growth stage
- Focuses on permanent placements
- Wants to automate administrative tasks
- Values a strong client experience
- Needs contracts, forms, workflows, and invoicing in one place
- Wants a customizable system without unnecessary complexity
How We Help Nanny Agencies Implement 17hats
Having the software is only part of the equation.
We help nanny agencies create a complete client journey inside 17hats, including:
- Family Inquiry Workflows
- Nanny Application Processes
- Consultation Scheduling
- Placement Agreements
- Automated Follow-Up Sequences
- Client Onboarding
- Review Request Workflows
- Referral Systems
- Payment Collection Automation
Our goal is to help nanny agency owners spend less time managing paperwork and more time serving families and growing their business.
Ready to Build a Better Nanny Agency System?
If you're considering Enginehire but aren't sure you need a full staffing platform, 17hats may be the perfect solution.
With the right setup, you can automate your processes, improve client communication, and create a professional experience that supports agency growth.
Contact us today to learn how a customized 17hats system can help your nanny agency save time, stay organized, and scale with confidence.