Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sarah Washburn. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Sarah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

The idea for The Washburn Agency came about in a way I never could have predicted. In my mid twenties, I was working as a nanny for a high-profile family in Los Angeles. I also had a background in hotel management, but I knew hospitality wasn’t something I wanted to pursue long term. As I prepared to return home to Boston, I found myself wondering what was next.

I had a close relationship with my employer, and we were talking about my future. He suggested that I consider opening a nanny agency. It was one of those conversations that shifts your perspective. As I started thinking seriously about what came next, I realized I had been sitting on something valuable all along. Having worked inside private homes, I understood both sides of the equation in a way most people don’t. I knew what families needed, and I knew what it felt like to be the person they were trusting. That perspective, I came to realize, was the foundation for something real.

Having worked as a nanny, I had used agencies myself and was often surprised by the lack of thoroughness. Some agencies never checked my references at all. Working in private homes and caring for children, I couldn’t understand how something so important could be handled so casually. It felt negligent. Families were trusting strangers with their children and homes, yet the process often lacked the level of diligence and professionalism I believed it deserved.

I realized there was an opportunity to build something different. An agency rooted in transparency, thorough vetting, and exceptional, high-touch customer service. I wanted families and candidates to feel supported every step of the way. We provide guides throughout the process, conduct our reference checks in-house, and take the time to thoroughly authenticate a candidates work experience. We also utilize motivational assessments to help employers better understand a candidate’s communication style, motivations, and support needs, setting both parties up for long-term success.

Perhaps most importantly, I wanted to create a business where people could actually reach a real person. In a world where it’s increasingly difficult to get someone on the phone, we pride ourselves on being accessible and relationship-driven. We walk families through every step of the process and strive to provide the kind of service that has become increasingly rare.

The business started as a one-woman operation. For the first two years, I worked full-time at a hotel while building the agency. There were plenty of moments when I questioned whether it would work, but I believed in the mission and stayed committed. Nearly two decades later, what began as a simple suggestion from someone who believed in me has grown into a team of seven and a nationally recognized household staffing agency.

What excites me most is that, despite all of the growth, our core values haven’t changed. We still believe in relationships, thoroughness, accessibility, and treating both families and candidates with the respect and care they deserve. That’s what mattered to me in 2007, and it’s what continues to drive us today.

Sarah, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

The Washburn Agency provides personalized household staffing solutions for families throughout Boston, Nashville, and across the country. We specialize in placing nannies, family assistants, housekeepers, estate managers, personal assistants, private chefs, domestic couples, and other household professionals.

What sets us apart is our belief that household staffing is ultimately about relationships. A placement isn’t simply about matching skills and experience; it’s about understanding personalities, communication styles, values, and expectations. The right support can transform a household, and the right position can be life-changing for a candidate. We never lose sight of the fact that these are deeply personal decisions.

I am most proud of the reputation we’ve built over the last nineteen years. The majority of our business comes from referrals, and we have families and candidates who have remained with us for many years. To me, that’s the greatest compliment. We’ve built a business based on trust, integrity, and genuine relationships, and I’m incredibly proud of the team we’ve assembled. What began as a one-woman operation has grown into a team of seven who share the same commitment to providing exceptional service.

I’m also proud to serve our industry beyond my agency. I currently serve on the Board of Directors for the Association of Premier Nanny Agencies and am passionate about promoting professionalism, education, and best practices within the household staffing community.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away about our brand, it’s that we genuinely care. We care about our families, our candidates, and the long-term success of every placement. In an increasingly automated world, we believe there will always be value in relationships and personal attention.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I shared this in my initial responses

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I answered this in my initial response

Contact Info:

• Website: https://washburnagency.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewashburnagency
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WashburnAgency
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-washburn-agency