We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Savannah Maddison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Savannah thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I’ve always had a deep passion for working with children. Before starting Southern Sitters, I served as the CEO and Founder of a national 501(c)(3) organization, where I had the privilege of speaking to over 1 million children across the United States. That experience fueled my desire to create something impactful that could positively influence future generations.

Southern Sitters was born out of my recognition of a significant gap in the childcare market. I saw that there was a major divide between apps and agencies in the childcare booking industry. Parents had two frustrating options: they could either pay high placement fees to secure a reliable caregiver through an agency, or they had to sift through hundreds of unqualified individuals on apps where anyone could join as a ‘babysitter.’ Both choices left parents feeling stuck and overwhelmed.

At 17, I took the first step by launching a small Facebook page to help local parents book trusted babysitters. The response was overwhelming, and it grew so quickly that we soon developed an app to better serve our community. Our vision for Southern Sitters is to combine the convenience of a booking app with the vetting and training processes of a professional agency, ensuring that parents get reliable, flexible, and secure care every time.

I’ve loved every moment of bringing this mission to life and continuing to improve the way childcare is provided!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’m a volunteer firefighter, and my background in safety has played a pivotal role in shaping the core values and practices of Southern Sitters. As a first responder, I’ve seen firsthand the importance of preparation, vigilance, and being ready for any situation. This has influenced how I approach both the safety and overall quality of childcare, ensuring that every Southern Sitters nanny and babysitter is equipped with the skills to handle emergency situations with confidence and care.

Southern Sitters was created to fill that gap by providing a reliable, safe, and trustworthy solution. We offer a booking app that combines the convenience of technology with the thorough vetting and training process of a professional agency. Every sitter and nanny on our platform is CPR-certified, SIDS-certified, background checked, and thoroughly vetted to ensure that parents are getting the best care for their children.

What sets Southern Sitters apart is our focus on safety and quality. Because of my background in the fire service, we emphasize rigorous safety training for all of our sitters. This includes CPR, first aid, and a deep understanding of emergency preparedness. We’re proud to ensure that each Southern Sitters caregiver is not only qualified but also ready to respond appropriately in any situation, giving parents peace of mind.

What I’m most proud of is knowing that we’re providing the highest standard of care for children. Our team is passionate about what we do, and we are deeply committed to making every family’s experience a positive one. We’ve built a company where trust, reliability, and safety come first—and that’s something that truly sets us apart.

For potential clients, I want you to know that when you book through Southern Sitters, you’re not just getting a sitter. You’re getting a highly trained, dedicated, and compassionate caregiver who puts your child’s safety and well-being above all else. Our mission is to make reliable childcare easy and accessible, while ensuring that every family feels supported and confident in the care they’re receiving.

Can you talk to us about how you funded your business?

I know this may sound crazy, but Southern Sitters was founded with almost no capital, and we’ve yet to take on any investment. I’ve grown the company very conservatively, always reinvesting profits strategically back into the business. The best part? We have no debt, and I’m incredibly grateful for that.

So often, people hesitate to start their own business because they think they need major capital or big investment. I truly believe that many business owners’ dreams could come true if they invested their time, talent, and effort into their product or service rather than waiting for a large cash infusion.

For example, when we first started, I needed a way to share my vision and allow clients to book sitters. Instead of waiting for funds to create a custom platform, I used free resources like Facebook and Instagram to build awareness. I also used free tools like GroupMe to communicate with our sitters.

As our cash flow grew, I slowly upgraded—starting with creating our own website myself—and tapping into local resources and friends for advice and help. These small, strategic investments laid the groundwork for what Southern Sitters has become today.

I hope this story inspires other potential business owners to take that first step towards their dream. You don’t need major funding to get started—sometimes, all it takes is creativity, perseverance, and a willingness to roll up your sleeves. Now, Southern Sitters is a multimillion-dollar company, and this journey has truly changed my life!

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Our caregivers are truly the backbone of Southern Sitters, and without their satisfaction and happiness, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That’s why we prioritize positive reinforcement and recognition in our company culture. It’s easy for business owners to forget to say “thank you” or to overlook publicly praising their team members, but it’s such an important part of maintaining high morale.

One of the key things we do at Southern Sitters is consistently incorporate positive feedback. We celebrate every milestone and achievement, big or small. For example, when a caregiver reaches significant job milestones, like accepting their first job, 50th job, or 100th job, we make sure to acknowledge and celebrate those moments. If a caregiver graduates from college or accomplishes something special outside of the company, we celebrate that too!

I firmly believe that people feel happiest when they feel appreciated. I encourage every team member to take a moment to point out the great things our caregivers accomplish—not only within the company but also in their personal lives. Recognition goes a long way in fostering a positive and motivated team, and it helps everyone feel valued and connected to the larger mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.southernsitter.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernsitter?igsh=cHdzM3VpdzE2YXht
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19i9KBRjy6/?mibextid=wwXIfr