Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions and concerns
Welcome to the sachi FAQ page! Here you’ll find answers to some of the most common questions we receive about our service. If you don’t find the answer to your question below, please don’t hesitate to contact our support team at support@gosachi.com.
For Parents
General Information
What is sachi?
sachi is a platform that connects families with experienced educators who provide high-quality, supplemental in-home childcare .
How do I sign up as a parent?
To sign up as a family, you can login and set up a family profile on our website or download our iOS app (android coming soon), tell us about your child, and you’re ready to start connecting with the support you need. From there, as a parent, you can search educators near you, view their profiles, and message them or request a session directly.
How do I sign up as an educator?
To sign up as an educator, you can login and go through our background check process with our partner Checkr.com, upload your First Aid/CPR Certification and your teaching license, credential, permit or relevant coursework that makes you eligible to teach in a classroom.
What types of services do sachi educators provide?
sachi educators provide high-quality, engaging care focused on your child’s well-being and development. Beyond basic supervision, many educators offer specialized support tailored to your family’s needs, such as:
- Academic Enrichment: Including homework help and homeschool support.
- Skill Building: Assisting with developmental milestones like potty training, establishing routines or self-care skills, or fostering social-emotional learning (SEL) skills.
- Specialized Care: Providing experienced support for neurodiverse children or those families who may have specific needs.
- Enriching Activities: Facilitating creative play, outdoor adventures, and learning opportunities (including field trips with your approval).
What types of specialized care can we find with sachi’s educators?
Our educators have extensive experience working with children and families with unique needs. Many of our educators can support:
- Children who have been diagnosed as neurodiverse or have behavioral support needs.
- Children who have health sensitivities (allergies, diabetes, etc)
- Families who have experienced an upheaval (a move, a family death, a natural disaster)
- Foster children or children who have had complex family dynamics.
Where is sachi available?
sachi currently serves the San Francisco Bay Area. For now that includes San Francisco, Marin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties. We are working hard on expanding to serve additional communities. If you’re outside these areas, join the waitlist and we’ll let you know the moment we reach you.
How do I book a session?
Find an educator in search, open their profile, and pick a time from their up-to-date availability. You can book a full hour, or choose 15-minute slots so the session is exactly as long as you need. Send the request, and the educator has 48 hours to accept. You can message them any time before, during, or after booking.
Safety & Background Checks
How does sachi ensure the safety of my child?
Safety is our top priority. All educators on our platform undergo rigorous screening with our background check partner Checkr, which includes thorough background checks. We also encourage ongoing communication between families and educators to maintain a safe environment.
What background checks are conducted on sachi educators?
Our background checks go beyond criminal history to verify every educator’s professional qualifications, whether that’s a state teaching credential or documented coursework.
Can I request additional safety measures for my child?
Yes! If your family has specific safety concerns, feel free to communicate them directly with your educator. Our educators are trained in CPR and many have additional training for special needs care, and we can help match you with someone who fits your needs.
Educator Selection & Activities
How do I choose the right educator for my child?
Each educator has a detailed profile that includes their qualifications, experience, and areas of expertise. You can also read reviews from other families and set up an initial meeting to make sure the educator is a good fit for your family’s needs.
Can I meet an educator before booking?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. Message any educator in the app to ask questions. Many of our families start their relationship with an educator with a quick meet-and-greet call or video chat before their first session. When it feels like the right fit, booking only takes a minute.
What kinds of activities will the educator do with my child?
Educators tailor their activities to your child’s age, interests, and developmental needs. Activities can range from educational tutoring sessions, creative play, outdoor adventures, and even life skills like cooking or problem-solving. You can discuss specific activities with your educator based on your child’s preferences.
Can educators help with homework or school assignments?
Yes! Many of our educators specialize in tutoring and academic support. Whether your child needs help with a specific subject or general homework assistance, our educators are equipped to provide academic guidance.
Do sachi educators offer care for children with special needs?
Yes, we have educators with specialized training in caring for children with special needs, including behavioral, physical, and learning differences. You can indicate any specific requirements when posting a job or browsing educator profiles to find the right match.
Where do sachi’s educators come from?
sachi’s educators are required to hold a professional teaching license or permit, or have completed documented coursework. Our educators include Pre-K through high school teachers: currently in the classroom, those who have transitioned out of traditional teaching roles, and professionals who bring deep knowledge of child development and educational theory.
What are the differences in care from an educator vs a traditional babysitter/nanny?
sachi’s educators take the time to understand your needs as a family, your child’s needs, as well as your needs as parents. They have foundations in child development and educational practices. While traditional nannies or babysitters typically work with 2-10 families through their careers, the majority of our educators have worked with hundreds of families and children. This gives them tremendous experience and insight into working with the diversity in temperaments of children, family values and preferences, and cultural practices among the many variables that make up your child and family. Our educators are here to build long-term and lasting relationships where they engage your child in teachable moments throughout their time together as well as being able to offer support, advice and naturally weave in parent education.
When are educators typically available for care?
All the time! One group of our educators are still full time in the classroom and are able to provide care in the evening, weekends and holidays. The other group are educators who have transitioned out of the classroom (holding a teaching license, permit, or completed related coursework) and are looking for flexible or full-time care opportunities.
Cost & Payments
How do payments work?
All payments easily happen on our website or in our mobile app. Add your card securely once with our partner, Stripe. When you book your first session, nothing is charged until 24 hours before the session. We place a hold for the total on your card and the actual charge goes through after the session is complete. Your receipt will be stored in your profile history.
When exactly am I charged?
After the session and never before. We reserve the total on your card the day before as a guarantee for your educator, and the charge itself happens once the session is done.
Is my card information safe?
All credit card or debit card information is securely handled by Stripe, the trusted payments company behind millions of businesses worldwide. sachi never sees or stores your personal credit or debit card number.
Are there any additional fees I should know about?
Your price breakdown (which includes the educator’s hourly rate, our service fee, and the total) is shown before you ever confirm a booking. There will never be additional surprise charges at checkout. If an educator charges for additional services like transportation or special activities, we encourage you to discuss this beforehand.
Can I cancel or change a session?
Absolutely. Cancel before the session and the reservation on your card is simply released, you’re not charged. If your plans change, we recommend giving your educator as much notice as you can, messaging them takes a few seconds.
Support & Communication
What if I have an issue with an educator?
If you have any concerns or issues with your educator, you can reach out to our support team. We’re here to help resolve any conflicts and ensure that both families and educators have a positive experience.
Can I request a different educator if I’m not happy with the current one?
Yes, if you feel the current educator isn’t the right fit, you can request a replacement. Our team will help you find another educator who better matches your needs, or you can browse other educators on our platform.
How do I stay in communication with the educator?
The best place to communicate and keep track of information is right in the app. Messaging keeps your conversation, your bookings, and your session details all together in one space. Many families and educators use our messaging to check-in during childcare sessions.
For Educators
General Information
How do I become an educator on sachi?
To become an educator, you can apply by creating a profile on our website. You’ll need to provide details about your experience, qualifications, and areas of expertise, as well as undergo a comprehensive background check and verify your professional credentials (teaching license, permit, or completed relevant coursework) and your First Aid/CPR certification.
What is the process to join as an educator?
Getting started is straightforward: sign up, complete your background check through Checkr, and upload your professional credentials (whether a teaching license, permit, or documented coursework) plus your First Aid/CPR certification. We invest in this thorough vetting process to build trust and ensure the safety of our community.
Safety & Background Checks
Do I need to submit to a background check?
All educators who want to provide care are required to submit a comprehensive background check in-app with our partner Checkr. Please see Terms of Service for more information.
What background checks do I need to undergo?
You will be required to complete a comprehensive background check, which includes criminal history, identity verification, and reference checks. sachi also conducts interviews to assess your qualifications and fit for the platform.
How do I ensure families feel confident in my abilities?
We encourage educators to build a complete profile with detailed information about your experience, qualifications, and certifications. You can also upload testimonials from previous families or employers, which helps build trust with potential clients.
Are there any other checks required?
If you plan to drive children in your car, or any car, you must also submit to a Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) check which is issued during the Checkr background check.
Payments & Scheduling
How do I get paid as an educator?
By direct deposit, automatically. Link your bank account once, it takes a few minutes, through our partner Stripe. After each completed session your payout goes straight to your bank. Every payout shows up in the app as it’s sent. There’s no invoicing or chasing payments from anyone.
Do I need to link a bank account?
Yes, that’s how your payouts will be deposited. Bank linking is handled by Stripe, sachi never sees your bank account information. Until your bank is linked, your profile can’t accept paid bookings, so make sure that it’s the first thing you set up.
How long do I have to respond to a booking request?
You have 48 hours. Requests expire after that so families aren’t left waiting, so it’s worth turning on notifications. Accepting a session takes one tap.
Can I set my own rates?
Absolutely. You set your own hourly rate based on your qualifications, experience, location, and the specialized care you offer. We recommend checking our childcare fair wage calculator to see what is appropriate based on your individual qualifications. Families see your rate clearly before they book.
What if I need to change or cancel a job?
If you need to cancel a job, it’s important to notify the family as soon as possible. While we understand that emergencies happen, repeated cancellations may affect your standing on the platform.
How do I manage my schedule?
You can manage your availability through your profile, allowing you to select the hours and days you’re available for work. This gives you the flexibility to balance your personal and professional commitments.