A FIRST PERSON ACCOUNT OF RUNNING A SMALL BUSINESS

Fed up with domestic agencies, Debbie Kelly Campos started using her Spanish-language skills and community connections to find housekeepers and nannies for relatives and friends. Initially working free of charge, the demand for her services was such that Campos opened up her own referral service 16 years ago, called Meet My Maids. Jennifer Smith spoke with Campos about weighing client needs and applicant skills to make a suitable match.

“I speak Spanish my husband at the time was from Mexico and I had a network of women from our church who were looking for domestic help. I had tried agencies, and I thought, ‘I can do better than this.’

“One day I got a phone call from the sister of a neighbor of a friend who wanted me to find her a housekeeper. I said, ‘I don’t know you, and I don’t owe you, so I’m going to charge you the standard agency fee,’ which is usually the equivalent of one month’s salary of the domestic they hire. And I was in business.

“The biggest hurdle was getting appropriate insurance coverage that would cover errors and omissions (when screening applicants’ backgrounds), as well as liability. The McMartin preschool case was right around then, and it had a big impact on insurance rates. Even though I had a good business record, I had to pay a lot.

“My clients fall into three categories: very wealthy non-working women, wealthy double-income households, and single working moms. I provide them with referrals. They’re investing in my judgement, and my ability to read between the lines on an application to see if an applicant really wants a long-term position.

“After the referral, my client becomes the employer. I let clients know what’s customary in the industry for holidays and sick days, and I might make suggestions regarding minimum wage or allowances for room and board.

“We have a storefront in Venice for meeting and interviewing potential candidates. I have thousands of domestics on my list. The breakdown is about 10 percent Filipina immigrants, 80 percent Latina immigrants, and 10 percent native-born Americans. It’s mostly women, but we do get some men for elderly companion work that requires lifting.

“When I talk with a candidate, I look for legitimate, long-term references that match with the needs of my clients. They need to be forthright about their educational background. I do require that they can read and write in their own birth language.”