Household Management

Agency Fee vs Worker Salary: How Domestic Help Costs Work

The agency fee and the helper's monthly salary are two different payments. Here is what each covers.

Maidvy Editorial TeamUpdated 7 Nov 20264 min read

Calculator, invoice envelope and household planner on a table, showing household budgeting

Quick answer: When you hire through an agency, you make two separate payments. The agency fee pays for the service of finding, checking and supporting the placement. The monthly salary is paid by you directly to the helper and is agreed between you based on experience, duties, working hours, city and mutual agreement. Maidvy's fee is ₹15,000 + 18% GST (₹17,700) for the Daytime Plan and ₹25,000 + 18% GST (₹29,500) for the 24×7 Live-In Plan.

Families are often surprised to learn the agency fee does not include the helper's pay. This article explains both payments so you can budget properly.

Payment 1: the agency service fee

Maidvy's service fee covers the work of arranging the placement and supporting it during your plan:

Requirement consultation with a Maidvy advisor.
Helper profiles matched to your household, with identity and available document verification as applicable.
Audio or video interview coordination.
Deployment logistics and joining coordination.
A Relationship Manager during your tenure.
Plan-based replacement support: up to 2 replacements on the Daytime Plan and up to 3 on the 24×7 Live-In Plan, subject to the Replacement Policy.
WhatsApp and phone support, Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00.

Plan	Service fee	GST (18%)	Total
Daytime Plan	₹15,000	₹2,700	₹17,700
24×7 Live-In Plan	₹25,000	₹4,500	₹29,500

A GST invoice is issued for the service fee. See the pricing page for plan terms.

Payment 2: the helper's monthly salary

The salary is paid by the family directly to the helper. Maidvy does not set it and does not publish salary figures, because the right amount depends on the individual arrangement. It is finalised between the family and the helper.

What shapes the salary

Experience: years of work and the kind of households the helper has worked in.
Duties: cleaning only, or cleaning plus cooking, childcare or elder support. Specialised roles such as Japa maid or professional chef differ from general housework.
Hours: a 6-hour day is different from a 10-hour day; live-in arrangements differ again.
City and locality: expectations vary between cities such as Gurgaon, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Household size: number of people, rooms and children.
Mutual agreement: what both sides consider fair after the interview.

Other costs to budget for

These are not included in the Maidvy fee:

Meals, accommodation and personal essentials for live-in staff.
Any advance or bonus you agree directly with the helper.
Travel costs for a helper relocating for a live-in placement, where agreed.

Agreeing the salary fairly

Write the duties and hours down first. Salary should follow the role, not the other way round.
Discuss it openly in the interview. See interview questions.
Confirm the amount, payment date and method in writing.
Pay on time, every month.
If duties increase later, revisit the salary together.

Late or reduced salary is a common reason helpers leave. Under Maidvy's Replacement Policy, failing to provide the agreed salary or working conditions can also make a replacement request ineligible.

Why the two payments are kept separate

Keeping them separate means the helper receives their full salary directly, and you can see exactly what you pay the agency for. It also makes the relationship between your family and the helper clear: you are agreeing terms with each other, with Maidvy supporting the placement.

Questions about plans? Request a callback or read daytime vs live-in help to decide which plan suits you.

A worked example of the two payments

Suppose a family in Noida chooses a 9-hour full-time maid on Maidvy's Daytime Plan. The family pays Maidvy ₹17,700 (₹15,000 + ₹2,700 GST) for the service and receives a GST invoice. Separately, after the interview, the family and the helper agree a monthly salary based on her experience, the duties on the duty sheet, the 9-hour schedule and local expectations. The family then pays that salary directly to the helper each month on the agreed date.

Why we do not publish salary figures

Published salary "ranges" are often misleading. Two helpers with the same title can have very different experience, and two homes with the same role can have very different duties. A figure that looks reasonable on a website can be unfair to one side in practice. Agreeing the salary directly, against a written role, is more accurate and more respectful to both the family and the helper.

When to revisit the salary

Duties have increased, for example a new baby or an elderly parent moving in.
Working hours have changed.
The helper has been with you for a long time and their role has grown.

Any change should be agreed with the helper, and with Maidvy if the change affects the service.

Frequently asked questions

Is the maid's salary included in Maidvy's fee?

No. Maidvy's fee is a service charge. The helper's monthly salary is paid separately by the family directly to the helper.

Does Maidvy decide the helper's salary?

No. The salary is finalised between the family and the helper based on experience, duties, hours, location and mutual agreement.

Is GST charged on the Maidvy fee?

Yes. GST at 18% applies to the service fee: ₹17,700 total for the Daytime Plan and ₹29,500 total for the 24×7 Live-In Plan.

What costs are not included in the fee?

The helper's salary, meals and accommodation for live-in staff, personal advances or bonuses, and relocation travel costs.

Do I get an invoice for the Maidvy fee?

Yes. A GST invoice is issued for the service fee.

Maidvy Editorial Team

Guides written by Maidvy, a brand of Logibyte Technologies, based on our domestic staffing process and published policies. They are general information, not legal or medical advice.

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