Why does choosing the right agency matter so much?
The placement agency puts you in touch with the family — but your actual contract runs directly between you and the person being cared for, or their relatives.[2] You are self-employed, with your own trade licence for "personal care"[3] — the agency is neither your employer nor your supervisor. That is exactly why it pays to look closely before working together: a good agency makes your work easier, a bad one costs you money, nerves, and in the worst case your rights.
How do you spot a disreputable agency?
- It asks for a deposit, payment in advance, or cash without an invoice — unusual for pure placement.
- You get no written contract, or it is only in German, with no one explaining what it actually says.
- The trade licence does not clearly run in your name — you have no GISA extract of your own in hand.
- There is no plan for illness — neither for you nor for the person you alternate with.
- Travel costs to your first placement are not reimbursed, or not even discussed.
- The amount of the placement fee stays unclear, even when you ask directly.
If any of these patterns sound familiar, or you have experienced them yourself: this is exactly what care workers warn each other about in the big online groups — for good reason.
How do you recognise a reputable agency?
-
A clear, written placement contract
You get the contract before the first placement, in a language you understand, with clear terms on fees, duration, and notice. -
Your trade licence runs in your name
You have your own GISA extract, and you register yourself or with support — but no one registers a trade "for you" without you holding it. -
A transparent placement fee
You know exactly how much the agency charges the family, and how much of that reaches you. -
A plan for illness or emergencies
There is a recognisable plan for how a substitute is organised if you or the person you alternate with is unavailable.
The ÖQZ-24 quality seal as a point of reference
What if you are already with a questionable agency?
You are self-employed — which means you are not tied to any agency for life. Check the notice periods in your placement contract, keep evidence of problematic behaviour (messages, payment demands, missing invoices), and get a second opinion from the WKO, the Chamber of Labour, or your community before you sign or cancel anything. How registering as a self-employed care worker works in general, and what it costs: Becoming a self-employed care worker.
And who else helps you with the paperwork?
bop does. The app explains contracts and letters from authorities to you in your language, guides you through business registration and SVS, and writes your invoices — so you know exactly what you are agreeing to with every arrangement.