Doula business plan example
Is a doula business plan necessary? It all depends on how you look at it. There are easily a half-a-dozen different approaches to getting started with your doula business, such as registering with an established doula volunteer program, setting up a sole proprietorship, or joining a doula agency. And there's no one right way of doing it. In fact, no two doula businesses are exactly alike. It will usually take a combination of approaches when you're first getting started. A year or so down the road you can decide which experiences felt the best for you and which ones you would like to keep moving forward with. So with a few of these options in mind, we'd like to invite you to take some time to identify your goals, who you want to serve, and what forms of support you need to make your doula business a reality. After reading through the summary, download a copy of our doula business plan example and get rolling!
First, identify your doula business purpose
Many doulas find themselves so intellectually curious about reproductive health and the processes of fertility, pregnancy, birth, infant feeding and postpartum, that they forget to think about why the work they are called to pursue is so important to the general population. This is the story you should rehearse telling because it's what will help potential clients understand why they should hire a doula in the first place. And it's your unique story of why you decided to train as a doula and what you've learned about yourself in the process that will illustrate why you are a great choice to be someone's doula. It's your care, confidence, and calming presence that will shine through. It will be a no-brainer to choose you to be by their side through some of life's most pivotal moments!
Next, use our doula business plan example to map out where you'd like to go
Where do you see yourself within this work in the future? We often find ourselves so passionate about becoming doulas during our training, but fast-foward a few years and we suddenly wonder what we've gotten ourselves into! Avoid this problem by setting clear goals from the beginning. You need to be thinking about the end result. What does an ideal doula practice look like for you? How might that be different than some of the other doulas already active in your community? Why is your ideal scenario different? What do you want to create and what impact do you want to make? The doula business world is your oyster!
Last but not least, what do you need?
The final part of our doula business plan example includes checklists where you can jot down what forms of training and business support you will need to achieve your goals. This is where you can also begin calculating expenses. You must keep track of these. According to what your accountant advises, you may be able to include these items on your list of deductible business expenses. And the total amounts will also help you determine what doula fees you will need to charge to get your practice off to a good start financially.
Remember, money is just a form of communication. It's going to be much easier to create a professional presence around your doula services if you use your fee as a tool to communicate the value of your time and presence. If your goal is to support people who are unable to pay for your services, you'll be able to build in regular scholarship slots or make time for volunteer work. But first, you have to be compensated otherwise you will not be able to keep moving forward. Try to resist the urge to allow a spouse or other family member be the one bearing the brunt of your expenses as a doula. This will set you up for a much more enjoyable and sustainable pursuit. So without further adieu... please enjoy the HelloBirth doula business plan example by clicking the button below. As a HelloBirth annual member, you'll receive other resources including additional examples, doula business tips & checklists!