Tips to Setting Your Rates as a Doula
As doulas, we know the incredible value and support we provide to our clients. However, setting our rates can be one of the most challenging aspects of our work. Pricing our services fairly while ensuring they reflect our worth and sustain us in this career is an ever increasing balancing act, especially as the economic landscape changes.
At National Baby Co., we have over 20 years of combined experience in the doula profession. We've used these strategies ourselves to set our rates effectively and sustainably. Our experience has taught us the importance of valuing our work and ensuring our rates reflect the comprehensive support we provide to our clients. In addition to doula matching services, we offer business consulting and mentoring for doulas. Whether you're just starting out or looking to refine your practice, we would be honored to provide the guidance and support you need to succeed.
Understand Your Market
Research the average rates for doulas in your area. Rates can vary significantly depending on location, experience, and the scope of services offered. Join local doula groups, attend networking events, and talk to fellow doulas to get a sense of the going rates.
Consider Your Experience and Training
Your level of experience, training, and certifications play a crucial role in determining your rates. If you are a newly certified doula, you might start at a lower rate and gradually increase it as you gain more experience and positive feedback from clients. Specialized training in areas such as VBAC support, hypnobirthing, belly binding or lactation counseling can justify higher rates.
Factor in Your Costs
Calculate all the costs associated with providing your services. This includes not just the obvious expenses like transportation and supplies but also marketing, liability insurance, continuing education, membership fees, and administrative costs. Ensuring your rates cover these expenses is vital for sustaining your business.
Value Your Time
Your time is valuable, both during and outside of prenatal visits and in-person work. When setting your rates, consider the time spent on prenatal visits, being on-call, attending births, and postpartum visits. Don’t forget to account for the hours spent on administrative tasks, continuing education, and other business essentials. Setting boundaries around your availability and compensating yourself for all aspects of your work ensures you can pay yourself a thriving wage and continue in this career for a loooong time.
Offer Package Deals
Many doulas find success by offering different service packages. For example, you might offer a basic package that includes a set number of prenatal visits, birth support, and a postpartum visit. You can also create premium packages that include additional services like extra postpartum support, childbirth education, or placenta encapsulation. Package deals provide clients with clear options and value while allowing you to easily set structured rates.
Communicate Your Value
Be clear and confident in communicating the value you bring to your clients. Highlight your training, experience, and the unique skills you offer. Share testimonials and success stories that showcase the positive impact of your support. Clients are often willing to pay higher rates when they understand the comprehensive and personalized care they will receive.
Be Flexible but Firm
While it’s important to set standard rates, be open to flexibility in certain situations. Sliding scale fees or payment plans can make your services more accessible to clients with different financial situations. However, ensure that any discounts or special arrangements still honor the value of your work and cover basic your costs. Don’t ever feel guilted into providing a discount. It’s been our experience that feeling guilted or obligated to offer a discount can cause resentment and burn out. This is especially true if you end up spending more on business expenses than you make for that particular client.
Review and Adjust Regularly
Regularly review your rates and adjust them as needed. Factors such as increased experience, additional certifications, changes in the cost of living, transportation, and inflation may necessitate a rate adjustment. Being proactive about reviewing your rates ensures they remain fair and reflective of the value you provide and continue to pay you well for your services.
Setting your rates as a doula requires thoughtful consideration of a variety of factors. By understanding your market, valuing your experience and time, covering your costs, and effectively communicating your value, you can set rates that honor both your worth and the incredible support you provide to your clients. Your services are invaluable, and setting fair and sustainable rates is key to thriving in your doula practice.
Join National Baby Co.’s team of doulas for more support, resources, and guidance on building a successful and sustainable doula practice. Connect with us to learn more about our matching services and how we can help you grow your career.