How to Create a Postpartum Doula Business Plan: 9 Steps to Success
Starting a business, no matter what kind, always requires dedication and planning. It’s easy to get excited about a new business venture and want to dive in head first. However, the best move you can make is to create a business plan first. If you are someone who is considering starting their own postpartum doula business, then you need to create a postpartum doula business plan.
A postpartum doula is someone who has a passion for helping others, especially those who are in a vulnerable time such as bringing home a new baby. As a postpartum doula, it’s your job to help families adjust to having a new baby in the home. This could include taking over the night shift so the parents can sleep, preparing meals for the family, and being a supportive person the parents can turn to with questions.
A postpartum doula business is an in-demand business. However, there are ways you can create your business that will increase your chances of success. Follow along as Center for Pediatric Sleep Management (CPSM) shows you how to make a postpartum doula business plan with an extra tip to earn more money.
What is a Postpartum Doula Business Plan?
A postpartum doula business plan is a blueprint for your business. It lays out how to get started, estimates income and expenses, and shows you how to scale your business. This business plan is not set in stone as things can change over time. However, it is always a good idea to have a plan that you can follow instead of blindly starting a business. This can lead to mistakes and can cost you additional money.
Your postpartum doula business will depend on your ability to plan ahead and anticipate challenges along the way. The best way to prepare is to have a postpartum doula business plan created ahead of time.
How to Create a Postpartum Doula Business Plan
The following steps are what needs to be included in your postpartum doula business plan. Use the ideas below to get your business started.
1. Decide how much you want to earn
Postpartum doulas have the unique opportunity to make the kind of money they want. If you open your own business and work for yourself, you don’t have to rely on a boss that pays you a set amount. You can choose how much money you want to earn and build a business plan from there.
Consider how much money you have in savings so that you know how much money you have to work with before opening your doors. There will be expenses at first that you will need to cover before you can start making money. This is true for nearly all businesses. Plan out how much you can spend before you start earning.
2. Complete a postpartum doula certification
The first thing you will need to do is invest in a postpartum doula certification course. In order to help families, you need to know how to support them appropriately. Having a doula certification in postpartum support will be necessary for your business. You can find more doula certification information at CAPPA or DONA.
This certification will show families that you have the knowledge and skills they need for you to support them. A postpartum doula certification will add more value to you as a postpartum professional, which increases how much you can charge families and creates peace of mind for your clients.
3. Add a sleep consultant certification
The next thing you need to do for a successful postpartum doula business plan is to add a sleep consultant certification to your business. Enroll in Center for Pediatric Sleep Management for the best comprehensive sleep certification course that is available. This will immediately increase the value that you bring to your clients and will benefit them right away.
A sleep consultant certification lets families know that you are knowledgeable about sleep training strategies, child development, and safe sleep practices. This certification combined with a postpartum doula certification can automatically put you at the top of the list of consideration for families seeking a postpartum doula.
4. Set your rates and packages
Part of creating your postpartum doula business plan is deciding what your rates are going to be. The best part about including a sleep consultant certification in your business is that you can package together both services. This means families can choose higher-priced packages if they want to have both of your services.
When thinking of your prices, don’t let fear get in the way. You are bringing value and life-changing services to each family you serve. You deserve to be compensated at a comfortable rate. Don’t be afraid to charge what you are worth.
5. Set your hours
The most important thing in business is consistency. Clients will want to see that you can work during the timeframe that they will need your support. If you have an inconsistent schedule, it will be difficult for them to decide to work with you. Set your hours ahead of time and make your hours known to your clients so that there is no confusion.
If you have to make a change to your hours, communicate with your clients ahead of time. Work on a schedule that fits your lifestyle best, but keep consistency in your postpartum doula business plan.
6. Market your business
Create a website and/or business pages to start marketing your business. The more exposure you have for your business in the online space, the greater your chances are of being found by potential clients. On your pages, make sure to specify the services you offer and how potential clients can reach out to you.
Share tips and information on your website and social media pages that would help families navigate this stage of life. This will create the “know, like, and trust” factor you need from viewers.
7. Accept practice clients
Creating a business can be exciting and intimidating at the same time. Increase your confidence right away by accepting test clients as part of your postpartum doula business plan. Reach out to friends and family members who could use your services. Working with people you know first before working with paying clients can help ease you into the work and help you feel comfortable in your new venture.
8. Build a network
Being a postpartum doula isn’t something that you have to do alone. Build a network of professionals in the postpartum, pregnancy, and baby industry. When you have more businesses in your network, you can use each other to refer clients. Consider partnering with pediatricians, baby boutique clothing shops, pediatric dentists, and more.
In addition, consider printing business cards and brochures for your business to leave at local businesses that support the same clientele you support. This gets more exposure for your business faster.
9. Ask for testimonials
Ask for testimonials from each client that you serve. It doesn’t matter if they are a practice client or a paying client, their testimonial will be critical for the growth of your business. Each time someone writes a review about your business, this increases the likelihood that other families would consider using your services.
Each testimonial is like a vote for your business. Create a place on your website and social media pages to showcase all the testimonials that you receive. Don’t be shy; the more people see good things about you, the more chances you have of getting additional paid clients.
A Postpartum Doula Business Plan Needs CPSM
A postpartum doula business is a great career choice for those who are passionate about helping families and want to have control of their finances and hours. For the best chance at success, your postpartum business plan should also include taking the sleep consulting certification with CPSM.
Center for Pediatric Sleep Management is the most affordable and flexible sleep consulting certification program available. The course not only teaches you about sleep training, but also shows you how to build a business from the ground up. Enter the postpartum industry with more knowledge and certifications than other professionals. If you are interested in exploring how to create a successful postpartum doula business plan, then it’s time to add a sleep consultant certification. Come join our free Facebook group to learn more. Inside the group, you will get access to a community and training opportunities showing you exactly how Center for Pediatric Sleep Management can help you scale your business. In addition, you will gain access to a library of guest experts who join live on our podcast and share how they have become sleep consultants. Some experts share how their postpartum doula business is thriving with a sleep consulting certification.