Have you taken the time to consider what your hourly rate would be for the time you’re dedicating to your birth doula clients? In a recent Facebook Group post for students of Birth Arts International, founder Demetria Clark offered the following example:

If you charge $400 per birth, this is a simple breakdown to consider:

Time with parents – 5 hours (prenatals and phone calls)
Time at birth – 10 hours (sometimes much longer, sometimes much shorter, but 10 is a midline average).

There are many ways doulas set their prices and even whether or not to charge. Different doula organizations suggest different methods of whether, when and what to charge. I will go out on a limb (and may be disagreed with vehemently, I know) and discuss some ways that others I’ve spoken to have structured their pricing. Hopefully that will help you to decide what works best for you.

Do you wear other hats? Are you a childbirth educator, a postpartum doula, a photographer, a massage therapist, or any hold any other title in addition to being a birth doula? You should package your services.

A simple way to set yourself apart from your competitors is to effectively describe your services.

A question I hear often is, “Should I put my prices on my brochures and website?” There are different opinions on this topic. I’ll offer you some practical information to consider, and you can choose what works best for you.

I’d like to offer a few questions you can ask yourself when determining your prices. In addition to considering the going rates in your local market, your experience, and what you need to make to cover expenses, I challenge you to set aside some time and write out why you are an expert at what [...]