How much do doulas get paid?

• Transcript

  Kaely Harrod 0:01

  Today's question is a very popular one I hear in doula circles. How much do doulas get paid? Welcome to doula Tips and Tips, the podcast where I answer one question about pregnancy postpartum, or lactation. This is a space where it's safe to have questions and we're gonna give you real answers. We're not going to beat around the bush or give you what we want you to know. We're going to answer in an evidence based way. I'm Kaylee Herat and experience doula mom of three lactation counselor and a childbirth educator. I started this work in part because of my own lack of answers in my journey of pregnancy and birth. And I'm on a mission for families to be well informed and well supported through this time. This is a space where you will learn about questions that you didn't even know that you should be asking, and have answers to ones that you're already asking. The whole purpose here is for you to feel a bit more educated and informed and competent in this journey that often feels very new, and a little bit disconcerting. If you have not already I would love for you to subscribe to this podcast so that you get updates when there are new episodes. or head to our website, Herat doula services.com to subscribe to our email updates so that you get notifications when we have a new episode Episodes Episode out. Thank you for joining us today. Hello, and welcome back. If you have been around for any length of time, you know very clearly that I answered these questions with a whole bunch of nuance. But that is the field that we are in friends. So welcome to one more episode that does not only have one answer to this question. So we're diving into doula pay. And I think in my mind, this is a sustainability issue, right? Because when we think about birth work, we think about doula work, we think about the wear and tear on our bodies, we think about the wear and tear emotionally traumatically, etc. traumatically I feel like is that a word? It is now. And I want you to also be able to think through? What does this need to look like for me? What do I want this to look like for me? And how do I define sustainability right? Now? Today's question is not a sustainability. It's not how do I stay sustainable, right? But it is about doula pay, which I think is a major issue in sustainability. So I want to kind of add a few different little tidbits here. One issue that I see is that people undervalue themselves based on their experience level. And that is a concern for me, every time I see someone say I'm going to charge like next to nothing. Because I'm a new doula. I have two feelings. One is, I totally get it. I was there. And I did that, right. And the other is, you don't need to charge less like, like less than you should get paid for this work. Because you're brand new. Now. You also don't have to be the most expensive doula in the area. If this is your second birth, right. But you absolutely do not have some kind of maximum amount that you can charge because of your experience level. Okay. So that's the first point is just like, this content is not applied only to people who've attended hundreds of births, right. Anytime you're starting a business venture, I want you to think of it as a business venture, right? This work, this dual work is you being an entrepreneur. It's not a side hobby, right. And if you're not really charging for it, it is sort of a side hobby. Right. And I mean, on the one hand, I very much am not a person that thinks money defines the value of something. Absolutely not. And I think I could go on a whole rant about the systemic issues of capitalism. So I'll just suffice it to say that I do not believe that you are illegitimate if you are not getting paid for something 100% No. Okay. So, anytime, really, anytime you're beginning something new, whether it's a new service that you're adding onto your business, or you're starting a business for the very first time, one of the factors you really want to consider is what do I want and need this to look like and how, how do I get to that end, right because As oftentimes in business, we have sort of this, this, like, mix up of like how your desired end and how that, how you will actually or can actually get there. Don't connect, right? And we don't always do a great job of even just being like, oh, okay, this year, I'd really like to have, you know, my business gross $20,000. But I only want to have four clients, and I only want to charge those clients $1,000 Each, right, well, then your business isn't going to gross $20,000 Because if you're having four clients, and they're each paying you, one 1000 That's only 4000 Right? So the reason I say that the very first step is you defining what you want this to look like for you is that I don't think there's intrinsically more value in a company that grosses $100,000 or a company that grosses $4,000, right. But if you need this business to bring in $20,000 and you're charging $1,000 A person, you're probably not going to meet that goal, if that is kind of where you are, right. And so there needs to be a recognition of that. mismatch in desires or needs or goals or wants, or whatever you want to classify it as, and where you actually are in your business. Okay. We'll be right back after this message from our sponsors. The birth prep blueprint course is a guide from pregnancy to postpartum, giving you the confidence to walk through this journey. However it might play out. It is pre recorded on demand content. So you do not have to fit your busy schedule around a class or meeting time, you can go back and revisit the lessons as much as you need to. And you can watch or listen to them on your own time. This curriculum has left many families feeling confident in their decisions, knowing what questions to ask their providers, and knowing when they should be concerned in all of these periods. One of the biggest parts of this work in terms of preparing families and walking through this journey is knowing that you have a guide to rely on. And that's exactly what this class is. Students have told me they felt like I was walking them along a path to know what to watch for and what to not be worried about. Because you are here as a listener, you will get the opportunity to have a 10% off discount on this class, that code is podcast, it is in the show notes as well along with the link to use to check out for the class, I do really recommend that you go give it a look. Because it is going to make you feel more prepared calm and confident for your birthing experience. Okay, so you might already have the sneaky suspicion that I am in fact not going to tell you exactly what you should be charging as a doula. And you're right. I am not, in fact, going to say I want you to charge X amount of dollars. Okay. Now, what I will say is I don't want your cost and the fee that you assigned to your services to be dictated by fear and impostor syndrome, or to be dictated by the thoughts and desires of everyone else around you. And so part of what I want you to think about as you're kind of thinking through this episode, as you're listening along with me and processing this is, what could this look like for you? And how do you want it to be because you defining your own success in business, when you own your own business, is the very definition of what that is right? That is the freedom that you have as a solopreneur there's the most glorious thing about owning your own business is being your own boss. The other side of that is you can either be your own best boss or your own worst boss, right? And part of a worst boss scenario is a scenario where you undervalue your work and then don't get paid sufficiently to make this sustainable. And to to tell yourself of your value, right. So that's a really important portion of this. So I realized that that might leave you being like, okay, Kaley, but what the heck do I charge right? Here are a couple things to think through one. Think about where you live. Do you live in a metropolitan area where cost of living is high, and generally fee for services is on the higher end right then you might be a person who can in fact charge a little bit more. Are you in a more rural area? where there aren't as many

  Kaely Harrod 10:03

  fee for service sort of businesses. And so you're kind of like getting that sort of thing, even going in your area, and you need to be able to sort of warm people up to it, then that's a factor, right? I do, on the one hand, appreciate the advice to kind of check out what other people in your area charge. I think that in some ways that can be validating. But also, I think it can sometimes hold you back because doula work is a field that we chronically under charge for. And because of that, if you're looking at a bunch of more experience than you do lovers who are under charging for their services, you're going to inherently under charge for yours, because you're basing your rates off of people who are doing that, right. And so that is one strategy is to look at kind of what the average cost is in your area. But do that with a little bit of caution. Because I don't want that to be the main thing that's dictating what you charge. Okay. Another thing that I think is really important to think through is the fact that as a solo business owner, if you're based in the US, you can raise your prices, really anytime. So you get to decide if you start out at a price and you're like, actually, no one's hiring me because this price is too high, or no one's hiring me because this price is too low, or I feel undervalued myself, because this price is so low, then you can reevaluate those prices and go up. I, I should have probably counted this before I started recording, but I have raised my prices. I want to say at least six times in my five years of business. And part of that is that I started with incredibly low, completely unsustainable pricing, right. And it was 100% because of fear and impostor syndrome. And with time and with encouragement and with like learning about business, and with realistically being like I live in DC and need to like pay for my family to live right then I have raised my prices and would have been able to really feel good about that. And feel like I'm at a place that that honors me as a person honors the work that I do with families and also allows families to invest, right. And so so I'm not saying this from a place that I have not personally lived out I have been the doula that's charging incredibly low and, and have increased my prices over the years. So. So ask yourself some of those questions. And then also look at what you do realistically need to bring the have the business bring in in terms of profit. And also think through what portion of the different things that you're offering? Do you want to have a greater amount of income from right? Because the percentage of income when you're thinking about various services in a doula business also varies business to business, right. So in the coming weeks, we are going to dive into other services that doulas offer, and kind of what that can look like. And so stay tuned for that. Also, I have a super special announcement coming up about a class that I made all for you lovely doula. And so just stay tuned the next couple episodes in about like four episodes, you'll hear about that. So I'm super pumped to share that with you and have that resource available for you to help you kind of work through these questions that we're asking here. So until next time, I wish you well informed consent filled, do live experiences. So all of this information is intended to be educational and entertainment. Please use it as such. And if you have questions about your own medical health, or need recommendations from your own provider, please do speak to them. This is not intended to replace them in any way. We are so happy that you are here joining us in this walk through pregnancy postpartum and lactation. Please take a second to like and subscribe, leave a positive review. That is how other families get to hear about us and get to learn from all the answers that we have here on this podcast. As always, I would really love to connect with you. I love answering questions. I know that you know that because you are here, but I would love to hear what your questions are. So if I have not yet answered them on the podcast, I would love to add them to the list of questions to be answered. please do reach out to me on Instagram or via email Kaely at hurrah doula services.com so that I can answer whatever question you have and so that I can hear the feedback that you have about the podcast until we meet again I wish you well informed consent filled birth and postpartum experiences

  Transcribed by https://otter.ai

How much can and do doulas charge? This is a follow-up question from our last episode about whether it’s possible to make a good living as a doula. Oftentimes when you are in a solo-business you have to set your own prices, but that means many Doulas set their prices on the lower end. This is for many issues from imposter syndrome to the ongoing lower value of female-dominated roles in society. But I digress. Today’s episode is all about what types of prices doulas have and how to set your rates.

Spoiler alert, I am not going to tell you what to charge! No one can do that but you. But I want you to know the general idea of how doulas set their rates and what to take into account.

Key Takeaways:

• Instead of just considering the financial logistics as you set prices, you need to also consider why you are setting your prices at the rate that you’re setting them

• Is it because you downplay your own value?

• Is it because you’re afraid that clients won’t hire you at a higher rate?

• It’s possible that neither of these are true for you, but if they are please sit with them! 

• Remember that doula sustainability is based largely on valuing yourself and keeping yourself going in this field.

Join us in the New Doula Masterclass Just for YOU! This masterclass goes into the 3 steps for both success AND sustainability in your doula business. Spots are limited so be sure to grab your free spot today! 

https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/doula-mentoring-masterclass

CONNECT with Kaely on Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/Harroddoula/

This podcast is hosted by the Birth Prep Blueprint - comprehensive Childbirth Education for expectant parents to feel calm, prepared and confident about labor and birth. Podcast listeners (that’s YOU!) get 10% off! Use the link below and coupon code PODCAST

https://www.harroddoulaservices.com/birth-prep-blueprint

** The Birth Prep Blueprint is offered for only $20 to anyone who qualifies for any kind of social services (meaning that a family has a lower income to the point that they would qualify for WIC or SNAP or Medicaid, etc.). No need to disclose your income, just which service you qualify for and the link can be sent right over. Just email kaely@harroddoulaservices.com to learn more.

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Kaely Daily is produced by Kaely Harrod of Harrod Doula Services

It is sponsored by The Birth Prep Blueprint Childbirth Class

Music by Madirfan: Hidden Place on Pixabay