Make Money providing Doula Services

In my opinion one can definitely make money providing doula services affordably. Anyone seeking to become an entrepreneur via opening a small business should research providing such services. Start up costs can be minimal and many of the services provided could be idea for a stay at home mom looking to supplement the income of her household. If you are single like me; you may not be familiar with the term doula.

Doula is an ancient Greek word meaning “a woman who serves” however, presently it is used to refer to a trained experience professional who provides support to a mom-to-be prior and or postpartum to birth. A doula offers services that cater to the mom-to-be by providing the informational, emotional, and physical support necessary to make the birth of the child a smooth transition for the entire family.

A doula service (also called postpartum care service or postpartum doula is different from a birth doula or labor assistant), however most services are established to offer both birth and postpartum care for the mom-to-be. If you are an individual that loves being around and participating in the joy a new baby brings to a home, then this might be a business that you’d enjoy. This could prove to be a very lucrative business considering that in one year recently nearly 4 million babies were born in the United States alone. Please note that a doula is an assistant that is trained and or experienced to provide services that will bring comfort to mother, baby, and family, however she cannot replace the role of midwife or a physician. Doula services can cover a wide variety of support for the mother, newborn, and family as is revealed via the video.

The miracle of having a new baby in the house can cause a disruption of the normal routine that occurs within a family’s home. New moms, dads, and siblings may experience exhaustion from sleepless nights, new worries, and other adjustments. A new family can enjoy a smoother transition of having a new little one in the house by hiring a doula service. Many times relatives live far away and or maybe estranged and not in a position to assist the new mother.

A doula service can supply the family-to-be with whatever it takes to help parents cope with the demands a brand-new infant such as coaching on breast-feeding, baby's first bath, cries in the night, and diaper duty.

Some of the advantages to making money providing doula services are:

• That you can start on a shoestring budget with minimal costs.
• Income generated can be sizeable depending on the way the business is established.
• It is a great business for stay at home moms, individuals wanting to become entrepreneurs with a home-base business, or college students looking to make additional income.
• Trained individuals that are single get all the fun of being around a new baby without permanent responsibility.
  

A business owner of a doula service, should have a genuine feel for new parents and babies, as well as experience with infants. Regardless of whether or not you perform the actually services or just hire others to do the job, one should be knowledgeable of infants, new moms, and their families. While your services won't be that of a nurse or nanny, you and your employees will need to know how to help new moms with breast-feeding, changing diapers, deal with colic and handle the other minor crises of new babyhood that can send parents into a panic.

As mentioned prior startup cost will be somewhat minimal within this business depending on the investor. Investments factors such as equipment, transportation, licensing and permits, operating location, working capital and initial marketing and advertising budgets will determine your actual startup cost.

The size of your business, clientele base, and location will also contribute to the amount one might wish to spend in getting this business established. Estimate startup costs I reviewed ranged from under $2,000 to over $5,000. While good established owners of this type of business is estimated to have an income potential of $20,000 a year as an individual performing services alone and a potential of $50,000 and more with other employees.

Again, one must realize that an individual wishing to offer this type of service to a middle class clientele would not incur the same startup costs as someone catering to the rich and famous. In addition someone in a somewhat remote location would not have the same expenses as an individual within a highly populated area. The key to remember is that a successful entrepreneur carefully researches and plans every aspect of a new business venture, including the working capital required to achieve positive cash flow and the financial investment needed to start a business.

Marketing for your business will be focused on individuals that are about to be new parents. One can advertise services by giving free parenting talks to prenatal classes, and then passing out brochures that describe in detail your services. You can leave brochures with hospital maternity centers, obstetricians, pediatricians and new-parent support groups in the area you want to establish your business. As well as establish a business website detailing your services and credentials. A doula service is a terrific new-baby gift, so don't forget to advertise this fact to grandparents, other family members, and friends!

Again this is a shoestring operation that will not require a lot of equipment or office supplies. Actually all you really need to get started in a doula service are your own innate abilities to perform specified services, a reliable vehicle or public transport to carry you to your assignment locations, and a phone for communication purposes. One can work out of their own home and establish a home office as the business grows. Since you're dealing with people and their most precious possessions (a newborn), it is advisable to carry liability insurance and have pediatric first aid and CPR certification.

Accreditation and certification are available, but not necessary from the National Association of Postpartum Care Services. However, personally I feel the more professional your business the more clients willing to trust your reliability. Your business will be viewed as one step ahead of credibility if you or someone with your business is a nurse, medical assistant or other health professional.

Typical cost of a certified doula’s service ranges between $300 to a $1000 depending on the type of service and support the new mother-to-be requires during childbirth and or postpartum thereafter.Obviously, such costs also depend on whether one lives in upper New York, lower New Mexico City, or overseas in another country.

In addition the length of time services are rendered and experience of the trained doula will affect cost as well. Most doulas will have a brochure listing services performed and prices of each including package deals. Many will be willing work with you to help you afford the service and offer payment options.

A doula’s support is priceless so it pays an individual to make several calls to different services to find one that meets the needs of the mother-to-be at a price that is affordable. Also check to see if your insurance provider includes a provision for doula services; some providers do while others insurance policies do not. Another option is to check to see if the hospital that is handling the delivery of the child offers a doula program.

My thoughts are that one can make money providing doula services provided this is a small business that is doing something that you love to do. This is a prime opportunity for mothers to empower other mothers-to-be by providing support and insight of the natural occurrences within motherhood. It can be a rewarding career and or business owner provided you are an individual that loves to touch the lives of others by participating as a witness to the miracle of childbirth and assisting in the care of a family as it adjusts to the arrival of a newborn into their daily lives.

As a doula and or business owner of a doula service you can assist other women during the early stages of motherhood by providing the physical, emotional, and even spiritual support needed to overcome fears and maintain her household. In addition while helping someone else; one in turn is helping oneself by gaining income to maintain your own household. Below I am providing numerous links you might like to research if interested in owning a small business offering doula services and please remember your comments are always welcomed...