Doula Business Advisor: Create a Doula Business Plan

The difference between a dream and a goal is a timeline.

doula business planIs the realization of your dream to own a thriving doula business your destination? If so, then getting there is a matter of doing it step-by-step. You need a written plan with goals, objectives, action steps and deadlines. The more you give shape to your dream by committing it to paper, the closer you move towards making it a reality. Having a plan that you are working also makes it ten times easier to face the week. With no plan in place, the sheer abundance of possibilities of what you could/should be working on becomes overwhelming. It’s easy to get lost and allow inertia or procrastination (or almost anything or anyone) to take control.

While your plan for launching or expanding your doula business will help focus your efforts, it also gives you a way to hold yourself accountable. Are you on track to achieving your goals? If not, why not? Are your timelines unrealistic or do you need to push yourself a bit more? What are the obstacles you are facing? What is it going to take for you to succeed? A business plan is not set in stone. It will need to be revisited and adjustments made. If the kids won’t give you a moment’s peace to think or make an uninterrupted phone call, then perhaps a new goal—solve the child care challenge—might need to be inserted at the top of your plan.

Let’s start with a sample plan for a dream of owning a successful doula business for someone who has just completed doula training. We begin with identifying two goals that can be worked on simultaneously: (1) complete the professional doula certification process and (2) create the necessary business infrastructure. Timelines will be unique to each individual—it all depends on you and whether you want to fast track it or are seeking to balance other commitments and feel okay with a slower pace.

Next, consider what is needed and what it will take to get it done. Just keep drilling down and getting more and more specific. The first steps of your doula business plan might look something like this …

Goal: Complete doula certification by the end of 2015.

Objective A: Complete certification births by December.

  1. Identify sources for finding pregnant women willing to work with an inexperienced doula (e.g., health clinics serving low-income pregnant women; Facebook doula groups; friends, relatives and acquaintances; volunteer doula programs, etc.). By the end of this week.
  2. Make connections—Register with the program, join the group, visit the clinic (over the next two weeks).
  3. Oops—I need a business card for making these connections. Create business card today on VistaPrint.com (you’re not branding yourself yet and it doesn’t need to be perfect; just order the smallest amount).

Objective B: Complete one book on required reading list per month till done.

  1. Identify cheapest source of the books and procure them (over the next two weeks).

And so on …

Goal: Create the necessary infrastructure for a doula business by September 2016.

doula business guideObjective A: Pull together the basic paperwork needed to begin providing services to clients. By the end of the month.

  1. Research sample doula contracts from doula training course materials and online. 1st week.
  2. Read Chapter 7 in The Doula Business Guide on risk management. 1st week.
  3. Decide your compensation for the certification births (if any), the service package you will offer, the timeframe for delivery of services, your refund policy, etc. 2nd week.
  4. Write your own doula contract. 2nd week.
  5. Identify other paperwork you will need. 3rd week.
  6. And so on …

Objective B: Decide on a name for your business. By September.

  1. Read section on naming your business in Chapter 2 of The Doula Business Guide. By …
  2. Brainstorm business names. By …
  3. Check name availability with the state (for formation of a Limited Liability Corporation or LLC), URL purchase and Facebook business page. By …
  4. Ask others for feedback on your top contenders. By …
  5. Protect your chosen name (incorporate as LLC, purchase URL, reserve Facebook business page). By …

And so on …

As you see, your doula business plan moves from the general to the specific. If you are going to have a house built for you, there are certain things that have to happen first—the site purchased, blueprints drawn, a contractor hired … decoration comes later. There is a sequence for achieving your dreams and it starts with a plan and a timeline.

Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business, 2nd Edition. Now offering The Doula Business Guide Workshop — an inspiring workshop and online class for doulas covering the nitty gritty of establishing a small business and growing it into a sustainable income.

Posted by Patty Brennan on May 12, 2015 • Filed under
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