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The Doula Business Advisor: Bartering
When doulas are approached by clients who cannot afford fees for doula services, there are several options available to them. Today, we continue a series of blogs on how to address this challenge with clients.
Bartering for services may be one option to consider. I have bartered my services for car repair, massage therapy, graphic design, haircuts, and cleaning services. On the other hand, I turned down the offer to exchange palm reading for doula services, as palm reading is not something that I value. The barter should be equal in value.
The one downside to bartering is that it can contribute to sticky or murky relationship boundaries with your clients. Once bartering enters the picture, your client is in your life in a new way. The relationship is no longer just about you meeting their needs; they are meeting your needs too. Money is cleaner, less personal, and the boundaries are clearer. Be prepared to have a harder time bringing closure to a professional relationship that has crossed this line. If the barter/payment is extending into the future, by definition you do not have “closure.”
To be continued …
The Doula Business Advisor blog is designed to support the establishment and long-term sustainability of private doula businesses. Patty Brennan is the author of The Doula Business Guide: Creating a Successful MotherBaby Business.