DOULA BUSINESS BASICS ONLINE Learn how to get set up as a small business owner.

Doula Business Basics Online is an eight-part series of classes dives into the nitty-gritty, “how to” details of setting up and growing your doula business. Doula business expert and lifelong entrepreneur Patty Brennan provides you with the information and encouragement needed to give birth to a thriving doula business or grow the one you have. Let Patty "doula you" through the process.

Complete the classes on your own time, at your own pace, and review whenever you need to. These programs are a great complement to Patty's book, The Doula Business Guide: How to Succeed as a Birth, Postpartum or End-of-Life Doula. Each class is a stand-alone program.

Please note: These programs were created for birth and postpartum doulas, though the information is broadly applicable to all doulas and small business owners. An update that will include end-of-life doulas is planned for early 2020.

Investment: $150

Try Our Free Sample Class! Riding the Self-Employment Rollercoaster

Let’s start this process with our eyes wide open. Here’s your chance to explore the pros and cons and universal challenges of self-employment.

For a better viewing experience, click on the full screen icon in the bottom right corner of the video window.

THE DOULA BUSINESS BASICS COLLECTION

All classes are presented in video format and are accessible on our website. Each class comes with a course pack of written materials and resources available as a PDF download. After purchase, you will be given a link to access the classes. You can start and stop videos anytime and return, at your leisure, as often as necessary.

PURCHASE NOW

YOUR DOULA BUSINESS BASICS ONLINE MODULES INCLUDE:

Self-employment
The Rollercoaster of Self-Employment
  • Consider the pros & cons of self-employment
  • Challenges shared by all small business owners
foundations
Basics of Doula Business Start-Up
  • What’s in a name?
  • DBAs and LLCs? Simplifying the alphabet soup
  • Variations on business models
  • Shaping your services and doula practice
  • Bottom line on paperwork
grow your doula business
Find Clients & Grow Your Business
  • Market, message and media (understanding the basics)
  • Identify your ideal customer(s)
  • Create a compelling message (avoid the #1 Biggest Mistake)
  • Cultivate a referral culture in your business
  • How to network effectively
doula marketing
Online Marketing Basics for Doulas
  • So, you want to create a website?
  • It’s all about SEO (maximizing your online presence)
  • Building your community (capture that email!)
  • The value of e-newsletters
  • Engaging on social media
doula fees
Money Matters! Managing Your Doula Income
  • Examining your beliefs about money, scarcity and abundance
  • Setting your fees
  • Get comfortable talking about money
  • Checking accounts, credit cards and 3rd party reimbursement
  • Staying out of trouble with the IRS
  • Creating a budget (sorting the needs, requirements and desires)
limiting liability for doulas
Limiting Liability Associated with Doula Work
  • Limitations of liability insurance
  • Forming a limited liability corporation (LLC)
  • Know your scope of practice
  • Setting and maintaining professional boundaries
  • Creating effective client contracts
  • Navigating potential risks
  • Red flags and how to respond appropriately
time management
I Don't Have Time to Read a Book on Time Management
  • Overcoming procrastination
  • Revisiting the seven strategies of highly effective people
  • Five successful time-management strategies
  • Make a detailed plan
  • Identify obstacles to success
  • Essentials of self-care and work-life balance
doula entrepreneur
Cultivating the Entrepreneur Within
  • Overcoming our shared challenges
  • Shake it up! Getting out of our bubbles …
  • The blessing of accountability