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Doula Empowerment Blog

taking payments 101

1/31/2021

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New doulas and birth professionals often ask,
​ "What is the best way to take payments for services?"

There is no absolute "best" payment system.  Selecting how you would like to get paid is based on personal decision and clients you wish to attract.

Let's briefly discuss the major payment options available to doulas, so you can make an informed decision on what payment methods will work best for you and your clients.

Keep in mind, you can change your mind at any time on your payment options as you grow your business.

Questions to consider before making payment decisions:

  • Is accepting credit cards important for your clients?
  • Do your clients generally pay all at once or in installments?
  • Are you keeping track of income/expenses through an online program or your own system?
  • How important is it to you and your clients to have records of payments?
  • How often are you accepting payments and what is the average dollar amount of payments?
  • Is this a hobby or business for you?
  • Does asking for payment or saying your fee out loud make you uncomfortable?
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Cash

  • Must be presented or left in person and can be awkward for some especially if asking for payment.
  • Any record keeping must be recorded manually after service. 
  • Unless clients have cash on hand, it may require an extra step for clients.
  • Very little chance of fraud or problems once cash is received.
  • Easier to accept cash with smaller dollar amount services.
  • Payment plans can be set, but must be followed up on because cash payments can't be automatic.
  • There is no official proof of payment or lack of payment.

Checks

  • Checks usually require some form of manual record keeping
  • There is potential danger of insufficient funds.
  • Can be sent through mail.
  • Fewer people have access to checks now than in the past.
  • Additional step of cashing checks for doula.
  • There is proof though banking records that payment was cashed or not.
  • Payment plans can be set, but must be manually set.

PayPal Business Account

  • You can take credit card payments directly and easily.
  • There are a variety of payment options for clients.
  • There is a small fee attached to the service. (It's how PayPal runs as a business)
  • Clients do not need to have a PayPal account to use this payment form, but most people aren't aware of that.
  • Some clients may not trust PayPal.
  • Easily tracks and generates statements for your business and tax purposes.
  • As with any online feature,  there is a danger of hacking.
  • You can easily add PayPal payment buttons to websites, so clients can just click and pay.

I don't recommend PayPal friends and family. It does go against Paypal's terms of service and can get your account frozen. It also can make your business look less professional and lacks protection on the part of the client and yourself.

Invoicing Systems

There are new systems popping up all the time.  Some current options are Dubsado, Basecamp, and HoneyBook, which are more all in one systems.

Square is an easy payment processor without all the extra bells and whistles of the all in one systems and without a monthly fee.
  • There is a fee attached to both the service and credit card payments.
  • You can accept credit cards and other forms of payments
  • There is a learning curve to best set up the system.
  • They integrate with several other platforms to make payments and client tracking easier.
  • End of year tracking is done automatically.
  • Invoices and receipts are sent automatically.
  • Payment plans can be set up automatically.

Apps like Venmo and Cashapp

  • There is no fee for these apps right now
  • It is against the guidelines of the apps to use them for business purposes
  • Regular or larger dollar payments can trigger account freeze.

Even more confused with all the options?

Don't let this process turn into overwhelm. I recommend starting with free or low cost options first, and then upgrade to bigger and better systems once you are more established.

Starting out as a new doula, I operated with cash, PayPal, and Square for years. I've just recently upgraded to HoneyBook for more features.  

This process doesn't need to be hard! Still feeling stuck? Let's chat! 
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get a boost for your biz...for free

1/21/2021

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Schedule a 30 minute consultation with Deb

Schedule a 30 minute no cost consultation with Deb to discuss how to get yourself unstuck and moving forward in your birth business. During COVID times, all sessions are available on Zoom. Once you sign up, you will receive a Zoom link the day of your session.
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What might we talk about?

  • Are you overwhelmed or stuck choosing your business  name or website?
  • Are you just plain overwhelmed with what to do first, second,  third?
  • Struggling to get clients, but aren't sure how to find them?
  • Starting down the path of burnout?
  • Want to learn how to start using social media or how to avoid using social media?
  • Just need a little business pep talk?
  • ​Deb can help with all of those and more!

Why are you doing this?

(Deb speaking here) I've been in birth work in some form or another for 14 years now and have seen lots of changes in that time. I've worked alone, I've worked with partners, I have left more than one partnership because of my own needs and desires. I've taught a variety of classes both to parents and to other doulas. I've started a training organization twice! I've given things away for free and thought that giving anything away was bad. I've seen and done a lot in this world.

I decided to do this as a way I can give back to the community. I've been through so many ups and downs in my business and would have loved to have someone I could talk with about specific details. 

I'm grateful there is social media to post and get a variety of opinions, but sometimes I'm so far into overwhelm that I don't want a variety of opinions, I just want one! So, if I have personally felt that way, there must be others out there who feel the same.

That's why I'm doing this! I want to support people in the field that have just started and who don't have a community quite yet, or do have a community and want to see an issue or find a solution that might be a little different.

We are all unique, and I want to help you achieve your goals and dreams in this business in a way that doesn't break your heart of spirit.

Is it REALLY free?

Short answer is YES!! There is never a push to purchase one of my services or classes.  I would love for you to fill out a quick survey after your consultation, so I can learn what worked for you and what didn't so I can improve my offerings.

This is an offering without strings. The purpose of the consultation is to help you get unstuck or solve a problem in your business.

Are there additional classes, mentorships opportunities, and programs that I offer? SURE there are!! You won't hear about them unless you would like to hear about them on your session or afterwards.

Are you just trying to sell me something?

These consultations are a way I can give back to a community. There are points in my career where I've felt I have hurt my birth community and I would like to make a difference now.

These sessions are not a 30 minute sales pitch. You'll get actual information you can use in your business. While we may not be able to answer all your questions or solve all your problems in 30 minutes, it is my hope that I can get you out of the fog and making a step forward.

Do you want to look into additional services I offer? Then I am happy to point you in that direction, but it is not the focus or the purpose of the call.
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How many sessions can I sign up for?

At this time, you are limited to 2 no cost consultations. Should you desire more time with Deb, it's advisable to register for a program.

How do I sign up?

You can email Deb at [email protected] and we can work to find a time that is suitable for you and Deb.

Or you can fill out the information below for Deb to contact you
    (Your preferred contact method)
Submit

What should I do to prepare for the consult?

To get the best experience, have an idea of questions you might want to ask. They can be very specific questions "Where do you recommend as a website host?"  to more broad topics "I'm stuck and I don't know what to do". 

This gives us a jumping off point. We never know where the conversation will take us from that initial question.

Can I get more support from Deb?

Absolutely!! While these calls are not sales calls, but an opportunity for me to give back to my community, I do offer additional classes and programs to help you take your doula business to the level you desire!

You can find out more about classes, VIP Boost Your Business Plan for DIY'ers, or the Accelerate your Business 6 month coaching plan.

​You are welcome to ask about these during your consultation or set up another consultation to discuss options available to you. In this session we talk about your needs and the program that would best fit along with payment options.
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3 Quick tips for finding new clients

1/19/2021

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Are you a new doula without a large budget and want to get new clients?

Three easy ways to get new clients in your birth business are networking, providing informational chats or classes, and providing information and answers on social media.

Let's take each of these three and break them down.

Networking

Networking with other small business owners is the best way to reach new clients. Having a team of people working to support and promote you and your business is much quicker and easier than doing it all on your own.

Networking is developing authentic relationships with other business owners to increase your business and the business of others.  Networking should be a balanced activity by helping people as much, if not more, than you get help with your business.

The goal of networking isn't to find a client in the networking group, but to build connections in your community and build a know, like, trust factor with other business owners.

Benefits of networking:
-Learn how to speak effectively about what you do
-Get to know other business owners in your area to build your referral network
-Collaborate and make connections
-Learn about valuable opportunities in your area

Networking can be done informally by reaching out to other business professionals in your area or formally by joining a networking group.

Informal networking can be free to very low cost and done in person or virtually. You'll spent time getting to know each other's business, discovering ways you may be able to collaborate, share information with each other, have someone to mastermind, and celebrate wins. Sometimes informal networking can be quick and sometimes it can develop into long lasting partnerships.

Informal networking tip: While reaching out to others who serve pregnant people is beneficial, don't just limit your networking to them. Reach out to other local business owners as well.  Nearly every business serves pregnant people from the local cleaner to financial planners. 

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Formal networking can be joining an established networking group either in person or online.  Meetings may be held weekly to monthly. Every networking group is different, so find out the values, rules, and pricing for each group to make sure it's a good fit for you. Groups can be free to over $500 per month.  Even paid groups usually offer a free or low cost opportunity to check out the group to see if it's a good fit for you.

Usually there is time to mingle and get to know others in the group, a chance to share what you do with the group, usually called a "30 second commercial", and a business presentation of some kind.  

Some groups offer sponsorship opportunities to share more about what you do with the group or speaking engagements. 

With any networking, the more active you are in the group and the more energy you put into the group, the more results you will see.

​You can search for networking groups on social media (especially facebook), on meetup.com and eventbrite.com.

Giving Informational Talks/Classes

Informational talks are short discussions about topics your potential clients may want to learn. Talks can be done either online with platforms like Zoom, as a "live" on social media, or in person.

An informational talk on Zoom or in person is, on average, from 30 minutes to an hour with time for questions. If using a live feature on social media they can be very short: between 5-15 minutes in length.  Doing both types of talks can increase your reach and have more people see you and get to know your business.

Talks can be free or have a small fee. 

The key to informational talks is to offer them consistently. Each event does not need to have new information, but also get into the habit of changing topics, so it doesn't get old. Watch what potential clients post on social media for topic ideas or join my Facebook group Deb Pocica-Mentoring and Training for Doulas for more information.

Promote your talks on social media and during networking.  Consider paid advertising carefully. Paid advertising can be very beneficial if done well.

Do not get discouraged if you have no attendees at first. Keep offering talks regularly while promoting them to build the know, like, trust factor. When people get to know your business, the more they will attend and share your event.
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Thinking big tip: These talks can be a regularly occurring series that can be held at local venues and in collaboration with other business owners. They can also be a start for your own pregnancy/postpartum group.

Offering Information on Social Media

This topic is huge, so we will just cover some basics!
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We'll break it down into the two basic categories of sharing information online:
  • your pages, profiles, groups
  • other peoples' pages and groups
When you are brand new and have not established your own presence or community, you can start by offering free information on other peoples' pages and groups.

At the same time, start building your own professional presence online.
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You are able to post on your own pages, profiles, and groups at any point (as long as you are in compliance with the platform).

People often come to social media to as questions about pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.  You can answer these questions and provide valuable information. 

Tip: Publicly provide information rather than going to private messages to do so. You want everyone to see how you answer questions and the value that you can provide.


Be careful when you provide information in other people's groups. Nearly all groups have guidelines and rules for sharing information. Search these out, so that you use the groups appropriately and your posts do not get removed. Also, notice if the group is owned or ran by other birth workers. It isn't wise to try to promote your own business on another birth workers page unless permission has been given.

Look for groups to join that are for your potential customers. Joining other doula business groups is valuable, but not for finding potential clients outside of networking opportunities. Look for groups that are about "parents in (your city or location)".

When people ask question about pregnancy, birth, postpartum, or parenting, you can answer the questions. This is the time to be of service to others. The more you can provide information, the more valuable you become in the group and in your business. Make sure your personal profile has information on where to find your business information. This can even be done when your personal profile is set to private.   Spend more time answering questions and sharing information and less time promoting yourself. General guidelines say spend 80% of time providing information and 20% of time on promotion. Read more about the 80/20 rule here.

You can create informational posts and graphics to share on others' pages and groups if that is allowed. There may also be "promotion days" for posting.

Combining the different methods for the biggest and quickest results

When you combine networking, offering informational talks, and offering answers online, you be able to make yourself known as a professional in the area and build the know, like, trust factor which encourages people to hire you.

Each of these actions make the other stronger.

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Takeaways: 
Be helpful first
Make sure people can find your business
Be consistent in your actions
The more you put into each suggestion, the more you'll get out of it.

Check out the Social Media Made Simple e-book to give you all the tips you need to start being successful on social media!
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How to post on social media without making everyone ignore you

1/13/2021

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Have you ever seen the posts I'm talking about?

Buy my thing right now. I am available for births for the next 6 months. I've got a sale happening this week, so sign up now.  

Those all can be great messages to put out on social media ON OCCASION, but when that's all that is posted on the doula's page or shared in FB groups, it can look desperate and boring.

What can you post on social media instead of just the hire me posts? Let's talk about the 80/20 rule!
Here's the basics of the 80/20 rule for social media:

Post 80% of the time with educational, informational, or entertainment posts.
Post 20% of the time offering your services

This way you are offering potential clients a reason to read more about you, get to know you as a professional, and consider reaching out for an interview.

Now you don't have to make this harder than it is! Sometimes we think that anything we post as a doula has to be new, never seen before, evidence based information. That's all great, but you can post quick tidbits of information, too.

Here are a few quick ideas for you:
  • My top 5 pregnancy announcements from the internet
  • Common pregnancy myths
  • Pregnancy and Coffee
  • My favorite pregnancy subscription boxes
  • 5 postpartum secrets
  • How to interview a doula
  • Contraction Apps to use
  • A review of baby or pregnancy gear

If you run out of ideas, check out mommy blog titles or Pinterest titles. Don't take the content, but use the idea to write a quick post about your spin on the subject.

If you want to expand on the 80/20 rule here is a more detailed breakdown:
  • 50% educational information that clients might be searching on Google
  • 15% pure entertainment (sharing funny memes that would appeal to your audience, etc)
  • 15% curated information about yourself
  • 20% your service offerings

Doing this consistently for a few months can really create a lot of great content that potential clients can read or watch if you are a video person. Potential clients can get to know YOU and want to hire you as their doula.
Want more information on this topic or help figuring out what the best things to post for your ideal client might be? Let's talk!

​You can also check out classes and programs I offer to really boost your business!


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    Deb Pocica

    A birth professional, lover of shoes and travel, speaker, trainer, and supporter of doulas and small businesses.

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