Career Choices for Becoming a Doula


Being a doula is not a one size fits all approach, especially when it comes to business – there are choices to be made and options to be evaluated. Regardless of your path, ProDoula is committed to providing each of our members an incredible evidence-based doula training and certification experience and the support and guidance necessary to thrive!

Independent Doulas

You can become a doula and work independently. This allows you to make your own rules; you decide when you want to work, how you will market and sell your services and what those services will look like. With the freedom and flexibility to make all of your rules, comes a little responsibility and pressure that may be a bit overwhelming or unfamiliar – ProDoula can help you navigate and overcome these challenges by:

  • Helping you develop strategies, budgets and back-office systems
  • Providing advice and guidance in establishing your business and creating the balance that is right for you and your family
  • Developing marketing materials to help you stand out as a professional

Agency Doula

Many people become a doula and work for a doula agency. This type of work allows you to work for clients without any of the time or expenses associated with running a business and finding those clients. You are paid for the time you are working, although at a rate that is lower than what you would earn as an independent doula. ProDoula can provide you guidance to:

  • Establish all necessary legal/ financial protections for yourself – setting up LLC, insurance, etc.
  • Establish boundaries and clear communication with the agency

Agency Owner

Become a certified doula and own a doula agency. For the entrepreneur turned doula, or doula turned entrepreneur, this is an incredibly rewarding opportunity – personally and financially. It puts you in the driver’s seat, setting an agency agenda and becoming a leader. In this scenario, you are not only responsible for your own financial success or failure, but also for providing work for your independent contractors. It can be stressful and overwhelming but in the end, the best decision you ever made. ProDoula can provide a tremendous amount of support and advice by:

  • Helping you develop strategies, budgets and back-office systems
  • Teaching you the operational systems that will enable your business to grow and thrive
  • Helping you develop a professional brand and equipping you with the tools to sell the services of other doulas
  • Providing guidance on finding and inspiring the doulas/independent contractors
  • Providing strategies and resources for various marketing and network strategies, necessary to keep your doulas working
  • And so much more!