Should I Join a Doula Agency?

Should I Join a Doula Agency? 

For many doulas, one of the appeals of the work is being your own boss. Running an independent business gives you full control over your hours, client load, and marketing. But for some people, this control can be overwhelming, and they would prefer the administrative work is taken care of so they can focus on births and postpartum work. Doula agencies can be a great way to stay in the world of birth work without running your own company- but are they for you? 

What is a Doula Agency? 

A doula agency is a business that has set owners who are responsible for acquiring clients. The agency usually takes care of generating leads, scheduling initial meetings, and handling contracts. They usually have multiple doulas and others on staff and will assign clients to the team based on availability and what the client is looking for in terms of services. 

Doulas who work for an agency are considered independent contractors and work out terms with the agency. The agency owners pay them a set amount of money in return for their work with clients. Because of the structure of these agencies, there is also built-in backup for times when someone is on vacation or otherwise unavailable.

Pros of Joining a Doula Agency

Agencies can be a great choice for a range of people. Some people join simply because they are not interested in the administrative aspect of running a business- the idea of not being responsible for marketing and contracting can be appealing for people who don’t want to be business owners. This is especially appealing for people who may do doula work part-time, allowing them to dedicate time to the work and as little extra as possible.

Another reason these can be appealing is the community agencies offer. Many have not only doulas, but childbirth educators, lactation consultants, or other specialists available for certain scenarios. This offers built in resources to share with clients, as well as learning opportunities for the doulas. Being able to work with like-minded individuals, learn about your work, and expand your network is a huge perk of joining an agency.

Using an agency also eliminates the need to find and coordinate with a backup doula, as this is coordinated by the agency owners.

Cons of Joining a Doula Agency

In exchange for some of the benefits to joining a doula agency, there is a potential for financial trade-offs. Agencies collect payment from clients and then distribute the agreed upon amount to their doulas who provide services. In some cases, a doula may make the same amount or more than they would independently, but in other cases they may make slightly less. On average, an agency keeps about 10-20% of the fee they collect and distributes the rest to the doula to reach their contracted payout amount. The difference is used to cover administrative costs like marketing, website fees, taxes, and other business expenses. Many people will not want to make this kind of arrangement and are not a good fit for the agency model.

Some people also do not like the control that agencies have over financial policies and practices. A doula who wants to use a sliding scale or be more flexible may not want to be subject to contracts and rules that come with an agency contract.

A doula who already has an established client base, marketing process, and backup doula network also may not benefit from an agency enough to justify the arrangement.

The Bottom Line

There is no right or wrong decision when it comes to joining a doula agency. Depending on your business and how much you’d like to be involved in marketing and administration, the right choice will vary. If you are considering it, it’s always important to read the contract carefully and understand exactly what being an independent contractor will entail, personally and financially.

It’s also worth considering what pieces of doula work you feel you need help with and exploring tools like Birthbase that can make this easier and more streamlined.