Addressing Groups

[Tiffany Hensley-Cummings]

I'm going to my local birthing center soon to speak to a group of expecting parents. I was wondering if there were any tips? How do you handle it if someone asks what your fees are? Do you just tell a set price, do you say it varies or you'd rather discuss that individually?

[UtahDoula]

Eh, I tell them what my price is. I figure I wouldn't buy something if the price is a secret - so I'm totally open about my fees.
As far as tips, do what you can to make it casual as far as room setup, introducing yourself, and try to make it more of a conversation where they are involved rather than a lecture.

[Mile High Doula]

I tell them what my price is too but I usually throw something in there about it like I offer payment plans and bartering and tell them how payment is broken up.

[emmabella]

You'll do fine... remember to focus on the WIIFM: what's in it for me. Play up the direct benefits of a doula for the woman and her partner. Be confident and professional.

[mammamayI]

I give them the range of fees in the area, and then tell them mine, so that they see that it is well within the fair range in our area...having a basis of comparison often helps them think, "Oh, then that's not so bad!"

I DO tell them that I take a payment plan up through 38 weeks (I DO require payment in full by then because I don't want to have to chase people around for my money...it's not like I can "withhold" services after the baby's born to get paid!", and am sometimes willing to work with families on cost...however, I also often explain that, on top of being a lot of WORK, with the cost of gas what it is now, it literally costs me about $80 just to do all of the preand post natals and the birth IN GAS MONEY...so were I to do it for free, it would actually eat into my grocery money! This is actually usually beneficial for me to discuss this if they act like my fee is to costly...it helps them to see that what I do is WORK, not JUST beneficial for them.