The Confidence Price Tag: What Raising Your Doula Rates Really Teaches You With Kaely Harrod
The Truth About Raising Your Doula Rates
Let’s be real: raising your rates as a doula isn’t just about charging more.
It’s an identity shift. A confidence-building, belief-shaking, heart-expanding process that forces you to see yourself differently, not just as a doula, but as a CEO.
Because when you raise your rates, you’re not just changing the number on your packages.
You’re changing the story you tell yourself about what you’re worth.
Part 1: Why Pricing Isn’t Just Math
Most doulas approach pricing like a math problem.
They crunch expenses, compare what others charge, or pick a number that feels safe.
But pricing isn’t math. It’s identity.
Your rates reflect how you see yourself and how much you believe in the transformation you provide.
Ask yourself:
What does raising your rates actually mean beyond the dollar amount?
Why do so many doulas feel guilty or scared to charge more?
How does money reflect our beliefs about worth in birth work?
Here’s the truth: when you undercharge, it’s rarely because your math is off. It’s because your mindset is.
Part 2: The Identity Shift Behind Raising Rates
Before you can raise your rates, you have to rewrite who you think you are.
Old identity:
“I’m just grateful anyone would hire me.”
New identity:
“My presence changes outcomes. My advocacy matters. My support is worth investing in.”
You can’t wait to feel ready to raise your rates. You have to decide first and let your confidence catch up later.
Ask yourself:
What old money stories did I have to let go of?
What does it feel like to say my price out loud without apologizing?
How does charging more shift how clients see me and how I see myself?
That’s the identity work that changes everything.
Part 3: Common Money Myths in Birth Work
Let’s bust a few lies that keep doulas broke and burnt out.
Myth 1: If I charge more, families won’t hire me.
Myth 2: Raising rates is greedy.
Myth 3: I need more certifications before I can raise rates.
Sound familiar?
Here’s the truth: raising your rates doesn’t push clients away. It attracts aligned ones. The families who see your value don’t flinch at your price. They exhale with relief that they finally found you.
And no, charging more doesn’t make you greedy. It makes you sustainable. It allows you to show up fully, serve deeply, and lead with presence instead of running on empty.
Part 4: What Raising Rates Actually Teaches You
When you raise your rates, you learn a few priceless lessons.
Boundaries: You stop saying yes out of desperation.
Leadership: You say your price without apologizing.
Energetics: You finally value the invisible labor you give.
Trust: You believe the right clients will come.
Sustainability: You realize fewer clients can mean bigger impact.
Ask yourself:
What shifted after the first time you raised your rates?
How did your energy change in consults?
What did you stop doing once your prices reflected your true value?
Raising your rates is personal growth disguised as business strategy.
Part 5: Building Packages That Reflect Your Value
Here’s where most doulas miss the mark. Your packages are not just a list of visits or what everyone else is doing.
They’re a reflection of your transformation.
Your packages should:
✅ Start with the outcome you help families achieve.
✅ Solve specific problems, not just list services.
✅ Offer 2–3 clear options without overwhelm.
✅ Protect your time, energy, and sanity.
Ask yourself:
How do my packages reflect who I am as a doula?
Am I selling features (prenatals) or benefits (confidence, clarity, peace)?
What transformation am I actually delivering?
When your packages are built around your unique gifts, pricing them confidently becomes easy because they feel aligned.
Because raising your rates doesn’t just change your business.
It changes you.
It ripples out into every family you serve, every birth you attend, every boundary you hold.
The Big Takeaway
Raising your doula rates isn’t a financial decision. It’s a declaration:
“I believe in the value of what I bring.”
Every time you raise your rates, you anchor deeper into your worth.
You lead with more confidence.
And you remind your clients that their transformation is worth investing in.
Ready to Build a Doula Business That Reflects Your True Value?
If you’re ready to confidently price your doula services, attract aligned clients, and book out without burnout, grab my free guide:
👉 The 3 Must-Ask Questions That Close Every Doula Consult
Let’s build a business that pays you back in impact and income.
