Feedback please : New small business idea!!

[freshstart]

Hi

Ok, this is the crack......

I am currently working as a childminder, have recently completed training to be a doula and also run an ironing company from home.

The doula work massively excites and inspires me, although it is still very new where I live so not an abundance of work.

The childminding I quite enjoy but struggle with the sheer responsibility and stress for £3.00 an hour!

Me, my sister and a best friend have been thinking of what we could set up together and were thinking about a cleaning/life laundry company.

Through further conversations we have started to talk about a concept that Im quite excited about and wanted to see what you thought.

Rather than it be a purely cleaning company we are going to pool all of our skills and have a range of services to offer, typically to mothers.

Combining the work of a postnatal doula, cleaner, cook, childminder, organiser and ironer we would like to offer a "mothers help" service

Offering :

Cleaning
Post natal doula work
Cleaning
Ironing Service
Possibly some cooking
Shopping
Babysitting service

etc etc

What do you think???

freshstart i may book you next time i have a baby

WWW - thanks for all of that input - very much food for thought.

I would be essentially being a postnatal doula but I dont know, hmmmm, doing it in a more commercial/accessible way.

I am a trained doula btw, well, almost. I have undertaken the recognised Doula UK training course (led by our very own pupuce) and have some post course work to do and of course experience to gain.

What I am proposing is to work as a doula but offering packages and the ability to pick and choose which services to use IYSWIM

Hello Freshstart

Re fees etc why don't you call local nanny agencies and ask for a quote on maternity nannies, mat nurses & annies. The going rate here (East Anglia) for maternity nannies is £300 pw, nurses anything up to £500 pw but that is practically 24 hrs per day work, nannies £7-12 ph, depending on experience. Doulas are paid £14 ph, £17 if tru an agency. Obviously don't let on that you might be a rival, but it will help you pitch your fees.

Re name: keep it simple so that everyone can find you on Google. "Newcastle Mother's Help and Doula Services" does exactly what it says on the tin and you will be found in the click of a mouse.

Start advertising in posh areas of town, at the GP's HEalth Visitor's, maternity hospitals, ante-natal yoga classes. Try to invite yourself to an NCT gathering in expensive parts of town to "discus" your services, and be armed with print-outsof your services / business cards etc.

Take a look at doula agency websites to get more ideas.

Sounds like a fantastic idea by the way.

What do you call a doula agency ?
And I thought there was only 1 in London?

Hi Pupuce! Do you have any thoughts on this?

Would value your input - as your the pro!

I think fee wise you know what you should price your doula services at.
As for marketing, read (again?) p 112-114 - it might give you ideas.
I would focus on doula only but say that extra services are available. This could include EVENING baby sitting of very small babies.
Most of what you want to offer doulas do anyway (don't they ).
Feel free to e-mail me....
Still keen to hear about the agencies Muminaquandry is talking about..

try Cambridge Doula Services website

I know CDS - it's run by one of my best mates but it's not what I'd call an agency as they don't get parents to pay extra (on top of doula fee) like agencies do.

Pupuce - sorry - my mistake - I was just trying to give freshstart some ideas. As a pg mother I was looking for info on doulas and I am afraid I didn't notice the distinction while checking their website!!

Good to know that they are being a cheaper option that way!

You could offer gift vouchers, so that other people could purchase a service for a family member.
For cooking I would have a menu of what you can provide.