For most women, the birthing experience is a right of passage – the first opportunity to bond with this incredible new life being brought into the world. Each new mother has a vision of what this experience should be like and creates a birthing plan with that vision in mind. A midwife helps carry out that plan for families who envision a more natural, calming experience, free of a large hospital staff.
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Start a midwifery business by following these 10 steps:
- Plan your Midwifery Business
- Form your Midwifery Business into a Legal Entity
- Register your Midwifery Business for Taxes
- Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
- Set up Accounting for your Midwifery Business
- Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Midwifery Business
- Get Midwifery Business Insurance
- Define your Midwifery Business Brand
- Create your Midwifery Business Website
- Set up your Business Phone System
We have put together this simple guide to starting your midwifery business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.
Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.
STEP 1: Plan your business
A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:
- What will you name your business?
- What are the startup and ongoing costs?
- Who is your target market?
- How much can you charge customers?
Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.
What will you name your business?
Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Midwifery Business Name Generator
If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.
When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:
- Your state’s business records
- Federal and state trademark records
- Social media platforms
- Web domain availability
It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.
What are the costs involved in opening a midwifery business?
When opening a midwifery business, entrepreneurs have an extensive list of needs. Part of why women choose midwives in their birthing plan is to have options regarding how and where they give birth. Since some women will want to birth in the comfort of their own home, many of your supplies will need to be portable. A percentage of your clients will, however, want to birth at your establishment, so it’s also important that you purchase or lease a space that can comfortably handle multiple births at once. Choose a location that is easily accessible, clean, and has a calming feel for your birthing mothers.
In addition to your space, you’ll need to budget for approximately $25,000 for the following supplies to get the business started:
- General medical equipment and supplies
- Blood sugar equipment
- Resuscitation equipment
- Birth kit
- IV equipment
- Needles and syringes
- Blood collection equipment
- Catheterization equipment
- Cleaning solutions and equipment
- Birthing tub kit
- Marketing materials, including an educational website, business cards, and brochures
- Insurance
What are the ongoing expenses for a midwifery business?
As a midwifery business owner, your largest expense is your physical location and supplies. Below are a few items you’ll want to budget for in your monthly expenses:
- Insurance
- Maintaining adequate supplies
- Advertising and website maintenance
- Continuing education
Who is the target market?
Your customers will be limited to a very specific group of individuals. Many expecting mothers are still choosing the path of birthing in a hospital, with a physician overseeing the process. Some of these women will be your clients, as many are now choosing to have both a midwife and a doctor in the room, with the purpose of ensuring a system of checks and balances. Others choose a more natural path, removing physicians from the equation entirely. This will provide the framework for your customer base, with many of them becoming an extension of your family.
How does a midwifery business make money?
While the cost of a midwife is significantly lower than a hospital birth, most insurance companies will not cover a midwife’s fee. Fees are agreed upon between the midwife and family, with many expecting families paying out of pocket. Due to the cost, many midwifery businesses accept payment plans, with the final payment due at 37 weeks.
How much can you charge customers?
Midwifery fees vary depending upon location and specific services needed. Many centers report charging between $3,500 and $5,000 per birth.
How much profit can a midwifery business make?
If you assist in the birth of 3 babies a month and charge $3,500 per birth, your agency will earn $126,000 before expenses. Hiring one or two additional midwives will not only help cover overhead costs, it can almost double your business’ profit, depending upon the pay scale you and the midwife agree upon.
How can you make your business more profitable?
The following are a few strategies other birthing centers have implemented to ensure a more profitable business:
- Partner with local obstetricians and hospitals and offer assistance during hospital births when requested
- Offer lactation consultations
- Host regular events, such as prenatal yoga and infant CPR classes
- Offer additional classes that would interest expecting parents – nutrition, prenatal, and breastfeeding
- Many families choose to save the placenta, so this is a great service to include in your business’ portfolio
Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!
STEP 2: Form a legal entity
One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your midwifery business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.
This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.
In practice, this means that if your midwifery business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.
Ready to Turn Your Business Idea Into a Reality?
Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.
Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our state-specific How to Start an LLC guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best LLC Services review (for those opting for a professional service).
STEP 3: Register for taxes
You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.
In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!
You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?
There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.
STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Separate personal and business expenses by putting your business’ expenses all in one place.
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.
STEP 5: Set up business accounting
Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.
Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.
STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses
Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.
State & Local Business Licensing Requirements
Generally, midwives must be certified as either CPMs or CNMs and take a national midwifery exam. Information about certification can be found on the American College of Nurse-Midwives website.
The American Public Health System has published guidelines for licensing birthing centers. These guidelines can be found on the American Association of Birth Centers website.
Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.
Service Agreement
Midwife businesses should consider requiring clients to sign a service agreement before starting a new project. This agreement should clarify client expectations and minimize risk of legal disputes by setting out payment terms and conditions, as well as service level expectations. Here is an example service agreement.
Recommended: Rocket Lawyer makes it easy to create a professional service agreement for your midwife business when you sign up for their premium membership. For $39.95 per month, members receive access to hundreds of legal agreements and on call attorneys to get complimentary legal advice.
STEP 7: Get business insurance
Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.
There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.
Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.
Find out what types of insurance your Midwifery Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Midwifery Business.
STEP 8: Define your brand
Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.
If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.
How to promote & market a midwifery business
Historically, the women who chose natural births with midwives was a tight knit group within the community. Word of mouth was a midwife’s greatest marketing tool. However, as word spreads regarding the benefits of working with a midwife, centers are finding new marketing opportunities.
Midwife birthing centers have found success implementing the following marketing strategies:
- Partner with pediatricians within the community who support a more natural approach to treating their patients. Their support and recommendation will take you farther in gaining valued clients.
- Purchase ads in local publications, particularly those geared towards families.
- Feature a blog on your website and share on social media. Focus on topics your expecting parents would inquire about, establishing yourself as an educator and leader in your industry.
- Host workshops geared towards new families.
- Google and Facebook ads are a great way to get your name out in the community.
How to keep customers coming back
Due to the services you’ll be providing, word of mouth is critical to attracting clients. How you treat them and how comfortable you make them from the moment you meet will define the relationship built. Women made to feel comfortable and in control will pass on their positive experience to others, encouraging them to consider you for their birth. Keep track of your clients once the baby arrives. They will, undoubtedly, consider you a part of their family and will look to you should they decide to have multiple children.
STEP 9: Create your business website
After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.
While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.
Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:
- All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
- Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
- Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.
Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.
Other popular website builders are: WordPress, WIX, Weebly, Squarespace, and Shopify.
STEP 10: Set up your business phone system
Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.
There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.
Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com
Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.
Is this Business Right For You?
Owning a midwifery business offers a unique opportunity to help families welcome their little bundle of joy into the world on their terms. Because newborns come when they’re ready, midwives must have the ability to keep a free schedule, prepared to jump in at a moment’s notice. This is a wonderfully rewarding career for the compassionate and loving individual who enjoys connecting and interacting with people on a more intimate level.
Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?
Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!
What happens during a typical day at a midwifery business?
In the midwifery business, no two days are alike. Even if you’re able to welcome multiple babies into the world each day, every family’s wishes and needs will be unique, as is each birthing experience.
While this will vary from day-to-day, most days will include the following activities:
- Conduct interviews with families to get a feel for what their birthing needs are
- Schedule and carry out regular prenatal checkups to ensure the pregnancy is progressing safely
- Meet with mothers swiftly when they sense something isn’t right with their body or unborn baby
- Assist families with whatever they require, once labor has begun
- Deliver the baby and care for both mother and baby immediately after birth and assess the health and wellbeing of both
- Provide care and advice if emergency interventions are required
- Market your business
- Consistently research to ensure your business is current with the best midwifery practices
- Follow up with families after birth
Additionally, there will be administrative duties to attend to, such as ordering supplies and paying bills. Many midwife business owners delegate these responsibilities to their trusted staff, so they can focus on the needs of their “customers.”
What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful midwifery business?
Because emotions can be high throughout the birthing experience, midwives must be strong and confident individuals. Attention to detail is critical, as a newborn’s life (as well as the mother’s) is in your hands. If something goes awry, you must be able to firmly, confidently, and calmly explain the situation to your birthing family and be able to execute an alternate plan swiftly, while still considering the outlined birthing plan. Additionally, it’s important to understand that these families are looking to you for guidance throughout this process. The ability to listen to your clients, often reading between the lines, is important, as is a passion for educating them every step of the way.
Those considering entering the profession can take two different paths to get there (depending upon your state). Certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) receive a degree in nursing, spending years completing their education. Some states also allow “direct-entry” midwives to practice, once they’ve completed an apprenticeship program with an experienced midwife. Regardless of which path you choose, the Midwives Alliance of North America offers a wealth of information regarding midwifery education, advocacy, and research.
What is the growth potential for a midwifery business?
More and more expecting families have realized the value behind having a midwife present during birth, helping to remove the “hippie” label that was once present. In fact, the industry is expected to grow by 31% by 2020, offering great opportunity for success for those considering opening a midwifery business. Growth opportunities are directly related to demand in your area and affordability of services, as well as the availability of other midwives in your region.
Take the Next Step
Find a business mentor
One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.
Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.
Learn from other business owners
Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.
Resources to Help Women in Business
There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:
- Funding
- Events
- Guides
- Support
If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.
What are some insider tips for jump starting a midwifery business?
The following are some insider tips from individuals who have found success in this ever-growing industry:
- Get involved with organizations such as the Midwives Alliance of North America and the National Association of Certified Professional Midwives. It’s important to have a support group of other midwives to ensure the best quality care for every client. They can also provide a wealth of information and resources to ensure the startup process goes smoothly.
- Conduct interviews with expecting families before taking them on as a client. You’ll have an instrumental role in the event that will change their lives forever – understanding each other is key to a successful birth.
- Consider accreditation through the American Association of Birth Centers.
How and when to build a team
This will depend upon your personal preference. While not required, many midwives partner with a doula to assist with the birthing process. You’ll also want to consider hiring one or two additional midwives within the community to help your business grow. Since childbirth can come at any time and can last longer than 24 hours, it would also be beneficial to hire someone to take care of the clerical duties, so you’re not overwhelmed during those busy times. Just be sure the first person potential clients interact with is someone they can relate to. Most teenagers haven’t gone through this sensitive process and cannot begin to understand what expecting mothers are going through – find someone who will be sympathetic and can educate clients and prospects whenever necessary.
Whether you decide to hire employees or work solo, you’ll need the assistance of a reputable attorney. They can help ensure all your paperwork is in order and that you’ve purchased the necessary insurance to protect your business and your customers.