Do These 3 Things to Make More Money in 2026
As the year winds down, many doulas and sleep consultants start thinking about marketing plans, new offers, or overhauling their websites.
Those things matter…but they’re not the fastest ways to increase revenue.
If you want to make more money in 2026 without adding more client work hours to your calendar, start by doing these three simple things before January 1st.
They’re small, but powerful. They’re the exact steps I take every year, and they always create momentum, both financially and emotionally, as I move into the new year feeling confident instead of scrambling.
Let’s dive in.
Step #1: Look back with gratitude before you plan ahead
It’s easy to scroll Instagram in December and feel like you didn’t do enough. Like everyone else is scaling, hiring, raising rates, launching new programs…and you’re stuck.
But that’s almost never the truth.
Here’s my favorite way to reconnect with everything you did experience and accomplish:
Grab your phone
Scroll back to January 1, 2025
Move photo by photo through your year
Write down:
places you traveled
clients you served
workshops/trainings you attended
trips + milestones with loved ones
moments that surprised you or stretched you
Do this month by month.
The photos will jog your memory of everything that happened that you forgot about.
Why does this matter for revenue?
Because when you reconnect with gratitude, you set your brain up to expect more good things. You stop operating from fear and scarcity.
And you remember: your business has already created abundance.
And there’s more coming.
Step #2: Raise your rates for 2026
You deserve a raise. Period.
Every other business raises prices annually:
software subscriptions
groceries
utilities
oil and gas
service providers
Yet doulas often hesitate.
If it’s been more than six months since your last rate increase, it’s time.
A few tips to make it feel grounded and ethical:
Update your pricing for 2026 now
Change rates internally even if you don’t want to make a public announcement
Optionally offer: “Book now to lock in 2025 pricing before Jan 1”
Adjust recurring or multi-month packages accordingly
This is one of the easiest ways to increase revenue without increasing workload. A $300 increase x 10 clients = $3,000. A $500 increase x 10 clients = $5,000. Small changes = meaningful impact.
Give yourself permission to be compensated for the value you provide.
Step #3: Track your mileage + review referral sources
This isn’t glamorous, but it's powerful.
Every business mile you drove in 2025 is a tax deduction.
Many doulas leave thousands of dollars untouched because they forget to log:
airport trips for trainings
mileage to postpartum shifts
coffee meetings with referral partners
miles for hanging flyers or attending classes
Mileage adds up fast, especially postpartum doulas driving daily.
If manual tracking feels overwhelming, invest in a mileage app before January. It will pay for itself in deductions.
While you’re reviewing records, look at how clients found you:
Which referral source sent the most clients?
Which colleagues referred you?
Who left reviews? Who hasn’t yet?
Reach out and express gratitude.
A handwritten holiday card can mean more than you think.
Gratitude deepens relationships. Deeper relationships lead to more referrals.
Listen to my Doula Darcy Podcast episode about this here:
Putting it all together
These three simple end-of-year actions can increase your revenue—without adding complexity or dozens of new tasks.
Here’s your 2025 Year-End Checklist:
✔ Scroll photos + list gratitude moments
✔ Raise rates for 2026
✔ Track every mile + organize receipts
✔ Send thank-you cards to top clients + referral partners
✔ Ask for missing reviews/testimonials
These aren’t busywork tasks.
They are intentional actions that strengthen your business foundation.
When you end the year with clarity, gratitude, and clean numbers, you start the new year feeling grounded and empowered, not behind or overwhelmed.
Cheers to a prosperous and abundant 2026 ✨
Want more marketing tips for your doula business?
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Meet Darcy Sauers | Doula Business & Marketing Coach
The Doula Darcy (a.k.a Darcy Sauers) is a Doula Business Coach & Marketing Strategist who combines her unique background: 10 years in advertising and 15 years as a postpartum doula to help other doulas build thriving businesses