Free doula invoice and retainer template
Package, retainer and postpartum hours — billed the way a family can track against what they signed up for.
Doula work is billed mostly up front and delivered mostly later, which is exactly the kind of gap that needs to be on paper. A birth package is paid as a retainer weeks or months before the birth itself; postpartum hours often get billed after, against a bank the family bought in advance. Name the package, show the retainer as a payment made, and for postpartum work track the hours used against the hours purchased on every invoice — a tired family six weeks in should never have to do that math themselves.
Lines a doula actually bills for
| Line | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Birth doula package retainer — non-refundable | $300–$800, applied to the full fee |
| Birth doula package, full fee | $900–$2,500 |
| Postpartum doula hours, block of 10 | $400–$800 per 10-hour block |
| Postpartum doula hours, block of 20 | $750–$1,500 per 20-hour block |
| Single postpartum visit, 3 hours | $120–$250 |
| Placenta encapsulation | $150–$350 |
| Prenatal or postpartum education session | $60–$150 |
| On-call extension fee, past due date | $0–$200, per your policy |
What to include on a doula support invoice
- Your business name, phone number and email — and your license number if your state puts one on the paperwork
- The customer's name, the service address, and a phone number or email you can actually reach them on
- An invoice number and the date the work was done
- Which package or service, and the on-call window it covers
- The retainer shown as a payment already applied, not subtracted with no explanation
- For postpartum hours: how many were purchased and how many remain after this visit
- The due date the package assumed, and your policy if the birth runs past it
- Any certifications relevant to the family's paperwork — insurance reimbursement often asks
- What's included versus billed separately — placenta encapsulation is common as an add-on, not a default
- Subtotal, sales tax if you charge it, and the total due
- Any deposit or payment already taken, and the balance still owed
- The due date, and what happens if it goes past it
- How they can pay — card, bank transfer, check or cash
Doula invoicing questions
How do I invoice a birth package that's paid before the birth happens?
Invoice the retainer the day it's paid, worded as non-refundable and applied to the full package fee, with the on-call window it covers. The remaining balance, if any, is its own invoice due by a stated date — commonly 36 weeks. That way the family has a clear paper trail for a service that's mostly delivered on a date nobody can predict.
How do I track postpartum hours honestly?
Sell hours in a block — a 10 or 20-hour package — invoice the block up front, then write a zero-balance visit invoice each time naming the date, hours used that visit, and hours remaining in the block. A family running on no sleep should be able to glance at one line and know where they stand, not add up six weeks of visits themselves.
What if the birth runs past my on-call window?
State the policy on the retainer invoice before it's ever relevant — some doulas build in a buffer, others charge a stated extension fee past the due date. Whatever you choose, having it in writing from the start turns a stressful, unpredictable moment into something you already agreed on together.
Is placenta encapsulation billed separately?
Generally yes — it's a distinct service with its own time and materials, not something bundled into birth support by default. Listing it as its own line, priced on its own, keeps your core birth package price clean and comparable to what another doula quotes.
Can families use this for insurance reimbursement?
Many insurance plans and HSAs now reimburse doula services in some states, and an itemized invoice with your certification and the service dates is usually what they need to submit a claim. It costs you nothing extra to include — the same invoice you're already sending does the job.
Is this free to use for a solo doula practice?
Yes — unlimited invoices and packages, no trial clock. We take 0.5% only when a family pays by card; check or cash costs nothing at all. Paid plans are optional, starting at $9.99/mo, for things like your own logo and emailing from our domain.
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Write a free doula support invoice — Pocket Business is free to build and send, no signup, no invoice limit.