For Doulas

How Doula Network Fees and Payment Schedules Work

Compare a percentage fee, payer reimbursement, scheduled agency disbursement, and the date money reaches your bank.

Ask what the percentage applies to

A percentage is meaningful only when you understand its basis. Ask whether a fee is calculated from a payer’s reimbursed rate, a collected amount, or another figure, and which written agreement controls your arrangement.

The standard Doulas of California arrangement retains 15% of the payer’s reimbursed rate, with 85% allocated to the doula, subject to the agreement. An illustrative $100 reimbursed rate would produce a $15 fee and an $85 allocation. It is not a quoted rate for a service.

Know when the payment clock begins

The standard schedule uses 45 calendar days from the visit’s original submission to Doulas of California. The care date, approval date, and scheduled payout date are separate dates. There are no fixed twice-monthly pay periods under this schedule.

Approval, corrections, and resubmission do not restart the original clock. Keep your original submission record so you can ask precise questions about a visit.

A due date still has requirements

Payment requires an approved completed visit, biller approval, complete documentation, a ready Stripe payout account, and available agency funds. If something remains unresolved when the scheduled date arrives, the payment can remain on hold.

Ask support what action is needed rather than assuming a displayed date means a transfer has already occurred.

Distinguish transfer from deposit

An agency transfer and the bank’s final deposit can happen on different dates. Review both the transfer status and the destination account information through the approved system.

Existing or separately arranged billing pathways should be reviewed before applying standard terms. Read the full fees and payment process, discuss your agreement during onboarding, and keep client information secure when asking payment questions.