As a busy mom, you may be wondering how to earn an extra income toward household expenses and your child’s future. Or perhaps you’re stuck in a job you aren’t in love with, and apart from your little ones for hours a day.

If so, you’re exactly where I was when my daughter Brianna was born. Sure, I loved being a nurse, but the healthcare field is very demanding. And it meant I would have to leave my new baby as many as fifty hours a week, including commuting. 

 

(check out the program that’s helping thousands of students get started!)

Thousands of moms across the U.S. and around the globe face the same dilemma. Life isn’t getting any cheaper, and owning a business is becoming more appealing. Yet your only option is to leave your baby (or the comfort of your own home) on your work’s desired hours, not yours.

At least that’s how things used to be. Enter sleep consulting! 

 

Why It’s a GREAT Time to Become a Sleep Consultant

Now may be the best time to start your own sleep consulting business, especially one centered on helping infants and toddlers sleep.

Statistics show that more parents than ever are seeking help for their children’s sleep issues. Yet many say they’re dissatisfied with the help they do get. That could mean anything from a doctor’s advice to hiring a specialist.

That’s where you come in. Getting the right education and starting your own sleep consulting business can mean you get those clients who are urgently seeking answers. What I and my successful students love most about sleep consulting is:

• You’re helping families to have a happier, more harmonious household…and that feels good!

 

• Baby sleep consulting can be very lucrative. In fact, in a recent survey through my school, the Institute of Pediatric Sleep & Parenting (IPSP), students said they were making up to $160K annually with their own sleep consulting business.

 

• Name your own hours and schedule work around vacations rather than the other way around. When you own your own child sleep consulting business, you set the hours.

 

• You can work virtually via Zoom or Google Meet. That means there’s no commuting (or reduced commuting if you also plan to hold consultation sessions face-to-face).

 

Here are the Steps to Get Started

“Great, Violet,” you’re probably saying, “but how do I get in on this awesome opportunity?”

Let me tell you right off the bat: it’s not a walk in the park. I’m not promising you some get rich quick scheme. Your heart needs to be in it, and you need to have the drive to get a great education, plus the personality to work with people one-on-one.

On the other hand, you’re working toward what may be the best career of your life. And it won’t take you four, five or more years to get there. A great program with qualified teachers means you’ll work smarter, not harder, toward your own future.

Here’s how to get started.

 

Step One: Get Certified Through a Great School

Owning your own sleep consulting business may be flexible, but there’s one thing you can not skimp on: your education.

Don’t worry; I’m not talking about some extensive doctor’s or teacher’s program. I started my own sleep consultant certification school because I knew exactly what future consultants were looking for. You’ll want to find a school that:

• Hires teachers who are professionals in their field.
• Know the legalities of starting your own sleep consulting business (more on this below).
• Can get you on the fast-track to your career without skimping.
• Are available for you one-on-one with questions.
• Have a track record of successful students going on to enjoy successful careers.

 

(Want to know more about the IPSP Certified Sleep Consultant program? Click here!)

 

Step Two: Beware of Potential Pitfalls

I’m listing this as the second step as it goes hand-in-hand with Step One above. You will get your best sleep consultant certification education from a school that can teach you all of the following:

• Know the difference between Instruction and Advice. Some advice given to clients, even something as simple as rubbing the baby’s tummy if she seems uncomfortable, could result in a lawsuit? Make sure the certification school of your choice includes currently practicing medical professionals who can advise you on the details.

 

• Watch out for legal liability. Depending upon what you do in your work with a client, legal problems could result. So make sure your school of choice offers student instruction from both medical professionals and attorneys.

 

• Know current regulations. Regulations for businesses working with individuals, and especially children, change frequently. Be on the lookout for updates. (This is another place where your choice of school is important. The professors should be up-to-date on current regulations and be able to tell you how to keep up with the ever-changing pace.)

 

Step Three: Create a Business Page

The best part about this step is that it doesn’t have to be complex, and in many cases, it’s free.

Start a Facebook page advertising your business. Or try a full web page on WordPress or Wix. 

Include:

• Your contact information. (Clients trust companies who have a physical address and contact phone number.)
• An About paragraph. Make it short, sweet but also personable and welcoming.
• Be ready for any questions if you get an email, text, call or DM. Be sure to have a feel for what you’ll charge per hour, as this is a common question from clients.
• List your school and show your certification.
• If you’ve had any clients so far, ask them to leave a review.

 

Step Four: Begin Networking

Once you have your page set up, find groups on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, etc. who also do consulting, or who are involved in parent groups. Make sure if you’re approaching a parent group that you tell the group administrator of your intent to help parents whose children have sleep issues, as rules vary on this.

You may also be able to find in-person groups through meetup.com and similar portals.

The more you “get out there,” whether online or in person, the greater your chances of connecting with prospective clients and growing your business.

 

Step Five: Offer Incentives for Referrals

In an age of Amazon, Yelp and other places to leave your opinion, people love first-hand referrals. That doesn’t mean a referral needs to be an in-person friend, but comments from “real people” tend to build trust.

The BEST thing you can do to grow your certified sleep consultant business (besides be great at it, of course!) is to get people talking. And to do this, you may want to try offering special pricing, a free short e-book or another incentive for people who refer new clients to you.

Make sure you don’t undervalue yourself. Don’t try to be “the cheapest out there;” that does the opposite of instilling confidence. However, offering rates that reflect what you’re worth, plus a coupon code or free 15-minute session, can go a long way toward encouraging happy clients to spread the word.

 

Putting it All Together

No matter what happens later on, if you have a complete wheelhouse of knowledge, your sleep consulting business has a better chance at success. So make sure you choose the best school that can offer you an education on all aspects of being a certified sleep consultant.

If you’re ready for a change, like working with people, and want a lucrative career that affords you plenty of flexibility, check out the IPSP® Sleep Consultant Certification.  It may just be the best career decision you’ll ever make.