Blissful Beginnings

Business Name:  Blissful Beginnings.

Business owner:  Caron Smith

When Caron left her previous employment as a mid wife, she was low in confidence having had a prolonged period of poor health and discovering that the career she had embarked on was no longer viable. This left a big hole in her life and her confidence had taken a knock.

When Ian met with Caron for the first time he was impressed by her enthusiasm and willingness to learn new skills. Together they worked to develop her idea to start a business as a doula, or antenatal and postnatal support partner. Caron had become interested in this as it offered her a more one-to-one support role than was available as a mid wife and without the clinical responsibility of her previous role.

After several meetings it was obvious that Caron had the ability to do the work and had taken on board all of the advice offered by Ian.

'’It was useful to have the support of Ian, as he was able to guide me on the business start-up process and show me that I was capable of running this as a business’’, Caron said.

Ian provided information on the systems needed to keep accurate records of Caron’s business transactions and tax and national insurance liabilities.  Setting up a record keeping system and proper invoicing and credit control as well as different methods of promoting the business and creating a web site were also discussed and Caron was then able to create and develop her own web site. This is now available as an online brochure for her services, is linked to the Doula UK site and has already provided Caron with several enquiries!

Caron worked hard completing her research and the necessary registration and insurance  paperwork and is now successfully working as a doula and is well on her way to completing her initial births to enable her to qualify for her fully ‘recognised’ doula status. This will then enable Caron to charge a competitive rate for her work and run her business to suit her lifestyle, to make sufficient income for her needs and be able to get huge satisfaction from caring and helping her clients.

“I was introduced to Ian just as I was contemplating becoming self-employed as a Doula.  I had been very apprehensive, worrying whether the business was viable, and also with regard to the actual setting up and accounting process involved.  Ian was a great help, particularly in the early stages, when he gave great advice as to choosing and registering a name for my business and setting up my own website.  In addition, he has shown me how to keep accurate records of my business transactions necessary for tax and NI liabilities.  I felt very fortunate to have Ian’s support and expertise during this time, and he definitely gave me the confidence I needed to get my venture off the ground!”

Caron Smith. Blissful Beginnings Doula.

This is just a flavour of the type of work that we are proud of at Ian Bysouth Consulting.

We also specialise providing hands on advice for existing companies looking to expand their businesses or to tackle problems that have arisen and they are unsure of the best way forward.