From Certification to Clients: Your First 90 Days as a Sleep Consultant

You did it. You got certified! Now that you’ve got the foundation under your belt, you’re sitting there asking the real question:

Okay… now what? What happens next? How do you go from certification to your first paying clients so you can start making an impact (and income)? This post is your practical, down-to-earth playbook for your first 90 days as a sleep consultant, without the confusing fluff.

Before we dive in, if you haven’t yet read the Ultimate Guide to Getting Started as a Sleep Consultant or you want a breakdown of tech tools to help you serve clients professionally, go check those out and bookmark them now. They’ll be your best friends in this early phase.

Let's break down the first 90 days as a sleep consultant

1. Set Your Launch Mindset (Days 1–7)

After certification there’s a space of “I’m ready… now what?” That’s totally normal. The very first thing you want to do is pick a simple plan for who you serve and how you serve them. Do you want to work with newborns only? Toddlers? Families who still nurse to sleep? Your ideal audience will shape how you market and how you price your services.

Ask yourself:

• Who do I want to help most?

• What problem do they most want solved?

• What format do I want to coach in (1:1 calls, packages, group workshops)?

Clarity here saves you a ton of busywork later.

2. Validate Your Offer With Real People (Days 8–21)

In The Ultimate Guide to Getting Started, I shared how I offered a low-cost package right after certifying and booked 20 clients simply by saying “I want experience and feedback.”

You can do something similar in your first 90 days as a sleep consultant. A few approaches that work well:

• Offer a discounted introductory rate for your first handful of clients

• Offer a pilot group or beta coaching group for a lower price

• Provide a short workshop for local parents and invite attendees to book with you

Early clients don’t need to be perfect, but they do need to give you honest results and testimonials. There’s no better marketing than real stories from real parents.

Here’s what a recent graduate shared about their experience building confidence after certification:

“The Collective gave me the confidence I needed to not only coach families, but also to run a business. The marketing and mentorship built into the program is unmatched.”

If you’re worried about “experience,” remember most parents just want someone who listens, understands, and uses evidence-based strategies to help them feel hopeful again.

3. Build Foundational Systems (Days 22–45)

Before you have clients, set up the bones of your business so you look professional and organized. That includes:

• A simple website or landing page

• Client intake forms and sleep logs

• Scheduling and communication tools

• Clear service packages and prices

Check out the Software and Tools blog for free and low-cost resources that work great for new consultants (Calendly for scheduling, Google Sheets for sleep logs, etc.).

Here’s the truth: you don’t need every tool under the sun before you launch. You need something that works so you can deliver value. Basic tools give you structure while you’re starting out. You can always upgrade later.

4. Spread the Word (Days 46–70)

This is where most new sleep consultants start to see momentum. You already have the foundation, now you get visible. A few strategies that actually work:

• Organic social media content: Share short, relatable posts answering exact questions parents search (like “how do I help my toddler sleep through the night?”). Parents turn to Instagram and Facebook before they even google a service. Research shows about 75% of internet users research products/services on social media before purchasing.

• Local workshops or talks: Host a free Zoom session or a local parent group event about common sleep issues. Workshops are a powerful way to build trust and invitations to book your services. According to pediatric sleep business trainers, a single workshop can bring 3–10 new clients.

• Referrals from professionals: Connect with doulas, lactation experts, pediatricians, chiropractors, and child development professionals. These folks already work with your ideal clients and can send you families actively needing help.

• Discovery calls: These are not sales calls. They are clarity calls where you hear a parent’s story, ask thoughtful questions, and explain how you can help. When done with empathy, these calls often convert because parents feel truly understood.

  
  

5. Deliver Results and Collect Reviews (Days 71–90)

Once you’ve booked clients and started working with them, this is the most important part: help them well. Your reputation is your engine in a service-based business.

Ask every satisfied client for:

• Written testimonials you can share on your website

• Short Google or Facebook reviews

• Permission to post their success story (anonymous if needed)

Reviews are absolutely crucial because parents trust other parents’ experiences when choosing a consultant.

Here’s what graduates have said about this early momentum:

“Before the program, I felt stuck in my 9–5… now I’ve booked paying clients within weeks of graduating.”

That’s the power of combining evidence-based sleep science with real-world business action.

Let’s wrap up

Your first 90 days as a sleep consultant are about more than just launching. They’re about connecting, serving, and building a foundation that gets referrals and repeat business. You already invested in certification — now you’re turning that investment into impact.

Keep your goals clear, take consistent action, and remember: every expert you admire started exactly where you are right now. If you want deeper support on any of these steps, revisit the Ultimate Guide to Getting Started, explore the Software and Tools blog, and lean into your community.

You’ve got this. Here’s to your first clients and beyond.