Understanding the Investment
in Your Family’s Future
Brownstone recognizes the immense financial burden placed on intended parents. Some of the costs are truly unavoidable. You need lawyers. You need an IVF clinic. You need to compensate your surrogate for their incredible service. Other costs are unavoidable if you want to do this the right way, such as life insurance, independent escrow, and mental health support.
We Try To Make Surrogacy More Affordable
In Three Ways:
1. By keeping our all-inclusive agency fee comparatively low and collecting it in installments to avoid large upfront sums
2. By being as transparent as possible about the anticipated costs so you can plan accordingly
3. By working with you on financing options
Brownstone’s All-Inclusive Agency Fee
We want you to always feel like we’ve got your back. Many agencies charge parents an extra fee for a “guarantee program” that covers rematching with a new surrogate or for a “VIP program” so that you have access to the agency directors throughout your journey. At Brownstone, that is standard.
We always have your back
Surrogacy is expensive. As a father through surrogacy myself, trust me—I get it! But what I can promise you is this: Brownstone will never waste your time or your money.
– Jarret Zafran, Founder and Executive Director
Our all-inclusive agency fee covers:
- Management of your entire journey, from start to finish. (Some agencies fade away you once you’re matched.)
- All costs of surrogate recruitment and screening. (Some agencies pass along these thousands of dollars of screening costs to you.)
- All costs of intended parent screening. (Some agencies pass along screening costs to you.)
- Support throughout your embryo creation. (Some agencies charge additional fees for this.)
- Coordination of unlimited IVF cycles. (Some agencies charge per cycle.)
- Free rematch services if your surrogate is disqualified, withdraws, or has three unsuccessful transfers. (Some agencies charge for rematching you.)
- Virtually all incidental requests you might have, such as researching a local doula or food delivery service. (Some agencies only provide the services outlined in your agency agreement and charge additional fees for anything “above and beyond.”)
We only require a small portion of the fee before you match ($5,000 for domestic parents), giving you more time to save for later expenses. The remainder of the fee is split between preliminary match ($20,000 due), execution of the legal contract with your surrogate ($15,000 due), and when you confirm fetal heartbeat ($5,000 due).
Summary of Estimated Costs
Summary of Estimated Costs*
Total Anticipated Surrogacy Expenses: $130,000 – $190,000
(Best Estimate: $160,000)
*Not including IVF expenses or gamete donation.
| Expense | Estimated Cost | Notes |
| Agency Fees and Third-Party Expenses | ||
| Agency fee | $45,000 (domestic) $48,000 (international) |
See “Agency Fee” section above for further detail |
| Travel expenses | $2,000 – $7,000 | |
| Escrow fees | $1,500 – $2,000 | |
| Legal fees | $10,000 | Estimate for IP and GC for GSA, estate planning, and parentage. |
| Health insurance expenses | $4,000 – $40,000+ | Cost depends on numerous factors, including whether surrogate has pre-existing insurance that will cover surrogacy pregnancies. |
| Life or accidental death insurance | $500 – $1,200 | $750,000 coverage |
| Base Surrogate Compensation | ||
| Surrogate base compensation | $50,000 – $65,000+ | Experienced surrogate compensation may be higher. |
| Additional surrogate allowances and bonuses | ~$8,000 |
|
| Potential Surrogate Compensation | ||
| Multiples fee | $10,000 | |
| Procedure fees | Varies |
|
| Breast milk fees | $350/week (plus supplies and shipping) | |
| Lost wages | Varies, at cost | Paid as needed for physician-ordered bed rest, required travel, and hospital stay throughout journey. Postpartum recovery up to six (6) weeks for vaginal delivery and eight (8) weeks for c-section (no physician’s order required). |
| Childcare expenses | Up to $150/day | Paid as needed for physician-ordered bed rest, required travel, hospital stay, and postpartum recovery. |
| Additional variable expenses | ||
| IVF expenses: | $10,000 – $40,000+ |
|
| Egg and/or sperm donation expenses: | $5,000 – $60,000 |
|
| Additional expenses for international IPs: | Variable |
|
| Best Estimate Surrogacy with IVF + Egg Donation Expenses: $225,000 | ||
Modified Programs
Costs Comparison
*Not including IVF expenses or gamete donation.
| Full Service | Full Service w/ Self-Sourced Surrogate | “Just Get Us to Transfer!” | |
| Agency Fee | $45,000 (domestic) | $36,000 | $15,000 |
| Surrogate Sourcing | ✓ | ✖️ | ✖️ |
| Embryo Creation Stage Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✖️ |
| Medical Records Collection & Review | ✓ | ✓ | Collection only |
| Background Checks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Escrow Setup & Management | ✓ | ✓ | Setup only |
| Legal Facilitation | ✓ | ✓ | Attorney recommendations only |
| Insurance Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✖️ |
| Travel Coordination | ✓ | ✓ | ✖️ |
| Rematch Services | ✓ | ✓ (subject to additional costs) | ✖️ |
| Unlimited Transfer Cycles | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local Fertility Clinic Coordination | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Local Monitoring | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ongoing Support & Mediation | ✓ | ✓ | ✖️ |
| Birth Planning | ✓ | ✓ | ✖️ |
Discounts and Financial Planning
If you are worried about being able to afford our program, do not hesitate to contact us anyway. We would be happy to discuss how your dreams of building your family through surrogacy may still be financially achievable through discounts and other financing options. Our resources page also contains a partial list of grant-making organizations and fertility financing programs.
Brownstone proudly participates in the Men Having Babies GPAP program, offering discounted services. We are also the official agency partner for the deserving grant recipient of A Chance for Life, a breast cancer charity, and have pledged discounted services to them. We offer discounts for active military personnel, public school teachers, and first responders. Finally, we will provide needed documentation for reimbursement if you have employer-provided benefits through Progyny, Carrot, Maven Clinic, or another fertility or family building benefits provider.
Have Questions about Affording Surrogacy?
Ready To
Get Started?
Brownstone Surrogacy is licensed as a surrogacy matching program by the New York State Department of Health. Our license number is GS221023. We are proud to be among the few agencies licensed by a governmental regulator.
“Gestation is a marvel, no matter how it is accomplished. But gestation isn’t the real magic. Love is the magic. Love is the only magic.” – Early: An Intimate History of Premature Birth and What It Teaches Us About Being Human by Sarah DiGregorio