Many mothers do not want to return to work full-time after the arrival of children. Others want to, or feel they need to for financial reasons, but the cost of childcare makes it virtually impossible. Starting your own business could be the answer. Maybe your new business idea could be an extension of your original career choice. For example, if your job involved working directly for clients in the past, could you do this from home on a freelance basis? A couple of hours here and there, when your child is napping or at nursery. An hour in the evening when daddy is doing the bedtime routine. The Internet means we have never had so many home working opportunities. But why are so many afraid to take the leap?
Fear is a big part of it. If you are giving up a well-paid job and investing lots of money into a completely new venture, then yes, I can understand the fear. But if you are starting a kitchen table business using your laptop, paper and pen, then what’s the issue? You are the only thing holding your business back.
Do you have the skills needed to move that business idea forward? Can you learn them? If you enjoyed writing at school, you could write a blog. If you are a good sales person and love beauty products, how about selling Avon or Body Shop parties? Good with a needle and thread? Why not make some crafty things out of left over scraps of fabric and sell them on Etsy?
Your market doesn’t have to be niche. A copycat business is fine, providing you do it better! Look for ideas around you. Being passionate about your business is a must. You will have bad days and being passionate will alleviate the pain and carry you through. Yes, you will need to work hard, (you won’t get much done whilst watching This Morning) but you will get a sense of achievement as you gradually balance work with the demands of family life. And remember, many great businesses start from the kitchen table with very little investment.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I always wanted to work for myself and as my maternity leave approached I knew I had to see what I could do. When my baby was a week old I had set up my own consultancy and was able to start building this up during my maternity leave. I was so glad I did as I simply could not afford fuel and childcare costs if I was to return to work, and I would have seen my baby for an hour a day. It is the best decision I have ever made and I am now working with other new mums on helping them set up a business.
Hi Nicola, thank you for commenting. I started my business when my second son was two and wish I had done it earlier. I think maternity leave is a good time to take time out and think…you just don’t get the opportunity when you are working full-time in a busy job.
Maternity leave is definately the right time for you to be able to re-assess your goals and ambitions.
While I was on maternity leave following the birth of my son in 2009 I realised that he was too precious for me to only see him a few hours in the week but had to return to work (part-time) for financial reasons. After making his first birthday cake I found my passion for cake baking and decorating. I now have my own cake business (Queen of Cakes) and create bespoke, elegant wedding cakes and favours (in addition to fun celebration cakes).
It’s definately more of a challenge trying to set-up a business with a toddler so I would recommend to any mums-to-be to embrace the fear and try to focus on your business idea asap. Be prepared for sleep-depravation, even when your baby sleeps through the night as that is when you might need to work on your business – I am sometimes up until 2am decorating cakes!
Now that business is growing I hope that when my little boy is in school I can work solely for myself and have more time to build my business (then there will be no negotiating time off to care for an ill child or attend school plays!)