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Article by: Jason Kenner
Being a stay-at-home mom is more than a full-time job. It’s never-ending. However, if you’re thinking of ways to make money while you take care of your little ones, you can start a small business from home. Here are six tips to help you get your successful business up and running.
1. Find the Right Business Model
Finding the right business model means assessing your skills and looking for an industry with a niche you can fill. For example, if you love to bake and consistently have friends asking you to make something for their events, consider starting your own at-home bakery. It comes with little overhead cost and can take off by referral. If you enjoy taking care of children and have a home set up for childcare, consider opening your own at-home daycare. You can start with just a few children and work your way up, getting licensure and hiring employees as you grow.
2. Designate a Quiet Space for Work
Find a space in your home, whether it’s a garage or spare bedroom, and designate that as your workspace. Make it off-limits if you need complete silence to concentrate, and organize it to suit your needs. For example, if you have an e-commerce business online, you can purchase clear storage bins to place along the walls with labels and keep your inventory organized. Then add a fulfillment station for shipping preparation.
3. Set Specific Work Hours
It can be hard to see specific work hours when you take care of kids, but you can designate times that line up with activities. For example, if you homeschool your children, use the time they take to do assignments and nap or play to get your work done. You may need to use your weekends until your business takes off. Finally, explore Homeschool Supercenter’s packages to make homeschooling easy.
4. Get When You Need It
Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you get overwhelmed. Turn to your friends and family to help you fulfill orders or just watch the children while you get work done. When your business starts gaining momentum and you have the income, consider hiring part-time help. You can ask for referrals from your friends or hire people you know and trust to start.
5. Prioritize Self-Care
Avoid letting your mental and physical health fall to the side. It’s easy to get busy, but you have to make time to practice self-care. It can be as simple as ensuring you eat a well-balanced meal or getting light exercise. Do something you love and enjoy at least once a week to help you create balance.
6. Create Your Own Marketing Strategy
Marketing your business doesn’t have to mean hiring an expensive marketing company. Social media gives you easy access to your target market if you know where to find them. Research shows that social media presence is a fundamental marketing tool for any type of business. Start by using a free website development program online. Take compelling photographs of your products and remove the background to make everything look clean and uniform. If you need a free image background remover, look online for options. You can even use the tool to place your images on backgrounds of your choosing.
You will have days when you feel like you may have stretched yourself too thin. As long as you learn to recognize those days and practice your self-care techniques, you will get through them. Don’t be afraid to ask others for help when you need it.