If you’re a mum, the world of work can be difficult to navigate, what with little things like, oh looking after your child to think about. More and more, employees simply aren’t able to offer the kind of flexibility that the average mum needs and that is why more mothers are looking towards freelance careers, work from home jobs and even setting up their own businesses so that they can have a better work-life balance.
If you’re a mum and you’re interested in starting your own business, but you’re afraid to take that leap, here are a few things that might just change your mind:
Passion Can be Better than Expertise
A lot of mums worry about starting a business because they don’t come from a corporate business background. That isn’t necessarily a problem. In fact, some of the most successful small businesses are the ones that have a passionate entrepreneur who really cares about what they are doing at the head. If you have a passion for writing, accounting, baking cakes…whatever, then you’re already halfway there.
There is Lots of Help for Women
As more women look at starting their own businesses as a viable option, there has been an increase in help available to women. And especially mums who want to go down this route. For example, women owned business loans are more prominent, the government offer start-up loans and there are some excellent grants to be had. So, even if you have bad credit or you aren’t sure the bank would want to deal with you, you can still do it.
You Can Set Your Own Hours
A lot of mums think that, if they start their own business they’ll have to work the standard 9-5 hours. This might be true if you opt to open a shop on the high street, for example, but if you decide to sell your products or services online, then you really can fit your work around your kids and create the kind of balance you could only ever dream of as an employee. You just need to think very carefully what you want to do and whether it really will make life better for you.
You Can Dip Your Toes In
Leaving your job and taking out a loan to start a business can be pretty daunting at the best of times, but when you have a family to think about, well it can be even more terrifying. But, you shouldn’t let that put you off because, if you choose the right kind of business, you can start slowly, doing it part-time while you hold down your existing job until you feel confident enough to do it full-time. Obviously, this might mean a small step back in terms of your work-life balance for a little while, but if it pays off in terms of a successful business that you can work around your family for as long as you have your kids (and beyond) it has to be worth it!
Time to do what mum’s do; get on with it and make things happen!
