The thought of working from home can be very appealing if you are a mum-to-be or are just starting to enjoy your maternity leave. You might have been considering options for quite a while, even perhaps before you found out you were pregnant, and now the thought of those long commutes and excessive hours may have a new significance to you. A lot of mums find that they have no choice but to work after they have a baby, especially as money is tight to start with, and they know it’ll be even tighter from then on.
In a recent survey in the Daily Express, more than a third of working mums said they would rather be with their children and give up work if they could, whilst a majority wished that they could work a shorter week.
When the thought of leaving home in the morning to go to work each day meets with the idea of being far away from your new bundle of joy, most mums generally begin to think about the possibility of some form of home-based business. There are all sorts of excellent opportunities which are available to you in this area, but you need to be completely sure that you’re aware of all the factors involved. In most situations, home-based businesses represent much longer hours, and just the thought alone of needing to keep up with all the paperwork and the other elements of operating your own business can be more than daunting. Consider professional coaching before you take this option as it will help you to unfold all of those implications.
When you’re thinking about setting up a home-based business, you should consider your strengths and weaknesses very carefully. Think back all the way to your school days and consider your interests. Even though many online life coaching experts say that trying to turn a hobby into a business might not be the best of ideas, you should still nevertheless see if you can find something special that peaks your interest. You may remember that you were particularly good at an extracurricular activity in school or university and, as with any business venture, you should always try and pander to your strengths.
1. Photography.
This can be a very rewarding venture. Most people like to take photographs, but if you find that you have a particular “eye” for this or remember that people often told you that you take good photographs, why not expand this? These days it is relatively easy to open your own photography business and you can set up a small studio in one of your spare rooms relatively easily. With the advent of digital technology and the spread of the web, you can get someone to help you design a great website and upload your creations for all to see. You should know that there are a number of online websites that allow you to register and upload your creations for their members to browse and potentially buy.
2. Wedding or event planner.
If you were always actively involved in planning events in university, or if you love to put together those outdoor parties for families and friends, why not consider becoming a wedding planner. This is an ideal job for a work at home mum and you can use your flair for creativity and your list of contacts to start the ball rolling.
3. Mobile pet grooming.
This opportunity can combine your love for animals with a definite need in the marketplace. Just as others have problems allocating time to do anything these days, they may neglect the pet and would be more than willing to allow you to bathe and groom. You will have to spend a good bit of time away, but you can set your own hours and will probably be surprised to find that there is a fairly large client base within your immediately vicinity.
4. Consulting.
If your career to this point has been in a specialised industry or you have specialised skills of your own, why not consider establishing yourself as a consultant in this field? You must of course find out whether you had any kind of “non compete” agreement with your previous employer, but if not, use your expertise and skills to help others.
5. Internet marketing.
This is a huge growth area and while it does suggest a fairly significant learning curve, you will conduct all of your business from the comfort of your spare room. There are a variety of different fields within the overall subject of Internet marketing and you can set yourself up to be an agent to sell other companies’ products, something known as “affiliate marketing,” or you can sell your own services as a web content provider, writer, artist or designer.
You should know that coaching for women in your position is available online and can often help to open your eyes to a number of possibilities that you may not yet have considered.
Amanda Alexander is the CEO of Coaching Mums. She is a widely renowned ICF accredited coach, who for more than six years, has been providing her services to thousands of working moms from across the Globe in an effort to bring balance back into their lives, help them lose their guilt, show them how to find the time to reinvent their passions, and most of all, to have fun every day! For truly inspiring articles and cutting edge professional coaching tips, sign up to receive our absolutely brilliant free newsletter “Inspire”, right now!
