Could you be a mumpreneur?

Mum juggling a baby and working on a laptop

Be your own boss by following Mother & Baby’s five-step guide to starting up a successful business.  

You’re not alone if your outlook on the daily commute has changed since having a baby. With around 1400 new home businesses launched each week in the UK, young mothers are the fastest-growing group opting to ditch the nine to five and go solo.
‘Every day I hear from mums who have spotted a gap in the market,’ says Emma Jones, author of Spare Room Start Up: How To Start A Business From Home (£12.99, Harriman House). ‘It’s the best way for busy mums to be able to work and be there for their children,’ she says. ‘Best of all, you can start your own business from home for under £500.’

For your own Dragons’ Den moment, read on.

1 Work on your idea
The best business ideas are based on a passion, so look at your interests. ‘If you can’t think of anything new, take something that already exists but investigate how you can make it better,’ says Emma.

2 Take your time
‘Use your maternity leave to brainstorm, or build your business up part-time before committing,’ advises Emma.
Next, ensure you are financially stable. ‘Work out how long any savings will last while you set up,’ says Nada Jones, author of 16 Weeks to Your Dream Business: A Weekly Planner For Entrepreneurial Women (£10.99, McGraw-Hill).

3 Make space and learn to balance
Dedicate a room in the house to work. ‘At first your kitchen table could be your office,’ says Emma. ‘But you’ll eventually need to separate work from family time.’
Says Nada: ‘Healthy entrepreneurial life with a family relies on balance. Work while your baby sleeps and don’t feel guilty about asking for help.’

4 Write a concise business plan
‘No longer than two pages, this should include your business idea, details of your target market and how you intend to operate and fund your company,’ says Emma. Visit businesslink.gov.uk for advice.

5 Tap in to free resources
There’s lots of free technology available to give you a head start. ‘Google Apps allows you to set up email addresses that you can access remotely,’ says Emma. It also lets you design and host your company website – an essential – for free. n