How to work from home with a baby?

How does working from home sound now that you have a baby? Flexible hours, some much-needed extra cash, and the freedom of being your own boss are just some of the benefits. But is it realistic, and can anyone do it?

The answer is yes! You don’t need wads of cash or loads of qualifications – just a little imagination, a lot of effort and, most of all, the confidence to give it a go. We spoke to seven mums who’ve done it.

‘I started childminding’

‘After I had Kaelin and Corin, I needed a job where I didn’t have to rely on my husband for childcare as he’s in the army and away a lot,’ says Kate, mum to Kaelin, four, and Corin, 19 months. ‘Childminding means I get to spend time with my own children, and get paid for it!

I applied to my local authority and found out I was eligible for a start-up grant, which paid for extras like a double buggy. The grants are assessed by OFSTED and paid by your local council. I was lucky enough to receive £400, but the average grant is £250.

‘I trained over three Saturdays (although you can do the course in the evenings) and this was subsidised, so it only cost me £20 (it’s normally £125). My husband and I also had to be checked through the Criminal Record Bureau.

‘I charge £2.50 an hour per child, so my income depends on how many children I’m looking after. I’m allowed a maximum of six children under eight (but no more than one baby under 12 months; and three under-fives at once).

It’s hard work, the days can be long, and my children had to learn they couldn’t always be number one. But for me, it’s the perfect job solution.’

Relevant links

Childcarelink: 0800 096 0296, childcarelink.gov.uk
National Childminding Association (NCMA): 0800 169 4486, ncma.org.uk

‘I turned my hobby into a career’

‘I’ve always loved making things,’ says Jo, mum to Alfie, five and Frankie, three. ‘When friends started complimenting me on my handmade cards, I saw an opportunity to make some money.

It cost me £200 to buy embossing tools, stationary and a light box, which I use with stencils to create images. I found suppliers from craft magazines and now I make cards for all occasions, mostly standard but some also personalised. 

‘I get most of my sales through word of mouth, and I also sell my cards on eBay. If you’re a little bit creative, you should give it go – don’t be afraid to go out and sell your wares! The income isn’t regular, but I make about £1.50 profit per card and every little helps.’

‘I bought into a franchise’

‘A friend told me about Stretch-n-Grow, a health and fitness programme for pre-school children,’ says Kim, mum to Carla, three, and Georgie, 11 months. ‘I did some research and was hooked! My franchise cost £18,000, which included training, lesson plans and marketing packs. I now run eight children’s exercise classes a week for local nurseries and schools, and charge around £4 per child.

‘Stretch-n-Grow is brilliant because it teaches children to enjoy physical activity and learn about healthy eating in a way that’s fun. It keeps me fit, too! If you don’t want to invest in a franchise, you can train to become a coach for another Stretch-n-Grow franchisee, which costs nothing at all. You don’t need a background in fitness training, but you do need to be generally healthy and have bags of energy!’ 

Related links

British Franchise Association: 01491 578050, thebfa.org
See Franchises – The Key Companies for companies that sell franchises.

‘I started my own business’

‘I started my own business selling wooden toys several years ago,’ says Karen, mum to Eleanor, eight, and Ben four. ‘My initial stock cost £500 – I brought it from a woman I knew who was selling her business.

I got free advice from my local Enterprise Agency and Business Link, which is a government-funded organisation that provides advice on all aspects of starting your own business.

I started selling to friends, at parties in people’s homes, at toddler mornings and in pre-schools. I sourced toys and suppliers from the internet, and now I sell a lot from my website, strawberrychildrenstoys.co.uk. I’ve been in business for two years now, and my turnover last year was £26,000.

‘My partner has been really supportive and my kids even muck in. They “road test” the toys and help me with packing!’

Related links

For help with starting your own business, or to find your local Enterprise Agency, contact the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA): 01234 831623, nfea.com
Get business advice, support and training free from Business Link: 0845 600 9006, businesslink.gov.uk

‘I became a nail technician’

‘I wanted flexible working hours that I could choose myself,’ says Vicki, mum to Harrison, three, and Isabel, eight months. ‘I had my own nails done regularly, so I asked my technician where she trained and took it from there.

I did a one-day course to get a BABTAC qualification, which you need to get insurance (this costs about £30 a year). I didn’t need any other training – the rest is just practising to improve your confidence.

‘The course cost £400 and included my start-up kit. I charge £25-30 for acrylic or gel nail sets, which take me around an hour and a half to do. Finding clients was easy – a lot came via word of mouth and I put adverts in local free papers and newsagents. 

You can earn as much or as little as you want, depending on how many hours you choose to work. This job wouldn’t suit everyone though, as you can’t do it when you’re pregnant because of the chemicals used.’

Related links

Contact the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology: 0845 065 9000, babtac.com

‘I teach baby massage’

‘I teach mums how to massage their babies,’ says Maggie, mum to Arthur, 12, Emily, 11, Florence, seven, and Stanley, four. ‘I was already trained in massage and a qualified aromatherapist when I read Infant Massage – A Handbook For Loving Parents by Vimala Schneider McClure (Souvenir Press, £9.99).

Having just had my first child, I wanted to share with other mums the value and importance of touch, and show how massage can develop the bond between you and your baby.

I charge £54 for six one-hourly sessions and have up to six mums in each group. You can become a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) by attending a four-day course, which costs around £500.’

Related links

Contact the International Association of Infant Massage: 07816 289788, iaim.org.uk

‘I trade on eBay’

‘I made a tutu for my daughter and then decided I didn’t like it, so my husband listed it on the online auction website eBay,’ says Helen, mum to Aston, 14, Arcadia, 10, and Cadan, seven. ‘It cost me 50p to make, and we sold it for £13! I started making more tutus and sold them on eBay - and then people began asking for custom-made designs.

My start-up costs were low as I bought material as and when I needed it, and I already had a sewing machine. Now I have my own website, thetutushop.co.uk, and specialise in made-to-measure tutus.

I also import ready-made tutus and sell these as there are only so many I can make in a day. On a good month, my turnover is up to £2,000. To be successful on eBay, you need to find a niche market. And you need determination – don’t give up if your products don’t sell first time.’

Related links

To learn more about how eBay eworks, visit http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/ebayexplained

It’s not all child’s play!

Working from home may sound like the perfect solution, but unless you have adequate childcare, the reality can be far from ideal. Trying to achieve even everyday tasks can be a mammoth challenge with a new baby and/or a toddler.

Throw in a home-based job with deadlines or sales targets and you’ll find it much harder to cope than you anticipate. Before accepting any work, think carefully about how much time you’ll need and when you hope to work. A supportive partner, willing relative or some sort of help with the kids is essential!

‘I thought running classes for a slimming club one evening a week would be a sociable way to earn a little bit of extra money,’ says Jo, mum to Florence, four, and pregnant with her second baby.

‘I’m an intelligent person, but the paperwork was complicated and the deadlines and constant sales targets made me feel really pressured. I got customer phone calls every day, and they didn’t care if it was bathtime or bedtime!

There’s no such thing as easy money. The commitment needed isn’t always explained, and isn’t always possible when you have young kids.’

Another thing to bear in mind is that not all companies have good, honest intentions. Michael Ambourne from the Office of Fair Trading explains how to avoid scams. ‘Common examples of scams are envelope stuffing, home assembly kits and home working directories,’ he says.

‘Be sceptical if the advert is vague, if they ask for money up front (this is often disguised as a registration fee), or if contact is via a PO Box or mobile phone number. Research the company first and check out the facts. Remember, If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!’

What about tax?

You can earn up to £5,035 a year before you need to pay tax. If you’re self- employed and work at least 16 hours a week, you may also qualify for Working Tax Credits, which can significantly enhance your earnings. If you’re expecting a baby and self-employed, the current Maternity Allowance pays £108.85 per week for 26 weeks, subject to eligibility.’

Did you know?

There are almost one million women-owned businesses in the UK, and around half a million women work from home.

Get further advice and information from:

*National Group on Homeworking: 0800 174095, homeworking.gn.apc.org
*Consumer Direct: 0845 404 0506, consumerdirect.gov.uk/general/scams
*Office of Fair Trading: oft.gov.uk/consumer/scams
*Working Families: 020 7253 7243, workingfamilies.org.uk
*HM Revenue & Customs: www.hmrc.gov.uk (includes information on taxation, self employment, starting a business, tax credits etc).
*Helpline for newly self-employed: 0845 915 4515
*Tax Credits helpline: 0845 300 3900
*Maternity Allowance: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk or contact your local social security office

Franchises – the key companies

If you’re thinking of buying a franchise check out the following:

*Stretch-n-Grow: 0870 609 1107; stretch-n-grow.co.uk
Health, fitness and nutrition programmes for young children. Approximate investment £10,000 + VAT

*Jo Jingles Ltd: 01494 778989, jojingles.com

Pre-school music and singing classes. Approximate investment £6-8,000 + VAT

*Little Impressions Ltd: 0800 019 3950, little-impressions.com

Plaster cast keepsakes of children’s hands and feet. Approximate investment

£13,000 + VAT

*Mums in Control: 0870 062 2212, mumsincontrol.co.uk

Offers two franchise businesses: AboutMyArea, where you run and manage your own community website; or littlepartyplanner, where you plan and organise children’s (and adults) parties!

Working from home – the key companies

*The Direct Selling Association: 020 7497 1234; dsa.org.uk
Codes of practice and around 60 companies who welcome personal enquiries

*Usborne Books: 01865 883731, usbornebooksathome.co.uk
Selling children’s books. Approx set up cost £38.

*The Body Shop at Home – 08459 050607; thebodyshopinternational.com
Selling Body Shop products. Approx set-up cost £100.