Pic: Andrew Mason
Guest contributor Helen Lindop takes the reigns today to discuss how starting a business with a young baby in tow is not only possible but can actually fuel innovative approaches.
Two years ago I was surprised to find I didn’t want to go back to my full-time job after my baby was born. I’d been self-employed before, so knew this might give me the flexibility I needed. But I didn’t know how it would all work.
Where would I find the time? Is it possible to work with small child around? What businesses would fit well around a family?
As I did my research I wrote about it on my blog, and found that I was not the only one asking these questions.
Many new mums expect to return to work after their maternity leave ends, but find their priorities change once their baby arrives. Faced with a choice of working full-time, taking a poorly-paid part time job or giving up work altogether, they are starting businesses instead.
Businesses based on young children are popular, such as running toddler classes or selling children’s gifts and toys. Some mums are inspired to invent a new product and bring it to market, such as the Snoozeshade that helps babies to sleep in pushchairs on sunny days or the Mamascarf that helps mums breastfeed discreetly in public. But there are web designers, PR experts, accountants, homeopaths, beauty therapists, artists and book-keepers too.
Making such a big career change at the same time as adjusting to being a new parent is tough. There’s a lot to learn and not much free time to do it all in. Cash can be very tight, especially at the end of maternity leave, and the business has to have the flexibility to fit in around a young family.
The good news is that mums in business are great at supporting one another. Business mums’ networking groups are popping up all over the country this year. Typical business breakfast networking meetings are impractical if you have young children, so mums in business have started their own. Child-friendly meetings are held during school hours and some even have a crèche. And, of course, there are plenty of resources online too.
In other words, business + baby is certainly possible and can even serve as the inspiration for new ventures and creative approaches to business.
Helen Lindop
Helen Lindop has released an e-book which explains the ten key things mums need to know if they are starting a business with a baby. You can view or download it for free here: www.businessplusbaby.com/free-ebook
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Just wanted to say thanks for posting my article!
No problem Helen – worth a look for any would-be ‘mumpreneur’