Stay-at-Home-Mom, Home-based Business

You may think that starting a home-based business-no matter how small-is easy. Or you may think it's impossible. Either way, you're right-and you're dead wrong. Businesses succeed, but many fail. How will you be one of the successes?

Before you tell anyone you're in business, or start to advertise, or sign up as a consultant with a company, follow these five basic steps. As a stay-at-home parent you're making an enormous change in your life-one that takes you from the world of kids and family into the world of business. I have balanced being a work-at-home mom (WAHM) and a stay-at-home-mom (SAHM) for the past six years. It hasn't always been easy. Sometimes being a SAHM drove me crazy-how many more times could the baby want to nurse? Couldn't my four year old get his own drink of water? Going to the bathroom all by myself was a challenge-how could I possibly add a business to my responsibilities? Other times, the thought of having a conversation from start to finish with another adult, or drinking a cup of coffee at my desk-a hot cup of coffee from beginning to end, without microwaving it seventeen times throughout the day-was exotic and appealing. And the money, of course, is wonderful!

You don't have to pick one over the other. Being at home with the kids is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They're little for such a short time. But you can also find balance in your life, with as much or as little involvement in your own business as you choose.

First, you need to prepare yourself mentally. Here are the five steps you need to take before you even think about your specific business.

1. Know that you can do this. It sounds obvious, but you can. My freelance writing career got its real start in 1997-when I met my husband, Erik. No one had ever really encouraged me to publish my writing. He raved about my work and told me to use the Internet to find markets for my work. An Australian magazine accepted a small horror story I wrote. Then, a book publisher liked a funny story I wrote about my dog at a company picnic, and they paid me $25 and gave me five copies of the book when it was published! And my freelance career went from there. Now, I've written nine books, published more than 90 articles, and own a successful home-based writing business. All because someone told me I could do it! So, let me tell you:YOU CAN DO THIS!

2. Talk to or read about successful SAHMs who have started home-based businesses.You probably know someone who started a business as a SAHM-ask them how they did it. These are mothers just like you who began with an idea, took action, and now work from home. By reading about them you learn what it takes to start a business, but you also motivate yourself-if they can do it, SO CAN YOU!3. Think about what you want to do. Every person is different-that's why there are so many different businesses! Some mothers want to sell toys at home parties, others like to sew cloth diapers and sell them online, while some moms (like me!) enjoy writing. Consider what you enjoy doing, and go from there. Like to shop? Maybe Mystery Shopping is right for you. Enjoy working with pregnant women? Look into doula (labor assistant) training. Pick something you really will be excited to do each day, and build a business idea around that.

4. Make sure your business fits around your family's needs. Being a work-at-home-mom means that home comes before work-most of the time. Yes, there will be days when the kids get put in front of the t.v. for too many hours and you order pizza for dinner because you have a deadline or you've scheduled four in-home parties that week or you need to transcribe twelve hours of medical documents now. Those moments are rare, though-as long as you plan your business around your family. If you want to get a job or start a business that takes you out of the home for longer hours, then great-make sure you structure your life for such a business, by finding quality day care, upgrading your business wardrobe, and making sure that business is business and home is home. If you want to run a home-based business, with more time for your family, make sure the business you choose gives you the flexibility and freedom to do so.

5. Think like a business person. Your sense of time and the way you think needs to change when you become a WAHM. Does everyone you know think you have "loads of free time" to do favors for them because you're "just" a SAHM? We won't even get into that issue right now-SAHMs do PLENTY of work! But once you're the owner of your small business, your time becomes money. Think like a businessperson. If a customer asked you to give them a few pair of earrings from your jewelry business, you'd think they were cuckoo-but why is it OK for the neighbor to assume that you'll let the cable guy into her house while she's at work-which means you have to wait around all morning for him to arrive? Your time is precious-and even more so when you are a work-at-home-mom.These are the five basic steps you need to take before you even DREAM about starting your business. Of course, you have been dreaming about starting a business-or you wouldn't be reading this!

Once you've taking these five steps, you're ready to move on and find the right business for you.