Name: Joanne Caulfield

Age: 40

Children: 2

Business name: Community Times, Mumbles

Profit in first year: 30,000

1. How did the idea for your business come about?
I saw an opportunity in the local paper

2. How did you fund it?
With personal savings

3. How do you manage your business with childcare commitments and running a home?
The business allows me to be flexible. I work the hours around my
children. Community Times Mumbles is a local magazine that I produce and edit from home. I bought the franchise for 5,000 and I make money through local business ad sales.

4. What is the best thing that has happened to you as an entrepreneur so far?
We are financially much more secure. I am making a huge contribution to
our income. It has given me a massive confidence boost and I get recognised in the local area now.

5. And the worst?
I have to work to very tight deadlines.

6. What would you do differently if you could turn the clock back?
I would have started it earlier

7. Any tips for mums who are considering setting up a business?
Just go for it. I didn’t have the first clue about running a business or
indeed managing a magazine. I didn’t do anything like this in my working life before becoming a mum. It was a risk financially but it certainly paid off. I really enjoy what I do and am very proud of the magazine.

Community Times