Posted inBusiness ideas Starting and running your business

How to find the right business model that will sustain you financially

Kids retuning to school today? Feeling like you really don’t have the energy to get back on that work-life treadmill again? You’re not alone, but instead of looking for a pity party, take action today and things could start looking different by the start of the next school half term.

20111031-082502.jpgThe trick is not to focus solely on the money you want to make – choose a business that you actually like.

If it uses your strongest abilities, skills, or talents, all the better. If it doesn’t, thats not a big deal – as long as you are willing to keep learning , you can develop the necessary abilities, skills, or talents as you go along.

Here are three tips for getting into the right business for you:

Posted inBusiness ideas

How to open your own café

Many people dream of owning their own business one day – in the current economic climate, with few rewards and long hours in the city, more are taking the plunge into independent ventures than ever. If you want a slower pace and a richer quality of life, perhaps you’ve thought about going into catering and hospitality. Opening a small café or boutique in the country is hard work but it’s more of a lifestyle than a nine to five.

start own business running a cafe-113400.jpgMost of us are familiar enough with Dragon’s Den to know that there’s more to it than turning up with a good idea: before you start you’ll need to calculate your outgoings and estimate your turnover.

Here are some of the essential things you need to know about when planning your start up.

Four ways to stay motivated in your home business
Posted inA mix Starting and running your business

Four ways to stay motivated in your home business

Whether you’re just starting out with your work at home business or you’ve had your home business for many years, there will be times when motivation levels can take a slump.

stay motivated in your home businessDuring this time of year, when the days seem shorter, a d the weather is getting chillier, working from home can feel a little isolating.

Here are four simple ways you can stay motivated in your work at home business, even when you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom:

Are you a mumpreneur? Your home insurance cover may not cover you in the worst
Posted inWhat's in the news?

Are you a mumpreneur? Your home insurance cover may not cover you in the worst

Starting a home business is an attractive prospect for lot of mums looking to make extra money or forge a new career – and all with the flexibility needed to still raise a family.

home business insuranceBut in the excitement of it all, have you stopped to check if your home insurance covers your home business?

It can be easy to think that you don’t need to buy an additional insurance policy on top of your current policy, but you may be leaving yourself open for a nasty shock should the worst happen.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Facing redundancy at work: top tips on what to do and how to cope

It used to be the case that people could get a job and expect to stay there for as long as they wanted, but these days there really isn’t such a thing as a job for life, and the current economic climate means that there is an increased chance of facing redundancy.

redundancyThe prospect of being made redundant can make a lot of people feel that they have no control. Something is happening to their lives that they don’t want and they feel hurt, sad, anxious and resistant to that change.

But, no matter what our thoughts are about redundancy, when it comes knocking, we have to deal with it.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Real mum profile: Seema Carter of Dillonstoybox.com

Mumpreneur, Seema Carter, 42, runs online toy store Dillonstoybox.com with her husband. She shares her tips and experience of running a business while raising their three-and-a-half-year-old son.
Dillons toybox, Seema Carter

What work did you do before you set up your company?

I was a director’s PA.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Bookeeping: flexible career and perfect home business for mums

Are you fanatical about making sure your family saves money and doesn’t over spend?

20110927-133614.jpgDo you get goosebumps every time you manage to stretch that last pound and still get the little treats for the family without overspending? A career in finance may be the perfect career change for you!

Accounting jobs like bookeeping are known for their flexibility, and bookeeping is a fantastic way to start building a freelance career that can eventually become a fully fledged home business.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Monday morning bootcamp: time management for mumpreneurs!

Have you got the Monday morning blues?

time managementIf you’ve been running around this morning and have just wiped the sweat from your brow after this morning’s frantic dash to get the children to school/nursery and then get to work, it sounds like you need some time management training.

Grab yourself a cup of coffee, or your cereal bowl, a notebook an pen and get ready for time management bootcamp!

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Video tutorial: how to choose a web host

Are you starting an online business and need a website? Are you confused by the technical terms used about web hosting?

20110922-081524.jpgWe’ve made things very easy with these easy to follow video tutorials.

Covering everything from shared hosting to the amount of webspace you need, in less than half an hour you’ll understand everything you need to know about choosing the best web host. So grab a notebook, pen and a cup of something you fancy and get watching!

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Real mum profile: Polly Marsh of Cuddledry

Polly Marsh, 40, is a married mum of three girls (aged, six, four and 22 months), and one half the successful brand Cuddledry, creators of the original Cuddledry baby bath towel.

Polly Marsh of CuddledryThe brand is now has an award-winning range of bath, swim and beachtime products for babies and toddlers and has even had an appearance on Dragon’s Den!

She tells motherswhowork.co.uk how they managed to clock a fantastic £50k in profit in the first year, and what running a business online really means for a busy mum.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Online business challenge, Day 3: how to choose a web host for your website

There are a so many different web hosting companies out there, with prices and services ranging from a few pounds a month to hundreds of pounds a month – and for the non-tecchy, choosing the best fit can be very daunting.

Let’s look at some of the most important things to look for when choosing a web hosting company.

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Online business challenge, Day 2: Do your research

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make about your online business is what you call the website (domain name).

Should it be keyword friendly, or an obscure name that means something only you know? These video tutorials will explain the pros and cons of both methods when choosing a domain name and more, and show you how to choose a future proof domain name.

Plus, you’ll learn about keywords and why they matter so much in your online business endeavours, how to choose the best ones to get traffic to your website, and how to stay on the right side of Google!

Posted inWhat's in the news?

Online business challenge, Day 2: Do your research

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make about your online business is what you call the website (domain name).

Should it be keyword friendly, or an obscure name that means something only you know? These video tutorials will explain the pros and cons of both methods when choosing a domain name and more, and show you how to choose a future proof domain name.

Plus, you’ll learn about keywords and why they matter so much in your online business endeavours, how to choose the best ones to get traffic to your website, and how to stay on the right side of Google!

Posted inChildren & Relationships What's in the news?

As the kids go back to school, many mums are getting back to work with direct selling

As every working mum knows September means the start of the new school year, and the kids heading back to the classroom after the summer break.

Direct selling pays off - worth trying if you're looking for a way to make money

For many mums, with the kids out of their hair, this time of year brings a chance to explore new earning opportunities. With the kids occupied once again, direct selling offers working mothers a flexible, independent way to supplement their family income.

Direct selling has low start-up costs, and offers mums the opportunity to choose their own flexible hours to fit around their family commitments.