Name: Antonia Chitty
Age: 37
Children: 2
Business name: ACPR
Profit in first year: not sure ? around ?12,000?
How did the idea for your business come about?
I was unhappy at work. I felt I was trying to do five days work in four, spending my salary on nursery fees, and wanted to spend more time with my daughter who was getting more and more interesting as she grew.
How did you fund it?
I started small, and invested a few hundred pounds of my own money in getting started. I traded skills with Sadie at www.glassraven.com who was starting up around the same time. I helped her with promotion and she created my first website.
How do you manage your business with childcare commitments and running a home?
I?ve tried it various ways, and used different people to help me. Over the years I?ve had a doula, a cleaner, and an au pair, a virtual admin person, a bookkeeper, and various PR people working for me. Sadly I haven?t had all those at once or my life would be a lot easier. Currently, D is at school and Jay goes to nursery part time. I still end up working some evenings, but I?m happy to do that and be flexible at other times.
What is the best thing that has happened to you as an entrepreneur so far?
Getting a couple of books published. In 2007 I brought out A Guide to Promoting Your Business which has been great for ACPR. As well as generating income from book sales it has helped raise the profile of the business. Since the book came out, I?ve done a number of talks to different professional groups, and run regular training in business promotion for GLE One London enterprise agency. I?ve had coverage for the book in a wide range of media ? from Accountancy Age to Prima Baby to Cake and Sugarcraft magazines!
And the worst?
There isn?t a single event that has been bad, but I think it?s hard to keep on going even when you have had very little sleep, a child is ill, and work still has to be completed.
What would you do differently if you could turn the clock back?
I think I?d have started my own business tight after maternity leave instead of returning to work for nine months.
Any tips for mums who are considering setting up a business?
Make a plan. Ask potential customers about their reaction to your product and service. Get advice from your local enterprise agency, and build up a network of other women in business. I couldn?t have done this without support from my WAHM friends.