Starting a business is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it can also be daunting, particularly for busy mums with limited spare time. However, with the right mindset, tools and strategies, you can turn your passion or idea into a thriving business that fits around your family and lifestyle.
Did you know that according to a recent report by the Women’s Business Council, there are over 800,000 women in the UK who are running their own businesses, and a significant proportion of them are doing so in their spare time? This is a testament to the growing trend of women taking control of their work-life balance and creating flexible and fulfilling careers that complement their family commitments.
To join this cohort of successful mum entrepreneurs, it’s important to start with a clear vision and an understanding of your niche and target audience. By identifying the gap in the market and tailoring your products or services to meet the needs and preferences of your ideal customers, you can differentiate yourself and stand out in the crowded business landscape.
Here are some tips to help you start a spare-time business:
Identify your niche and ideal customer
Before you start any business, it’s crucial to identify your niche and ideal customer. Ask yourself: What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing? What problems or needs can I solve or address for your taret audience? Who is your target audience and what are their demographics, interests, pain points, and preferences? By ring these questions, you can narrow down your business idea and tailor your products or services to your target market.
Plan and prioritise your time
As a mum, you may have multiple responsibilities and commitments that can consessentialtime and energy. Therefore, it’s important to plan and prioritise your time to ensure that you can balance your business, family, and personal life. Create a schedule or a to-do list that outlines your tasks and goals, and allocate specific time slots for your business activities, such as marketing, networking, customer service, and product development. Also, make sure to set realistic expectations and avoid overcommitting or underestimating the time required for each task.
Leverage technology and automation
One of the advantages of starting a business in the digital age is the abundance of tools and platforms that can help you automate and streamline your business processes. For example, you can use social media to promote your brand and engage with your customers, e-commerce platforms to sell your products online, project management tools to organise your tasks and collaborate with your team, and email marketing software to automate your email campaigns. By using technology and automation, you can save time, reduce errors, and scale your business more efficiently.
Build a support network
Starting a business can be a lonely and stressful experience, especially if you are working from home or juggling multiple roles. Therefore, it’s important to build a support network of like-minded individuals who can offer you guidance, feedback, and encouragement. You can join online or offline communities, attend networking events, hire a mentor or coach, or collaborate with other mumpreneurs who share your values and goals. By building a support network, you can learn from others, stay motivated, and overcome challenges more easily.
Be flexible and resilient
Starting a business is not a linear process, and you may encounter setbacks, failures, or unexpected obstacles along the way. Therefore, it’s important to be flexible and resilient and to see these challenges as opportunities to learn, grow, and improve. Keep an open mind, be willing to pivot or adapt your strategy if needed, and don’t let fear or self-doubt hold you back. Remember that every successful entrepreneur has faced challenges and failures, but what sets them apart is their ability to persevere and keep moving forward.
It’s clear that starting a spare-time business as a busy mum is a challenging but rewarding journey that requires a combination of passion, strategy, and resilience. By following these tips, you can turn your spare time into a profitable and fulfilling venture that allows you to pursue your dreams and support your family.
