6 Tips to Help Parents Start a New Business and Earn Extra Income
We always welcome guest submission on topics of interest. Today’s post comes from Gwen Payne. You can reach her at gwen@invisiblemoms.com
If you’re a stay-at-home mom or dad, you have one of the most important jobs in the world. Despite this level of importance, the pay rate for being a stay-at-home parent leaves a lot to be desired. Because of this, you may find yourself looking for ways to earn extra cash without sacrificing too much time with your family. If so, starting your own business could be the way to go, and you can even do so from the comfort of your home. Here are some tips for getting started.
Work on Your Business Plan
Every great business should begin with a solid plan. If you need help figuring out the basics for your new business, know that you can always work with a consultant to develop a strategic plan. Consultants like the ones at Assured Consultants can even help you source the funding needed to get your new business up and running, and then guide you through the next steps. If you’re having a hard time figuring out which type of business is best for your lifestyle and goals.
Establish Your New Business
Once you have an outline for your new business venture you can begin working on the paperwork needed to get it established. For instance, many freelancers find it helpful to work under an LLC, or limited liability corporation, to protect their personal assets and take advantage of money-saving tax credits. If you think this is the right move for you, you can always use online tools to form an LLC, get familiar with requirements, and pay any necessary fees.
Create Your Digital Presence
After you’ve set up your business, it’s time to start advertising it and networking with potential clients. These days, digital marketing reigns supreme when it comes to promoting a new business and connecting with customers, so make this one of your first priorities. If you are working on a home-based business, you can begin your online marketing efforts by consulting a freelance digital marketer or you can promote yourself using podcasts and other content.
Set Up Your Home Workspace
Up until now, you may have been working from your couch or kitchen counter. If you want to get serious about earning extra cash, however, you really need to create your own workspace. Having a dedicated home office will help keep kids, pets, and other household distractions from interfering with your productivity during work hours. You can set up a desk in an extra room if you have it, but you can also create a functional office using a wall, corner, or even a closet.
Establish Your Work Routine
Creating a dedicated office space can boost your focus, but it’s almost more important to create a consistent schedule and routine. Honestly, sticking to a routine is one of the biggest challenges that parents working from home can face. It can be especially tricky when you’re working with kids or even a spouse at home, but establishing clear boundaries can make things easier.
Find Your Work-Life Balance
It’s important to set boundaries around your work hours, but it can also be just as crucial to set boundaries around your personal time. This can be so hard to do when you are also trying to set up new e-commerce, freelance, or other home-based business, but it’s also essential for your mental health and your family’s well-being. Some simple work-life balance steps you can take to create healthy separation can include creating a strict stop time and taking actual lunch breaks.
Working as a stay-at-home parent can work for your family, especially when you start your own business. Then you get to call the shots when it comes to your schedule so that you can preserve the time needed to care for your family. So start working on your plans and consider connecting with professionals who can help you achieve your work and personal goals.
Photo Credit: Pexels
