Thinking of starting your own home business? Considerations and advice before you take the plunge!
Tips
1. Flexibility? Yes! Easy? No! - One of the biggest myths of starting your own business is that if you have a great idea, it will come easy. While being your own boss allows you to ditch the commute and work the hours you choose, you should assume that you will be spending as much time on your mompreneurship, as you did your "real" job.
2. Prepare for the Long Haul: Think of your business almost like raising a child. In the beginning it will be exhausting, frustrating, and you will definitely find yourself questioning yourself at some point. Remember that it will take time to build your business, so if you're preparing on making a livelihood out of your business, try to plan for at least six-nine months of ramp up time. Most people start with their business while keeping their traditional job (at least part time), and the key thing to remember is it will take time to get things moving.
3. It's a Labor of Love: It may sound obvious, but make sure you're passionate about the business you're starting...if you don't love your business, it's hard to assume your customers will too.
4. Ask for Help: Take advantage of local small business programs, government tax breaks, and even industry experts who typically maintain blogs and newsletters for offering advice.
5. It's not as Scary as it Seems: Starting your own business might seem like a frightening proposition (especially for busy moms who don't seem to have enough time in the day as it is), but if you have a great idea it's important to remember that millions of other women have successfully started their businesses online. You don't need to be a tech expert or a business guru to get your site up and running.
About Eric Steinle:
Eric is responsible for development all product lines within Yahoo! Small Business and continued support of all customers. He has worked for Yahoo! Small Business for 5 years and has been in the technology industry for 12 years. He lives in San Francisco with his wife of 6 years, Jen (a mom entrepreneur) and 3 year old daughter Sierra.
