4 Tips for Stay-at-Home Moms to Start a Lucrative Business (Guest Post)

By Marissa Perez, Business Pop

​If you are like many stay-at-home moms, extra cash goes a long way to increase your family budget or provide a cushion in your savings account. Perhaps you want an outlet outside your children to showcase your skills. Either way, if you are a stay-at-home mom looking to start a successful business, these four tips can get you there.

1. Create a Plan

Starting a business from the ground up can be intimidating. It’s a good idea to learn as much as you can about the field you’re considering. If, for example, you want to open a school, it’s wise to get an education degree. An online program can be flexible with your schedule, allowing you the time you need to be mom while completing your degree.

Another business idea can be starting a residential cleaning company. Though it sounds simple in conception, there can be a lot to learn, which is why Clearnerpreneur is a great place to start.

Just as you need to create a budget and plan financially for your family's expenses, you need to do the same for your company. Without one, it is very easy to overspend and lose track of your income and expenses.

First, determine your startup costs. Depending on the amount, you may need to take out a loan. Once you tackle this part, create a monthly budget. This should include all business-related costs. If you are working from home, home-based companies can include certain write-offs in taxes, such as work-related purchases and electric and internet bills.

Track your monthly expenses and income via an online program or spreadsheet. As your business grows, update your budget accordingly.

​2. Create a Schedule

Now that you need to dedicate part of your time to your growing company, an updated family schedule will ensure your kids are still tended to, housework is completed and no appointments slip through the cracks.

Sit down with your husband and revamp the family schedule. Go into this discussion with an idea of how much time you need to put into your work. This may require some earlier mornings or later nights for the both of you, but it will pay off once your sales take off! Keep a copy of the weekly or monthly schedule posted in the kitchen, share it on your phones, or use a good, old-fashioned paper planner.

3. Market Your Company

As you get ready to open your doors, focus on marketing your new business. While there are numerous advertisement avenues available, such as print, television, radio, and online, social media is one of the most impactful outlets. According to one report, 69% of marketers found that social media provided the best return on investment of all their digital marketing platforms.

If you do not have the budget for an advertising campaign, simply utilize the free accounts. Posting on a social media site, such as Instagram, builds community, increases brand awareness, showcases your company's values, and ultimately boosts your sales.

To create attractive Instagram posts with a uniform message, use an Instagram post maker. Free social media templates allow you to customize the post by editing color, text, font style, resizing designs, and uploading your photos.

​4. Hire Employees

As your business grows, you might find you need a few extra sets of hands to help out. Depending on your workload, it may even be helpful to hire a part-time assistant before you launch the company. Having someone there to handle day-to-day operations, such as emails and appointment making, can take a load off your plate.

Remember, once you hire staff you need payroll software for small businesses. Look online for software that offers automatic payroll scheduling, same-day direct deposits, employee benefits management, automatic calculating, and tax filing.

Whether your dreams are to make a little extra money or start a new full-time career path, it is possible to find a balance between being with your kids and growing your business. Follow these four tips to grow your company while still loving your little ones.

​At Cleanerpreneur, Danny Partida provides valuable resources for residential cleaning business owners. For more information, please visit his website or contact him today!