Any stay at home moms who run their own business??

[beau13]

I am a member of several WAHM or SAHM message boards, and was just curious to see if there are many women here, who decided to start up their own small business (home business) in order to raise their children, work more flexible hours, be at home with their kids while working, or perhaps to even get away from the kids at times. My children are 10 and 13 now..and I have been involved in a couple different home businesses for almost 9 years now. I love it..for all the reasons I just listed. If you do run your own business..what kind is it (industry), why did you choose that particular business..and what made you decide to quit your 9-5 job??

 

[vespergirl]

Hi Beau!

I am a Spa Consultant with Spa Girl Parties. It''s a company similar to Mary Kay, home parties except with all-natural spa products. However, we don''t need the money from the business, so I joined mostly to get discount products for myself, and as an excuse to throw a girly party every few months where we get together and pamper our skin. It''s fun, but I don''t work at it hard enough to make any real profit. There are many people at the company who work at it like a full-time job, though, and they bring home several hundred, or even thousand, dollar a month. I just am not interested in working yet beyond the hobby level.

 

[beau13]

I have heard of that company. I worked as a BeautiControl consultant for about 7 years. I loved the products..and pampering women was alot of fun too! I did alot of bridal parties (makeup application mostly) on weekends, throughout the summer. I now sell fine foods, spices, dips, mixes...professional quality cookware and bakeware, and it''s a bigger hit (in the past few months) than the Spa business was in the first few years! Where I live, women don''t really get into the Spa mode, de-stressing, relaxing etc..but they sure do like to EAT!! (which is why they are seeking me out I guess..lol). Best wishes with your Spa business..it''s always great to be able to get those products at wholesale prices for yourself too!

 

[akw94]

Hi,
I quit my job because I moved out of state and it would be very difficult to practice law again here (plus, don''t really want to!). In the mean time, I decided to open a cupcake business. I''ve been thinking about it for a little while, had time on my hands to experiment so decided to go for it. Still passing out flyers and trying to get it started so we''ll see what happens. I''m not sure what I''ll do if it takes off in terms of getting something full time or not, however, definitely still looking for work right now. I really like the flexibility it provides and am able to be more involved in my son''s school but also missing full time work a lot.
So, my situation doesn''t necessarily fit quitting for the kids but I thought I''d share.

 

[beau13]

Dixie..a cupcake business?? That''s very unique. I''m sure it will go over well..once the word is out. A lady in my town started a fresh fruit bouquet business, this past summer. Fruit cut into the shape of flowers, on wooden skewers..and she is overwhelmed with orders! Here''s a pic of one of her creations.
Thanks for sharing. I thought there would be more of us entrepreneurs out there. I can''t imagine having to be at work at a specific time, working until a specific time, day in and day out.(bben there, done that, donb''t miss it)! Being able to make your own schedule, around your family, truly is a blessing. Good luck with the launch of your new business. Perhaps you can post some pics of your creations??

 

[Haven]

My mom isn't a SAHM, but she started a desktop publishing business out of her home years ago, and now she brings in around 30K per year in profit. She works full-time as an administrator in a private school, so the desktop publishing business has always just been for fun and extra cash, but she loves it.

She creates bar mitzvah booklets, newsletters, flyers, maps, you name it. She's amazing with Printshop and Photoshop and whatever other shops people use in desktop publishing. I'm very proud of her. She does the design and the printing, unless it's a very large job and she has an outside printer for those. She's so cool.

When she was a SAHM she used to do calligraphy for wedding invitations and such. Did I mention that I'm proud of her? She's the best.

 

[beau13]

That''s sweet Haven..I''m sure your mom knows how proud you are of her. Souns like the two of you have a great mother/daughter relationship. Sounds like she has a passion that earns her some extra spending $$...that''s great!

 

[zoebartlett]

Date: 12/24/2008 1:15:51 PM
Author: Haven
My mom isn''t a SAHM, but she started a desktop publishing business out of her home years ago, and now she brings in around 30K per year in profit. She works full-time as an administrator in a private school, so the desktop publishing business has always just been for fun and extra cash, but she loves it.

She creates bar mitzvah booklets, newsletters, flyers, maps, you name it. She''s amazing with Printshop and Photoshop and whatever other shops people use in desktop publishing. I''m very proud of her. She does the design and the printing, unless it''s a very large job and she has an outside printer for those. She''s so cool.

When she was a SAHM she used to do calligraphy for wedding invitations and such. Did I mention that I''m proud of her? She''s the best.

I just wanted to chime in, Haven, and say that I remember the fabulous job that your mom did on your escort/place cards (she DID put those together, right?) and the map for your guests. She is quite talented!

 

[LuckyTexan]

I started a business right after we moved into our house... the extra space made it possible for me to set up shop and make some extra money.

I found out all too soon how bored I was going to be staying home with kids and not having a job!

I started it on ebay, and got several very good clients set up, and then stopped advertising because it was getting so big that I couldn't handle it alone!

I am an international personal shopper.

There have been several times in the past that I have been DYING to offer my services to people on PS when they are CRYING to get USA merchandise sent to them in foreign countries!!!

I wish there was a way for me to post my business contact info without violating the user policy here!