Based on the stories that have been shared on Mumpreneur Inspiration we’ve compiled a list of business ideas for Mums. These have been inspired by the stories shared on Mumpreneurs Inspiration somyou know they can really work for Mums.
If you’re looking to work from home, it’s good to set yourself up with a home office so that you can be as productive as possible in whatever role you go for. This office desk is a good start but ensure you have a comfortable office chair and ample lighting.
The 25 HomE Business ideas for Mums
Selling things on the Internet – If you’ve got some space for storage then selling on the Internet could be an option for you. The promotion can be done in your own time and little ones usually quite enjoy a trip to the post office. Even if you don’t want to develop your own website their are plenty of third party sites you can sell through such as eBay and Etsy.This often requires a lot of logistics, including packaging, so ensure you have a reliable supplier and/or partner.
Best for: Mums with storage space who need complete flexibility
Worst for: Mums without customer service experience
Stories from Mums who are running businesses selling online
Virtual assistant – If you have great administration skills and are good with technology you could offer your skills as a virtual assistant, helping other business owners with their day to day tasks. You can generally work in your own time as long as things are done by the deadline.
Best for: Mums who are organised and good at working to a deadline
Worst from: Mums who find admin tasks dull and repetitive
Stories from Mums who are virtual assistants
Creating and selling information products – If you are knowledgable about something you could consider creating information products such as online courses, ebooks or even a blog to share that knowledge. Once the products are created you can focus your time on marketing so this can be a great home based business for Mums.
Best for: Mums who are knowledgeable about a particular topic
Worst for: Mums who don’t have the best IT skills
Stories from Mums who are selling information products
Remote coaching – If you’re very experienced in something you could consider remote coaching, this lends itself well to coaching in areas such as business, marketing and finances.
Best for: Mums who enjoy helping others
Worst for: Mums who don’t enjoy working on a one to one basis
Stories from Mums who are remote coaches
Face to face coaching – Some types of coaching work better in the real world but can still be scheduled round family life. You may already have skills that you can coach such as fitness, parenting or counselling or you could train in one of these areas. You could either run this as a home based business if you have a home office or hire space at a local business centre for the actual consulting.
Best for: Mums who have access to some space to carry out the coaching
Worst for: Mums who have small children with them full time
Stories from Mums who are face to face coaches
Antenatal classes – Some woman are inspired to join this industry through a good birth experience and some by a bad experience. Whichever is true for you, if you’re passionate about woman’s experience of birth this could suit you but you will need some childcare.
Best for: Mums with a passion for supporting new Mums
Worst for: Mums who don’t have great empathy
Stories from Mums who run classes
Childminder – Probably the only job where you can have your children with you all the time while you do it. Everyone in your household will need to have a background check and you’ll need to do some basic training. The government is keen to increase the availability of childcare so there is lots of support available.
Best for: Mums with a decent sized home and don’t mind some red tape
Worst for: Mums who don’t enjoy looking after children
Stories from Mums working in childcare
Baking – Becoming a cake maker or decorator is something that appeals to lots of women. If you’ve got the skills to create something really beautiful then you can make some money. You’ll have to be very well organised to fit it around small children. You’ll also need to keep your kitchen very clean to meet the health and safety requirements.
Best for: Mums who have a good kitchen space and like to keep it clean
Worst for: Mums who don’t have time to keep on top of the cleaning
Stories from Mums running food based businesses
Crafts – If you enjoy crafts then you could make them to sell. You could either do this online, through your own website or a third party site, or via local craft markets.
Best for: Mums who enjoy working with their hands to create something
Worst for: Mums who won’t put as much time in to selling as creating
Stories from Mums running craft based businesses
Bespoke items – One of the things that small businesses can do better than larger ones is create personalised items, this might jewellery, pieces of art, castings or clothing.
Best for: Mums who have sometime alone to work on items.
Worst for: Mums who want a business they can scale.
Stories from Mums who run Bespoke item based businesses.
Graphic/website design – If you have design skills these can allow you to work around your family as you can design for other people in your own time while little ones are asleep or at school. It’s a busy marketplace but if you can develop a good reputation in your niche then you can be successful.
Best for: Mums who either have or are willing to learn design skills
Worst for: Mums who don’t like their creativity to be directed by someone else
Stories from Mums who run Design based businesses
Book keeping – Accountancy and book keeping can work well around a children but you’ll need to already have the skills and qualifications as it’s difficult to get qualified without a period of working for someone else.
Best for: Mums who enjoy attention to detail
Worst for: Mums who don’t already have qualifications in the area
Stories from Mums who run book keeping/accountancy based businesses
Baby and toddler classes – Massage, music, gymnastics, dance, babies and toddlers can do it all these days! These can combine well with having children, some people take their children along to the classes but it is easier if you have enough childcare to cover class times, then admin, lesson planning and marketing can be fitted in elsewhere.
Best for: Mums who are comfortable standing up in front of the group
Worst for: Mums who don’t enjoy small children
Stories from Mums who run baby & toddler classes
After school classes – If you prefer older children and have a skill you could teach them then you could run after school classes, karate, music, swimming and dance are all popular things for children to take part in after school.
Best for: Mums with a skill to teach
Worst for: Mums with no childcare
Stories from Mums who run after school classes
Fitness classes – This could be standard adult classes, a buggy fit style of class or a class for Mums and babies to do together. If you’re interested in fitness you could train as an instructor even if you don’t already have the skills.
Best for: Mums with a passion for fitness
Worst for: Mums who,wouldn’t be comfortable with teaching
Stories from Mums who run fitness classes
Nanny – There is much less regulation for Nannies than for childminders and full time Nannies are often employees of the parents whose children they look after however some Nannies work on a self employed basis but in their clients Homes.
Best for: Mums who would enjoy a long term relationship with their clients
Worst for: Mums who don’t want to work in someone else’s home
Stories from Mums who work in childcare
Beauty therapist/hairdresser – These jobs can be done from home or on a mobile basis, while you couldn’t really have your children with you it’s possible to book appointments for times that you have childcare.
Best for: Mums who have some help with childcare, even just at the weekends or in the evenings
Worst for: Mums who don’t have a qualification in the area or the willingness to get one
Stories of Mums who run hair/beauty businesses
Selling by subscription – Subscription boxes where people sign up to receive something each month, great because there is automatically repeat business and can be promoted online and via social media in your own time.
Best for: Mums with a great product idea
Worst for: Mums who get easily bored
Stories of Mums who sell by subscription
Events – An event based business can work well around children as the events themselves can be scheduled when childcare is available and the promotion can be fitted in to evenings and nap times.
Best for: Mums who are organised
Worst for: Mums who don’t enjoy marketing
Stories from Mums who run events based businesses
Pet Sitting – If you love animals then pet sitting could be a great home based business for you. You look after other people’s pets in your own home, usually for a few weeks while they are on holiday but sometimes for longer.
Best for: Mums who like animals
Worst for: Mums who like things clean and tidy
Running an animal themed website
Making and Selling Jams and Chutney – While you’ll need to have your kitchen approved by the local council and follow strict hygiene rule, if you have a talent for cooking you can turn it into a business.
Best for: Mums who love being in the kitchen
Worst for: Mums who don’t like cleaning
Stories from Mums who work with food
Indexer – If you have good attention to detail and enjoy being organised then you could consider training as an indexed.
Best for: Organised mums
Worst for: Mums who don’t like detail
Stories from Organised Mums
Seamstress – If you’re handy with a needle and thread you can earn an income from it by taking in mending in alteration work. If you’re creative you could also make your own items to sell.
Best for: Mums who enjoy sewing
Worst for: Mums who don’t like fiddly stuff
Stories from Mums who make a living through textiles
Social Media Manager – If you love social media there are companies who will pay you to run their accounts for them, you’ll need a good knowledge of the platforms and be able to follow their style guidelines. You will also need to know what tools to use to maximise your results, such as social media schedulers, insight tools, and a Broken Link Checker for Youtube videos.
Best for: Mums who enjoy being online
Worst for: Mums who find social media addictive
Stories from mums who run online businesses
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