Can moms run businesses? The answer is a loud and proud yes. Yes, mothers can be successful entrepreneurs even when they dedicate a lot of time to their parental duties. So how does it work to be a mom and run a successful business at the same time?
The key is to find ways to work smarter rather than harder. For instance, running a business doesn’t mean that every working hour must be dedicated to your company. You can identify the time of the day when you are at your most productive and fully undisturbed (it’s the important part!), so you can achieve more in a small amount of time. Creating a schedule that lets you be a mom and an entrepreneur can be a game-changer. And if your working hours do not coincide with the traditional 9 to 5, who cares? Keeping a remote mindset enables you to work flexibly without losing touch with your family. In fact, remote companies are best suited for mompreneurs because they bring the flexibility you need in day-to-day life. So from setting your hours when you see fit to using equipment that lets you work from anywhere, you can bring your business dream to life!
But what else do you need to establish yourself as a successful mompreneur?
You need a reliable team
You can’t do everything by yourself. If you are considering simple tasks on an ad-hoc basis, it is best to reach out to outsourced contractors. A contractor can work when and where you need their support. So, it is fair to say that you may not have sufficient work for a full-time team when you start. But you certainly need someone trustworthy who’s got your back, even if you are outsourcing. Finding quality contractors who can put the work in is instrumental in growing your brand and building success.
When your business grows and can afford full-time employees, it’s crucial to dedicate time to finding the right talent and mindset. Not all employees will bring the same energy to your company. Essentially, mompreneurs will need a team who can work remotely and contribute to the business culture. This means that as a new employer, you will have to consider not only the recruitment process but also the onboarding journeys employees go through. Why onboarding? Because there is no benefit in hiring the best people if you can’t make them feel at home in your business.
You need a collaborative tool
What is a collaborative tool? When you work by yourself, some of your favourite work tools may include: emails, social media, Whatsapp, Messenger, or even video calls. But when you start building a team, whether you hire full-time employees or you explore outsourcing, your work tools must allow you to:
- Keep everyone in the loop at the same time
- Answer/ask questions to a group of people
- Work together on the same project
- Plan together for future projects
- Build an easy communication path for ideas, thoughts, or simple social chats (because it’s all part of effective teamwork)
Let’s be realistic. You can’t meet these needs with the tools you use in a solo business. When the business grows, your tools must put collaboration first. Therefore, work solutions such as the Google Suite with G Drive and G Chat, Microsoft Team, and Slack are more likely to encourage quality collaboration. Working together as a team can make a huge difference because it will:
- Reduce confusion
- Reduce duplicate work
- Reduce contradictory or conflicting efforts
- Reduce lost or missed information
- Reduce time loss
- Reduce the risk of teams growing apart
Togetherness begins with a solution that lets everyone contribute and communicate seamlessly and simultaneously.
Authentic messaging makes a difference
Who are you, and why should I trust you? It’s a frequent question asked by customers. Yet, they rarely get an answer to it. More often than not, brands choose to address it by discussing the company’s history and showing off their positive reviews. A five-star review is a token of quality. It shows that your products or services and worth the hype. But the little stars do not tell your story as a mompreneur.
Being a woman running a business is a significant advantage. More importantly, being a mom running a business. Why? Because you can reach out to millions of customers who struggle to identify with the impersonal branding communication.
You can change the story from being about brand X to being about you. The authentic story of why you created a business and how you manage to run it can bridge the gap with your audience group. Social media is a fantastic place to get started and share your story. Instagram lets you create stories, so you can simply go to a quiet spot and record yourself talking about your journey into entrepreneurship. TikTok may also be a suitable place as long as you can keep it short and funky. Long and personal blog posts are old-fashioned, and they rarely work as well as social media content. But they can be a great medium to address sensitive content.
You need smooth administration processes
What costs small businesses the most time and money? Administrative tasks are both time and cost-hungry. From making appointments to keeping books, these tasks are often described as the worst part of running a business. As a solo entrepreneur, you can find ways to manage your time effectively, such as:
- Scheduling time for administrative chores
- Using automated solutions for invoices or accounting
- Using an online calendar function that lets customers book a free slot
But as soon as your business begins to grow, you are going to face challenges. Indeed, when more than one person works on projects, it can be tough to maintain correct invoicing and bookkeeping. Similarly, more customers mean more conflicting appointments. Keeping on top of the administrative side of a growing business is tricky. It is worth investing in specialist skills via a virtual assistant or outsourced accountant. Don’t misjudge the difference a professional can make to your admin. They can identify areas where you can save money, recommend investment tips, and keep your business running smoothly.
Are you ready to bring your business dream to life? It’s never a matter of whether you can do it or not. The answer is always: You can find a way to make it work as long as you surround yourself with the right people and tools.
Disclosure: collaborative post
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