What's to love about working from home? 1.
Let's start with the obvious.
You get to be based at home, which most busy moms find is a real benefit when balancing your family's needs with your own career.
A lot of freelance work, especially if it's computer based, can even be portable enough to take with you if you need to work from another location.
Besides, no matter where you are, if you have an online presence you can also work with clients and sell to customers around the world.
2.
You have more control over your working hours.
Need to block out certain times of the week for regular appointments or activities? Or how about taking time off at short notice? Not a problem.
Even if you take on freelance work for clients, you can usually reschedule your work.
Simply put, there's more flexibility in being your own boss.
3.
You have a wide range of career options open to you.
Use your skills and training to earn from the things you are good at.
Not every work at home mom will want to make it big on Etsy, though if your talents lie in that direction go for it.
You might be better suited to being a virtual assistant or a freelance writer.
If you speak more than one language fluently, look into translation work into your native language.
There's always a demand for skilled translators as other online businesses work on establishing a multilingual web presence.
You could also consider tutoring students in a foreign language, music, or another skill.
4.
Once up and running, you can also pick and choose your projects to some extent.
Some women take on freelance work that uses their training or qualifications, but at the same time work on turning a hobby into a business, be it portrait photography, soap-making, or selling antiques online.
Multiple income streams like this are a great way to keep money coming in when business is slow.
Obviously, if there were no drawbacks, we'd see a whole lot more home-based businesses.
The fact is, this way of life doesn't work for everyone.
1.
Getting started isn't always easy.
Whether freelancing or setting up an online business, you face competition from people who have been around longer.
Be prepared to spend time figuring out how to market your product and service, and how to offer something unique.
You'll be more motivated if you can work towards realistic milestones, such as your first $100 or first regular client, rather than expecting to make the equivalent of a monthly wage right from the get-go.
2.
There will be busy times and quiet ones.
A wage lets us set a monthly budget and gives us the security of knowing what's coming in.
You don't have this when working for yourself.
When times are good, you'll need to set aside funds for low points in the year.
It's also worth figuring out which other aspects of your business you can work on when things are slow.
That could be building up your stock or, if you are a freelancer, working on your marketing campaign to find additional clients.
3.
You'll need to make organization your middle name.
Your work area can be cluttered, but when it comes to the financial side of things be sure you keep meticulous records.
You'll need them when filing your taxes.
You will also need to issue your own invoices if you work for clients.
4.
Can you handle the isolation? Some types of freelance work or self-managed businesses will bring you into contact with other people, but many involve long hours alone or with only your kids for company.
This is especially true of online businesses and other computer-based work.
Speaking of children, you will also have to balance their needs with 'quiet time' to do your work.
If they are young or have active social lives this could be challenging.
Being self-employed, while managing a home and family, inevitably means a juggling act.
But for many women the life-work balance makes it well worth it.
Make an informed decision about being your own boss and you'll be off to a strong start.
Let's start with the obvious.
You get to be based at home, which most busy moms find is a real benefit when balancing your family's needs with your own career.
A lot of freelance work, especially if it's computer based, can even be portable enough to take with you if you need to work from another location.
Besides, no matter where you are, if you have an online presence you can also work with clients and sell to customers around the world.
2.
You have more control over your working hours.
Need to block out certain times of the week for regular appointments or activities? Or how about taking time off at short notice? Not a problem.
Even if you take on freelance work for clients, you can usually reschedule your work.
Simply put, there's more flexibility in being your own boss.
3.
You have a wide range of career options open to you.
Use your skills and training to earn from the things you are good at.
Not every work at home mom will want to make it big on Etsy, though if your talents lie in that direction go for it.
You might be better suited to being a virtual assistant or a freelance writer.
If you speak more than one language fluently, look into translation work into your native language.
There's always a demand for skilled translators as other online businesses work on establishing a multilingual web presence.
You could also consider tutoring students in a foreign language, music, or another skill.
4.
Once up and running, you can also pick and choose your projects to some extent.
Some women take on freelance work that uses their training or qualifications, but at the same time work on turning a hobby into a business, be it portrait photography, soap-making, or selling antiques online.
Multiple income streams like this are a great way to keep money coming in when business is slow.
Obviously, if there were no drawbacks, we'd see a whole lot more home-based businesses.
The fact is, this way of life doesn't work for everyone.
1.
Getting started isn't always easy.
Whether freelancing or setting up an online business, you face competition from people who have been around longer.
Be prepared to spend time figuring out how to market your product and service, and how to offer something unique.
You'll be more motivated if you can work towards realistic milestones, such as your first $100 or first regular client, rather than expecting to make the equivalent of a monthly wage right from the get-go.
2.
There will be busy times and quiet ones.
A wage lets us set a monthly budget and gives us the security of knowing what's coming in.
You don't have this when working for yourself.
When times are good, you'll need to set aside funds for low points in the year.
It's also worth figuring out which other aspects of your business you can work on when things are slow.
That could be building up your stock or, if you are a freelancer, working on your marketing campaign to find additional clients.
3.
You'll need to make organization your middle name.
Your work area can be cluttered, but when it comes to the financial side of things be sure you keep meticulous records.
You'll need them when filing your taxes.
You will also need to issue your own invoices if you work for clients.
4.
Can you handle the isolation? Some types of freelance work or self-managed businesses will bring you into contact with other people, but many involve long hours alone or with only your kids for company.
This is especially true of online businesses and other computer-based work.
Speaking of children, you will also have to balance their needs with 'quiet time' to do your work.
If they are young or have active social lives this could be challenging.
Being self-employed, while managing a home and family, inevitably means a juggling act.
But for many women the life-work balance makes it well worth it.
Make an informed decision about being your own boss and you'll be off to a strong start.
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