Thinking of Starting A Business From Home? Here Are 5 Tips To Get You Started

With so many people working from home, or self-isolating in their homes, internet usage is at an all-time high.

While watching cat videos and playing online Scrabble might seem like fun, you can have too much of a good thing.

One great way to use your time at home and on the internet productively is to start your own business.

By setting up a small company, you’ll get the flexibility that you need to spend time with your precious children, while at the same time earning a little extra money.

Starting a company also gives you the self-confidence and sense of accomplishment that many stressed parents need.

To help you get started on the road to entrepreneurial success, here are some top tips straight from a fellow mum!

Combine Your Skills With What Customers Want

The first step towards starting any business is to have a great idea, and that means figuring out where the sweet spot is between your skillset and customer demand. Work out what marketable skills and ideas you have, and then check out the competition. If your idea is completely original, then it’s either genius, or unwanted. Do some market research using social media, Q&A sites or by creating a poll, to put the feelers out and see if anyone would be willing to buy your potential product or service.

Create A Productive Workspace

Working from the kitchen table or perched on the edge of the sofa isn’t going to cut it- if you want to really get things done, you’ve got to make a proper workspace. Try turning an unused room in your home, or even a small space like a cupboard, into a home office. If you’ve got loads of junk in there, then rent a garage to store of all your items in and create a productive workspace where you can flourish.

Use Social Media To Your Advantage

When you first start your business, it might seem impossible to find clients, but you might actually have the key to this already. Your social media accounts are full of people who love you and want to support you, and who also buy items online on a regular basis. Share your new venture on social media and encourage your friends and family to share the details and buy from you. Pretty soon, you’ll have a strong following and lots of potential customers to engage with and use to grow your business.

Learn To Switch Off

One of the biggest challenges that many remote workers face is switching off from work. Learn tips and tricks on how to separate your work life from your home life, so that you don’t end up burning out. As a business owner, you might think that you have to be on call 24/7, but just remember that your customers don’t own you. Put your health and family first, and set your own hours so that you can create the perfect work/ life balance.

Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help

Being a mum and a business owner is stressful, and it’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help. If you’re struggling, then consider speaking to your partner or extended family to see if they can provide childcare or advice. For more specialist support, consider getting a mentor who can help you to achieve your business goals.

Starting a business from home while taking care of your kids is always a challenge, so be kind to yourself. Use these tips to create the perfect balance and improve your chances of creating a profitable, fulfilling company.