| Whether you're a mother wanting to be a | | | | web hosting through them which is quite affordable. |
| mompreneur or just someone who thinks they have a | | | | This helped my business a lot when starting out. My |
| great idea and the drive to start their own business, | | | | name got out there where people could see it. Then |
| the reality for most families is that you feel you can't | | | | when I felt my company was progressing enough I |
| dive in and begin since you would be leaving your | | | | hired a trained professional to revamp my site. You |
| comfort level financially. As well you might have the | | | | could also do some trade shows if you feel they |
| thought that you may not succeed in doing this and | | | | would bring in funds that way. If you're willing use your |
| your business would fail. By continuing to work full time | | | | vacation time to do the trade shows. Usually one day |
| you can alleviate at least part of that stress to make | | | | off of work is sufficient enough for weekend trade |
| the transition from working at a job to loving what you | | | | shows. Flyers are also another way you can get your |
| do as an occupation. I've always wanted to open my | | | | name out. Again, it depends on the type of business |
| own business since I was little, so I'm told by my | | | | you are doing. You would need to research |
| parents. I've done a lot of research over many years | | | | accordingly. This all takes time. I didn't receive my first |
| on what I could do so that I will enjoy my career as | | | | "real" customer call, not family or friends, until two |
| well as make the same salary I am currently making if | | | | months after starting everything up. Even then, it took |
| not more. I narrowed it down to a few things, however | | | | another five months until I received the second call. In |
| to start your own business you need start up money | | | | the meantime if you've taken a loan of any kind you |
| or time or both! I could never do this until our second | | | | will need to pay the monthly bills that are associated |
| child came along. It forced me to finally do something | | | | with this. In my situation even after a good ten months |
| about it since daycare for two children was | | | | of working on my business it still wasn't enough for me |
| overwhelming and quitting my job or working a part | | | | to quit my regular salaried position. |
| time job was not an option. | | | | If you are not like me and didn't have any time off at |
| First you should do research online to find out what | | | | all, don't think you cannot work on your business at all |
| sort of regulations and laws you need to abide by | | | | while you are at work. That's not to say that you take |
| when beginning your business. Your local government | | | | up any of the company's time that you are working |
| websites contain lots of useful information on this. You | | | | for but on your lunch time you can make phone calls |
| can do this on your lunch time while at your job as well | | | | and reply to emails as need be or run errands. |
| as after work. Although it may take longer for you to | | | | Once word of mouth progresses you will start to see |
| do this than if you were to quit your job you won't be | | | | things flourish. However as you grow you have more |
| anxious about paying bills either. | | | | expenses such as supplies to purchase or people to |
| I was very lucky in that in the province where we live | | | | hire which result in more wages being paid. As well by |
| we are allowed a one year maternity leave. This | | | | then you should have found the best advertising for |
| allowed me time to begin the process of setting it up. | | | | your business. So you will want to advertise more in |
| However not everyone falls into this category. | | | | those areas. I found that part to be a lot of trial and |
| Therefore it may take a lot longer to start up your | | | | error. So although you start to see progress, you will |
| business. Plan to work a lot of hours on research and | | | | also find that you are still not making enough money to |
| brainstorming various names and marketing ideas so | | | | quit your full time position. Therefore you should |
| that your business becomes successful. This may | | | | continue to work both jobs as necessary. |
| take from your personal down time but if you want to | | | | You will have to sacrifice quite a bit since you might be |
| feel secure economically then this makes most sense. | | | | working long hours every day at your regular job and |
| You will also need money. Some ventures don't require | | | | then at night on your own business and possibly |
| a lot of start up capital and others do. If you do not | | | | weekends also. I find that I hit various plateau's |
| have the cash readily available but this is your dream | | | | throughout the year which put me at a different level |
| and you still want to pursue it then I would suggest | | | | of income each time. The more customers I receive |
| either using a line of credit or a loan through your local | | | | with each plateau, the less money I temporarily make |
| branch. Also double check with your local government | | | | as I need to purchase more supplies. But once that |
| who may help you monetarily to set your dream in | | | | initial cost is over I again return to a comfortable |
| motion. If you have your full time position or even a | | | | income. All the while you will note you must pay back |
| part time job you might not even require a loan or if | | | | the loan as well as your regular monthly fees that you |
| you do then at least you can make your monthly | | | | may incur on your business. Two and a half years |
| payments. You won't feel your belt tighten as much as | | | | later and I have just paid off what I have spent on my |
| if you had quit your job totally. At least you can enjoy | | | | business and now everything I make is solely profit! |
| setting up your business instead of worrying about | | | | Some businesses may take a shorter time frame to |
| how to pay your bills each month. You will have peace | | | | reach that stage and others may take longer. This is |
| of mind. | | | | something you will have to deal with as it comes. |
| Once you've set forth a plan and launched your new | | | | There is no sure way to tell how long it will take for |
| venture you will need to concentrate on marketing. If | | | | your business to get going. Some businesses fail, but |
| you're like me you have no marketing experience. Try | | | | as long as you are continually working full time you will |
| doing more research on marketing and if you have | | | | not have the added stress that you cannot pay your |
| some money try doing an SEO program if you have a | | | | bills and have just increased your debt with the start of |
| website to try and increase your website in rankings | | | | your new business. If the type of company you have |
| on the top search engines. I know that to have a web | | | | started does not allow you to work full time, then I |
| developer do your website for you can be quite pricey | | | | would suggest taking a part time job to cover some |
| but there are much cheaper ways you can do this | | | | expenses during the month. The less stressed you are, |
| when starting out. I did my initial website through Yahoo | | | | the easier it will be on yourself and your family |
| where you can create your own website by using a | | | | members. |
| template of theirs. You pay the small monthly fee for | | | | |