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Is It Smart to Start Your Home Business While Pregnant?
Are you pregnant and looking for a way to make some extra money? A maternity leave side hustle can be a great way to make some extra money while you're home with your baby. You can choose to do something that you're already good at, or try something new that you've always been interested in.
Of course, starting a home business while pregnant comes with its own set of challenges. You'll need to be extra organized and have a good support system in place. But if you're up for the challenge, it can be a smart idea. Here is some information from Mary Bradley Photography to help you start a successful business during your pregnancy.
The Pros of Starting Your Home Business While Pregnant
There are significant benefits to starting a side of business when you’re pregnant. For one, AllBusiness notes that you have total flexibility with and control of your schedule. So, if you have a bad night of sleep or wake up feeling ill, you can tweak your schedule to fit your needs. Also, you’ll be working from home, meaning you’ll probably have more time to spend with family.
Another perk of launching a home business is that you are the boss. No one is going to tell you when to return from maternity leave. Instead of stressing out about going back to work full-time on a specific date, you can gradually return and allow yourself to find a rhythm.
Further, you don’t have to say yes to everything. In a traditional workplace, you pretty much have to accept any project your boss assigns to you. But when you’re the boss, you get to choose which projects to accept and turn down.
Then there’s the fact that none of your colleagues or superiors will be on your case about returning to work or not getting enough work done. You get to make the decisions about when you work, how much work you take on, and when to go on break before delivering the baby.
The Cons of Starting Your Home Business While Pregnant
As with any new venture worth pursuing, starting a home business while pregnant comes with a few drawbacks. You ultimately have control of your business, but there will always be things you can’t control. Devise thorough plans for your pregnancy, maternity leave, client management, and other things. But be prepared for unexpected disruptions.
A traditional 9-to-5 job provides a consistent salary; often, you get paid maternity leave. But when you’re the boss, you pay yourself or you get nothing. You must determine when to save and when to invest back into your business. And you’re probably not going to make anything during maternity leave or sick days.
And, of course, running a home business doesn’t provide the stability of a full-time job. Starting and managing a company comes with countless moving parts and uncertainties. Even when things are normal, your day-to-day life can be unpredictable. You must embrace entrepreneurship for what it is, and put a contingency plan in place for challenging times.
If you intend to seek a loan, pay attention to your debt-to-income ratio. Loan writers will use this information as one of their determining factors when making a lending decision. If your ratio is in excess of 35%, you’ll likely need to rid yourself of some debt spending before you’ll get a loan.
How to Decide if Starting Your Home Business While Pregnant Is Right for You
Being a WFH entrepreneur is not for everyone. But for some, it’s the only way to maintain a fulfilling career. You must examine your interests, passions, skills, knowledge, and personality traits to determine if it’s the right decision for you. You must also consider your family's needs in the process. And that’s for when you’re not pregnant!
When you’re carrying another human in your belly, you must be extra vigilant about staying healthy and working within your physical, mental, and emotional limits. And, as BabyCenter points out, you also want to do everything within your power to keep your little one safe and healthy.
With those factors in mind, here are a few signs that starting a maternity leave side hustle is the ideal decision:
You’re a self-starter and don’t need anyone else to motivate you.
You have grit and know how to persevere through challenges.
You’re passionate about a specific industry, field, or niche.
There’s a demand for the product or service you want to sell.
You can make money from your business idea.
You can manage your own time and balance work and other commitments efficiently.
It would be the best thing for your family.
If you choose to launch a company, note that the business ideas below have proven to make for many successful entrepreneurs. Once you determine what type of side hustle to start, you’ll need to draft a business plan that describes your company‘s products or services, structure, marketing and sales channels, and financial needs.
As far as business structures go, a limited liability company can be an attractive option due to the tax benefits it confers. If you’re curious how to start an LLC, an online formation service can be helpful. They can walk you through the steps as well as file the necessary paperwork to get you set up.
10 Businesses You Can Start While Pregnant
Now, let’s briefly touch on 10 types of businesses to consider starting while pregnant:
1. Web Design
If you have an eye for visual creations, web design could be the perfect job to do from home. All you need is your chops and a comfortable ergonomic chair!
2. Home Childcare
As you’re about to realize, many working parents are looking for places their children can stay during weekdays. You could use a spare room or a corner of your home, pick up any supplies you need, and launch a childcare business. You can even hire a cleaning service to reduce stress..
3. Freelance Writing
Freelance writing is one of the most practical options on this list. You just need a computer, a Wi-Fi connection, and a knack for writing to succeed.
4. Jewelry Making
Moms worldwide are making money by selling rings, necklaces, bracelets, and other types of jewelry. You could sell your creations online, at a local shop, or both.
5. Making Crafts
You could also make a decent living selling crafts, such as towels, soap, candles, etc. Do a little research on the supplies you need, and set up an online store (or sell through an established marketplace).
6. Tutoring or Teaching
If you have a passion for education, consider launching a tutoring or teaching service. You can help children excel at various academic subjects or even teach others how to succeed at specific skills (e.g., cooking, playing an instrument, woodworking, etc.)
7. Real Estate
Your first thought might be, “Hold on, don’t real estate agents go from property to property every day?” The truth is, real estate involves a lot of office work, phone calls, video meetings, and other things you can do from home. But you do need to be prepared to visit construction sites and homes now and then.
8. Catering
If you love to cook (and are good at it), you can make decent money by selling food through a catering business. Cook up a batch of your specialties, and start networking with businesses and individuals in your area.
9. Baking
If baking is more your thing, you can sell your cakes, pies, bread, and other products at local shops and supermarkets. You can also connect with party hosts to cater your creations.
10. Online Store
Lastly, consider opening an online store. There’s no limit to what you can sell; you just need to find a niche and build an inventory of products you believe in. If you don’t want to worry about storing physical inventory, look into the dropshipping method.
Conclusion
While there are many benefits to starting a home business and becoming a mompreneur, there are also some challenges you will face. Only you can make the decision of whether or not it's the right choice for you. I hope this post was helpful and congratulations on your wonderful blessing and this season of life!
Mary Bradley Photography specializes in maternity, newborn, and child photography. Reach out to Mary today to learn more! (928) 308-0370
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