Business Ideas For Mums

by Helen on October 19, 2009

I'm writing articles (like this one) that aim to give you a snapshot of a business idea. This is exactly what I wanted when I was on my first maternity leave, but couldn't find. I had an idea that I could run a business around my family, but no idea what I could actually do or how it might work.

This is going to take me a while to complete, so in the meantime I thought a list of businesses that you could run as a mum would be useful. I'll link each idea to the posts as I write them.

(I'm not saying that this list is all that mums can expect to do – being a mum (or a dad) shouldn't limit you from any type of business, providing you have the appropriate childcare and support. This is a list of businesses that suit mums that want to work around their families so they can reduce the childcare costs and spend more time with their children.)

You'll see that some businesses appear more than once under different headings -   thinking about a business ideas as a group might spark more ideas than a simple list. Let me know what you think…

  • Business Services

Accountancy

Bookkeeping

Web Design

Graphic Design

Copywriting

Business coaching

Public Relations

Virtual Assistant

Marketing Consultant

Interior Design

  • Teaching, Training, Coaching, Children

Private Tutor

Online Tutor

Personal Trainer

Childminder

Personal/Life Coach

Running an Information Website

Running a Pre-School Group

Running Children's Parties

  • Web-Based Businesses

Running an Information Website

Running an Online Shop

  • Writing

Proof Reader

Copywriter

Public Relations

Journalist

Running a Community Magazine

Blogger or 'Ghost Blogger' (i.e. blogging for someone else)

  • Services For People At Home or On Holiday

Ironing

Dog walking

Cleaning

Babysitting Agency

Equipment Hire

Wedding/Event Planner

Gardener

Photographer

Interior Designer

Travel Agent

House Sitter/Pet carer for people on holiday

  • Sales and Advertising

Running a Community Magazine

Direct Selling and Party Plans

Selling on eBay

Developing and Selling a New Product

  • Art, Design and Craft

Web Designer

Graphic Designer

Photographer

Selling crafts you've made yourself at craft fairs, parties and online

Interior Designer

  • Health and Beauty

Holistic/Complementary or Sport Therapist

Beauty Therapist

Running Pamper Parties

Direct selling and Party Plans (healthcare products and food supplements)

Doula

Antenatal teacher or therapist

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

Bob October 27, 2009 at 10:17

A good list. Crafting mums should also consider writing and publishing their own craft book. Not as difficult as it might sound with the internet and print-on-demand publishing. You can control the whole thing yourself and it’s very profitable. Traditional publishing might get you 10%, ebooks in particular – a huge growth area – can bring you as much as 90% of cover price.

AmberDusick October 29, 2009 at 01:45

Great list and very inclusive. I do a combo of a few of these (info websites & selling crafts as well) and just seeing this list gives me a few ideas on areas where I can potentially expand.

Helen October 29, 2009 at 09:55

Bob, great idea, I hadn’t thought of publishing e-books for crafts specifically, thanks for that.

Amber, thanks for the feedback, I’m really glad that this has given you areas you can expand.

Amanda November 26, 2009 at 11:36

Hi – we took on the franchise for Treasure Trails in Herefordshire and Worcestershire and its proved to be a great business which could be done around a family. I know they are selling franchises for other parts of the company and would be worth looking into.

Helen November 29, 2009 at 12:48

Thanks Amanda, I had heard of Treasure Trails but didn’t realise it was a franchise. I’ll check them out.

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