The idea of working at home can seem very appealing if you’re about to have a child, or when you’re just beginning to enjoy your maternity leave. You might have been considering options for quite a while, even perhaps before you found out you were pregnant, and now the thought of those long commutes and excessive hours may have a new significance to you. Many mums find that they need to work after they give birth, especially as budgets were tight to begin with and will be even more strained from now on.

In a fairly recent survey which was held in the Daily Express, more than thirty percent of working mums said they would prefer to be with their children and give up work entirely if they could afford to, while most mothers just wished that they could have fewer working days.

When the thought of leaving home in the morning to go to work each day meets with the idea of being far away from your new bundle of joy, most mums generally begin to think about the possibility of some form of home-based business. There are many opportunities available to you in this respect, but you must first be sure that you are aware of all the repercussions. In most situations, home-based businesses represent much longer hours, and just the thought alone of needing to keep up with all the paperwork and the other elements of operating your own business can be more than daunting. Consider professional coaching before you take this option as it will help you to unfold all of those implications.

When you’re thinking about setting up a home-based business, you should consider your strengths and weaknesses very carefully. Think back all the way to your school days and consider your interests. While many online life coaching experts caution against trying to convert a hobby into a business, you should nevertheless see if you cannot uncover an entity that peaks your interest. You may remember that you were particularly good at an extracurricular activity in school or university and, as with any business venture, you should always try and pander to your strengths.

1. Photography.
This can be a very rewarding venture. Most people like to take photographs, but if you find that you have a particular “eye” for this or remember that people often told you that you take good photographs, why not expand this? These days it is relatively easy to open your own photography business and you can set up a small studio in one of your spare rooms relatively easily. With the advent of digital technology and the spread of the web, you can get someone to help you design a great website and upload your creations for all to see. You should know that there are a number of online websites that allow you to register and upload your creations for their members to browse and potentially buy.

2. Wedding or event planner.
If you were always actively involved in planning events in university, or if you love to put together those outdoor parties for families and friends, why not consider becoming a wedding planner. This is an ideal job for a work at home mum and you can use your flair for creativity and your list of contacts to start the ball rolling.

3. Mobile pet grooming.
This opportunity can combine your love for animals with a definite need in the marketplace. Just as others have problems allocating time to do anything these days, they may neglect the pet and would be more than willing to allow you to bathe and groom. You will have to spend a good bit of time away, but you can set your own hours and will probably be surprised to find that there is a fairly large client base within your immediately vicinity.

4. Consulting.
If your career to this point has been in a specialised industry or you have specialised skills of your own, why not consider establishing yourself as a consultant in this field? You must of course find out whether you had any kind of “non compete” agreement with your previous employer, but if not, use your expertise and skills to help others.

5. Internet marketing.
This is a huge growth area and while it does suggest a fairly significant learning curve, you will conduct all of your business from the comfort of your spare room. There are a variety of different fields within the overall subject of Internet marketing and you can set yourself up to be an agent to sell other companies’ products, something known as “affiliate marketing,” or you can sell your own services as a web content provider, writer, artist or designer.

You should know that coaching for women in your position is available online and can often help to open your eyes to a number of possibilities that you may not yet have considered.

Amanda Alexander is the Founder and Inspiration behind Coaching Mums. She’s a distinguished ICF accredited coach, who for almost seven years now, has been bringing a new feeling of hope into the lives of working moms from around the world, showing them how to discard their guilt, rediscover their passions and to have a lot more fun! For amazing articles and truly effective professional coaching tips, sign up to get “Inspire” right away, our absolutely outstanding free newsletter!

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