Newbie Tool Kit

1. Mompreneur® Survival Strategies

   Combining family and work under one roof does have its challenges. But with a little juggling, a lot of humor, and these tried-and-true survival strategies, it’s possible to be successful at both.
   
   Tap into your parenting skills. Running a business is a lot like raising children. You have to be well organized, disciplined, nurturing, adept at multi-tasking, good at relationship building, and able to shift gears quickly. These are skills that mothers use everyday—which is why moms make such great entrepreneurs.
   
   Go in with a plan. Like a road map, a business plan helps you chart your course. Every business should include a mission statement, business goals, a marketing plan, and estimates of start-up costs and earning expectations. Figure in child care, too—especially for babies and preschoolers. While it’s possible to work around naps and late at night, part-time child care can prevent burnout.
   
   Set office hours. It’s important to protect your work and family time with a clearly defined schedule. When you run your own business, working nights and weekends can become a fact of life. But you’ll be a lot more productive—and a lot less stressed—if you set a schedule for yourself. Decide when you’ll work, and when you won’t. Try really hard not to take your laptop to bed. And close your office door at the end of your workday—even if you don’t have a real door!
   
   Roll with the punches. Expect your best-laid plans to go berserk when a child gets sick or you have a plumber in your house all day fixing broken pipes. Flexibility is an essential job requirement for mompreneurs. So don’t beat yourself up if you lose a few precious hours of work time. Instead, drop your 9 to 5 mindset and learn to work in spurts, getting back on track as soon as you can.
   
   Network, network, network. When you work in solitude, it’s crucial to connect with colleagues, clients and customers—both face-to-face and virtually. Social networks like Facebook, MySpace, Linked In and Twitter are an invaluable resource for generating buzz about your biz. Online communities and blogs are key in helping you forge bonds with like-minded businesswomen and providing a place to share tips and test ideas. But be selective; join too many groups and you’ll fritter away your work time. And don’t forget—home-based doesn’t mean housebound. Get involved in professional organizations and women’s business groups, and attend the meetings. Better yet, volunteer to be on the board of one group that is especially relevant to your business. You’ll find that other women entrepreneurs are usually more than happy to share their strategies and lessons learned.
   
   Cultivate confidence. When you work in isolation, you often have to be your own cheering squad. Always remind yourself of your successes, especially on those impossible days when nothing seems to be going right. An “I can do it” attitude will take you far; confidence is contagious—when you have it, you’ll pass it along to everyone around you.
   
   Grow at your own pace.Mom-owned businesses tend to grow organically, nurtured along much like mothers nurture their children. Enterprises that grow slowly and steadily allow for more control over work/family time and more flexibility and balance.
   
   Laugh often. When kids and work occupy the same space, hilarious things can happen. Although it might be embarrassing to have your two-year-old yell “I have to go potty” when you’re on the phone with a prospective client, you’ve got to have a sense of humor. A little laughter goes a long way in diffusing potentially stressful situations. And most times, that client on the other end of the phone will laugh along with you.
   
   Build a strong support system. Spouses, parents, friends, neighbors and colleagues can be your safety net when that fragile work/family balance tips (see “sick child” and “plumbing emergency” above!) Make sure those closest to you realize that you are serious about your business so they will readily come to your rescue in times of need. Involve your children from an early age so they understand what you do and respect your work time. It’s OK to show off a little, too. Volunteer to talk about your business in your children’s classes or at a career fair. You’ll be enhancing your own professional image and that of all work-from-home moms.
   
   By Patricia Cobe and Ellen Parlapiano-Copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved.

2. Are You Ready To Be A Mompreneur®?

   Are you seeking a better balance between the two? Then the time might be right to start a home business.
   
   "How do I start?" is the question we get asked most often by potential Mompreneurs®. What we discovered is that more than 70 percent of mothers launch a home business based on past experience, and the most successful are those who tap their talents or convert their skills into a work-at-home career. So before you answer any ads or invest any money in "home business opportunities," think about your strengths and passions.
   
   Service-oriented businesses such as desktop publishing, event planning, accounting, Web design and tutoring are the least expensive to start and the most popular today. Anything geared towards senior citizens or parents of young children is also in demand.
   
   Your special skill or talent is just one of the "job requirements" necessary to become a successful mompreneur.
   
   Here are some of the others we feel are important to consider before you open for business:
   
   SELF-DISCIPLINE. As your own boss, you must have the motivation to get started, work independently and stay focused every day despite distractions from kids.
   
   THE ABILITY TO SHIFT GEARS OFTEN. To gain freedom, you have to be more flexible. That means dropping your nine-to-five mindset and working in spurts, fitting business around your family's schedule.
   
   A KNACK FOR NETWORKING. Working from home often means working in isolation, but it's important to keep in touch. Participate in online chats and message boards to exchange ideas, schedule lunches with colleagues or other home-based working mothers and join professional groups in your field of work. Trade shows, conferences, adult ed courses and your town's chamber of commerce are other networking possibilities.
   
   GOOD ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS. Know how to plan your time and organize your work space efficiently to accommodate the dual roles of mommy and businesswoman. If you have child care, use the time you're covered to meet with clients, make important phone calls or do work that requires lots of concentration.
   
   PROFESSIONALISM. Always project a professional image -- even if you're working in sweat pants with Barbie dolls, action figures and other toys scattered all over your office floor! If the kids are screaming in the background and you're expecting a business call, use an answering system to pick it up and return the call when you can sound more "businesslike."
   
   A SENSE OF HUMOR. Be prepared to laugh at all the silly things that can happen when your children are in and out of your workspace every day.

3. 10 Steps To Starting Up

   Running a business is a lot like raising a family. You have to be well organized, disciplined, nurturing, good at relationship building, and able to shift gears quickly. And these are skills that mothers use everyday which is why moms make such great entrepreneurs. But these talents alone aren't enough to bring success.
   
   Here's what to keep in mind if you're considering a business of your own.
   
   1. Tap Your Talents and Passions. Evaluate your interests, personality, and capabilities to help narrow down your options. If you could spend your day doing anything else, what would it be? Is there a service or product you could provide to others? Many moms are creating gadgets and systems that solve a problem they've encountered as parents. Are there causes that you care deeply about, and could these become a foundation for your business? Cause-related marketing is a red-hot trend, and you might want to start a business that has a social conscience whether it's selling fashionable hats for women with cancer or doing college prep for kids with special needs.
   2. Do Your Homework. Make sure there's enough demand for your idea. The Web offers a wealth of speedy resources for doing market research from checking the competition, to setting prices, to surveying potential customers and clients, to investigating patents and trademarks. You can also do research at local business development centers, which have libraries full of resources for entrepreneurs, and may even offer mentoring. Often they're housed in local colleges; or you can find one by going to the SBA's Online Women's Business Center at www.onlinewbc.gov.
   3. Single Out a Specialty. Think about ways to make your business stand out from the crowd. For example, instead of simply offering administrative services or business support, gear those services to the growing force of small and home businesses. If you're targeting parents, think of niche markets, like parents who adopt abroad or hip urban parents. Also focus on how your business can maximize and personalize service to clients and customers whether it's through a quick turnaround, home delivery, or just a little extra hand holding.
   4. Go In With a Plan. Like a road map, a business plan helps you chart your course. Every business should include a mission statement, business goals, a marketing plan, and estimates of start-up costs and earning expectations. Enlist the assistance of an accountant or attorney to help structure your business, work out cash flow and income projections, and determine financing needs.
   5. Watch the Bottom Line. A simple service business, like a home-based public relations or consulting firm, might cost only a few thousand dollars to start up. But if you're inventing a product and taking it to market, understand that it can be a long and costly process. Costs can run anywhere from $10,000 for something simple, to over $50,000 for something complex. Don't forget to factor in liability insurance, patent fees and attorney fees. And remember, it can take anywhere from 3 to 5 years for a business to become profitable.
   6. Build Your Brand. Start by choosing a catchy business name that conveys and reinforces your image, and then register it as a DBA or Doing Business As with the county clerk or state tax office. This is also known as a Fictitious Name Statement. Next, reserve the business as a domain on the Web. A memorable name and marketing materials (well-designed business cards, letterhead, brochures, and website) will give you a brand to market, making even a one-woman show seem like a sizeable business. If the name is unique, consider trademarking it to prevent others from using it too.
   To expand your brand, sign on to do public speaking. This helps establish you as an expert in your field, so you can target your market and broaden your exposure to potential clients. You can speak at local women's business events, offer seminars at libraries and community centers, or teach courses at adult-ed programs. You can also contribute articles in your area of expertise to the local papers and to related websites and e-zines. Be sure to list your business name, phone numbers, e-mail and web addresses along with your byline, so that readers can easily contact you.
   7. Protect Your Work and Family Time. When you run your own business, working nights and weekends can become a fact of life. But you'll be a lot more productive and a lot less stressed if you set a schedule for yourself. Decide when you'll work, and when you won't. Think about what you can realistically get done around children's nap and school schedules. And if you must put in weekend hours, limit them, so you'll still have time to relax with your family. And do consider getting some childcare. You probably won't need it full time, but it's helpful to be able to work without interruption at certain times, knowing that your kids are well supervised. A little part-time childcare can help you compartmentalize your time, preserve family balance, and give both clients and children the undivided attention they want and need.
   8. Be Your Own Spin Doctor. Talk up your business wherever you go whether it's at a Chamber of Commerce luncheon, PTA meeting, or the sidelines of your child's soccer game. Always have business cards on hand. And develop a website that's a showcase for you and your enterprise. It should be easy to navigate, featuring your logo, testimonials from satisfied customers, press releases and other company news. Update your website regularly to keep it cutting-edge, and drive traffic to your site by linking with other web sites that complement your business.
   9. Build a Support Network. It's crucial to connect with colleagues, clients and customers both face-to-face and online. Join trade associations, professional organizations, and women's business groups, and attend the meetings. Better yet, volunteer to be on the board of one group that is especially relevant to your business. You'll find that other women entrepreneurs are usually more than happy to share their strategies and lessons learned. Mom entrepreneurs are also lending each other support through online message boards and forums. And many are forging strategic alliances to strengthen their marketing muscle. Cooperative marketing small businesses banding together to promote and publicize themselves increases your clout without increasing your expenditures. Some women are even partnering up and running their businesses with other moms. And we're also seeing more and more moms and dads going into business together a new spin on the old mom-and-pop shops.
   10. Grow at Your Own Pace. Mom-owned businesses tend to grow organically, nurtured along much like mothers nurture their children. Enterprises that grow slowly and steadily allow for more control over work/family time and more flexibility. They are less risky, too no venture capitalists or hungry investors looking to pull the plug if profits aren't substantial enough. While it's important to keep the payroll small while you're in growth mode, it's also essential to delegate when necessary, hiring extra help to keep you sane. It all comes back to achieving the balance that all moms crave the balance between their professional and personal lives so neither has to be sacrificed for the other.

   
   Ellen H. Parlapiano and Patricia Cobe are experts on mom-owned businesses, and authors of the books, Mompreneurs®: A Mother's Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success and Mompreneurs® Online: Using the Internet to Build Work@Home Success. They also run MompreneursOnline.com, a web community that connects mom business owners. Their new Mompreneurs® Marketplace helps mom entrepreneurs market their products and services. Between them, Parlapiano and Cobe have over 25 years experience juggling motherhood and home businesses.

4. Childproofing Your Home Office

   OK, Mompreneurs, test your home-office savvy. Which of the following items won't get stuck in your computers CD-ROM compartment?
   A) American cheese?
   B) A baseball card?
   C) A whiffle ball?
   
   If you answered C, give yourself a gold star -- though that whiffle ball can wreak havoc in your home office if your kids get their hands on it!
   During school holidays and vacations, your kids are apt to wind up in your office a little more than you'd like. How do you safeguard your space (and your kids) without building a barbed-wire fence around your office? The secret is to make your work area child-friendly yet childproof.
   
   Here's how:
   
   Do the crawl. Get down on your hands and knees to get a child's perspective of your office. Look for sharp corners, drawers that can be pulled out, heavy files or furniture that can be toppled, outlets and cords that beg to be pulled and poked.
   Cover up. Shield outlets with plastic safety plugs or cover them with locking devices that screw into the outlet plate. Put protective foam-rubber strips over sharp edges and corners. Make sure electrical cords don't dangle from your workstation; kids might be tempted to tug on them and wind up pulling a heavy piece of equipment onto themselves. Be especially careful of cords hanging from miniblinds or shades. Bundle them up with a special cord divider (sold in most hardware or baby stores) to keep kids from accidental strangulation.
   Batten down the hatches. Cover disk drives and other enticing openings with duct tape or cardboard to discourage curious kids from jamming foreign objects in. Inexpensive plastic covers can protect your printer, keyboard, mouse and monitor from juice spills or sticky fingers. Keep drawers and cabinets off limits with safety latches or other closures. We even know a work-at-home mom who found file cabinets with Velcro locks -- she could easily open the drawers, but her toddler couldn't.
   Put away the small stuff. Paper clips, rubber bands, push pins, staples and so forth can all be easily swallowed by a curious tyke. Also keep the trash basket and sharp objects -- pencils, letter openers, scissors and the like -- well out of your child's reach.
   Give kids a special spot. It can be a corner with a pint-sized table and chairs, or a bottom drawer or shelf filled with crayons, stickers and other "busy work." Kids will love to emulate you, so let them tap away on old keyboards or make their "business calls" on toy phones. File folders and old briefcases are great places to stash kids' "important assignments."

5. Mistakes Work At Home Newbies Make

   In the many years that we've been working from home and helping women launch and run home businesses, we've noticed that many often fall into the same traps when they first start out. To help you steer clear of these traps, we're outlining the top mistakes we've seen WFHers make and what you can do to avoid them.
   
   Not bothering to do their homework
   It's essential to gather as much information as you can about your business to see if your idea will fly. Research similar businesses, unearth your competition, see how much they're charging and figure out your target market. Use books, go to trade shows and conferences and surf the Web to conduct your "sleuthing."
   
   Failing to get the support of their family
   No doubt about it: Working and living under the same roof is going to interfere with your family's dynamics. A supportive spouse is important to your success, not only to help you juggle the responsibilities of work and parenting if you have kids but also to build up your confidence and boost your spirits when things don't go smoothly.
   
   Your children's support is crucial, too. If your kids are old enough, have a family meeting and discuss how your home-based business is going to affect your family life. Explain that it will eventually be a great benefit but everyone needs to pitch in and help. Extend this same message to your parents, in-laws and other relatives as well.
   
   Having insufficient savings to bolster cash flow before the business gets going
   If you have been contributing to your household income with a regular paycheck and decide to try the work-from-home option, your income will take a steep nosedive for at least several months. We suggest you have six months' income socked away to draw on for financial security.
   
   Neglecting to write a mission statement
   Just a few short sentences defining your business and your goals is all that's needed at first. State what your business involves, what makes it unique and where you would like to be three months, six months and one year (including the money you hope you'll be making). Remember: This is a flexible statement that can and should change frequently.
   
   Thinking it's not necessary to set a schedule
   It's just as important to set "office hours" -- and stick to them! -- when you work from home as in the "traditional" work world. Sure, your hours will vary day to day and revolve around your partner's or kids' schedules. But if you set time boundaries for your home business, it will be easier to give family and work demands their due.
   
   Not carving out a work space exclusively for your business
   Ideally, we'd all have state-of-the-art home offices in rooms devoted exclusively to our work-from-home endeavors. In reality, women often have to work in a corner of the family room, basement or kitchen. But wherever you set up shop, make sure you have a desk area, storage space and supplies that are yours and yours alone. Sharing a computer and phone line is sometimes necessary; sharing pencils and paper clips shouldn't be if you want to maximize your efficiency.
   
   Being too timid about negotiating fees
   Know your value and tell yourself your product or service is worth what you're asking. Don't price yourself out of the market, but don't sell yourself short either. Check around and be competitive, perhaps offering a range of fees for each job you're offered. After a few tries, you'll gain confidence and find negotiating a bit easier.
   
   Getting backlogged on bookkeeping
   It's essential to send out invoices promptly -- clients and customers may take up to 90 days to pay, and you'll be out the income even longer if you delay in billing them. Keep a running record of your expenses too, so you know how much you're laying out for your phone bill, Internet connection, supplies and other work-related costs.
   
   Remaining glued to your computer day in and day out
   Home-based doesn't have to mean housebound! Get out now and then to network with colleagues in similar businesses, exchange ideas with other women who have home businesses or simply meet a friend for coffee. Try to join one professional organization related to the work you do and attend local chapter meetings, a conference or a trade show. We know that participating in online chats and message boards can really help combat the isolation of working from home, but occasional face-to-face interaction is very valuable.
   
   Believing working from home means having it all
   Sorry, but "having it all" is one of those well-publicized myths that's impossible to turn into reality. You can't have it all, but working from home allows you to control what you do have. You -- not a supervisor or corporation -- can decide when and how you want to work. You have the freedom to go to your children's school events, schedule family vacations and pick the most appealing projects. But it takes a lot of persistence and hard work to juggle everything and still bring in a good income. And there may be times that you will need to enlist someone to help with childcare so you can get everything accomplished. None of us are superwomen!

6. Growing A Biz While Working Full Time

   By starting a sideline business, you have taken that very important first step toward success. You are cultivating a client base and a reputation, so that when you do take the business full-time, you will be ready for expansion. But, as you have found out, juggling a full-time job, a part-time business and a family is exhausting. You cannot expect to do it for long without burning out. There will come a point, too, that your full-time job will hold you back from growing and marketing your business and attracting new clients.
   
   We suggest you sit down and make a timetable for phasing out your full-time job. Putting your business goals on paper helps you feel in control and less overwhelmed. You have mentioned that you want to be home when your child is in kindergarten, so make that your goal. That gives you a year and a half to pare down in small, gradual steps. Assess the income that your desktop publishing and Web design business is currently bringing in. How many jobs would you need weekly in order to make a livable salary with your home business alone? Estimate your business overhead and day-to-day expenses to get a clear idea of how much you would need to be profitable. Do you have the opportunity to cut back your full-time job to a part-time position? If not, explore other part-time opportunities or flexible work options like telecommuting -- particularly in the fields of graphic design or web design, so that you get "on-the-job training" for your business. Working part-time will allow you to have a dependable salary coming in, while increasing your business. However, make sure you give yourself a deadline for when you plan to quit that part-time job.
   
   The prospect of quitting your full-time job can be frightening, but it's necessary, if you want your home business to thrive and be profitable. Make sure you have a financial cushion like a savings account or a 401(k) that you can fall back on during the transition phase. Also think about what you will do about health insurance. Are you covered on your spouse's plan? If not, be sure to factor those costs in when estimating your overhead and expenses. And don't forget to factor in the money you'll save by taking the business full-time. You will no longer have to shell out big bucks for child care, commuting and clothing costs!
   
   So take a deep breath and take the plunge - step-by-step. We're rooting for you! For support along the way, connect with other Mompreneurs® here http://www.mompreneursonline.com/forum

7. 3 Things To Do Before You Work From Home

   How do you know whether your great idea will sizzle or fizzle? Before you can get a home business off the ground, you have to research your idea inside and out. Here are some golden rules to get you off to a great start.
   
   1) GO ON A FACT-FINDING MISSION. Gather as much as information as you can about your particular business. Is there a market for your service or product? Make sure by surveying potential customers through informal get-togethers or quick questionnaires. Ask how often they would use your product or service, and how much they would be willing to pay for it. Scope out your competition, too. For example, to determine what to charge for her typing and transcription services, one clever mompreneur from Madison, Wisconsin posed as a potential customer and called local secretarial services to find out what they charged. Then she came up with a rate that was a bit lower, so she could be competitive and profitable.
   
   2) READ EVERYTHING YOU CAN GET YOUR HANDS ON -- Especially trade journals and newsletters related to your specific field. It's important to check out general home business books, too, as well as books on marketing and management. These help you hone the skills needed to run your own company. Local business development centers have libraries full of entrepreneurial resources and are a good place to go to get specific questions answered.
   
   3) NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! You can't build a business without a support network. (like our MompreneursOnline.com message boards at http://www.mompreneursonline.com/forum. Trade associations, entrepreneurial and home-based business organizations, women's business groups, chambers of commerce, and online forums are great places to meet and mingle with fellow work-at-homers and share business strategies. Ask veteran mompreneurs specific questions, such as "What type of child care worked best for you?" "What would you do over if you could?" and "What's your best business advice?" And don't forget to talk up your business to everyone you know, everywhere you go -- from the soccer sidelines to PTA meetings. You never know where you'll meet a future client.

8. Business Plan Basics

   Too many of us who are about to start a home business, a business plan sounds like a daunting document that can take months to draft and must include mountains of financial information. While this statement is true for the small percentage of work-from-homers seeking business loans or outside funding, the majority of us don't need anything quite so complicated or "official." In fact, you can begin with a simple mission statement, which you can expand on later as your business idea takes shape and grows.
   
   A mission statement is relatively easy to create -- it can be just a few sentences describing the purpose of your business. It should answer these questions:
   
   1. What is my business about?
   2. Why does my business exist?
   3. Who are my potential clients or customers?
   4. What sets my business apart?
   To help you fill in the blanks, let's take an imaginary mom who is trying to start an event-planning business. Here's how she may answer the questions and formulate a mission statement:
   
   "Best Events is a full-service party planning company for busy people who don't have the time or imagination to carry off a successful party. We will provide everything from the theme to decorations, food, entertainment and favors. Our target market is working parents and upscale empty-nesters. Party packages range from the very basic (theme cakes) to total glitz (catered dinners with lively entertainment) -- events to fit every budget."
   
   Once you have your mission statement written down, commit it to memory so you can quickly explain your business to friends, relatives, mentors, advisors, and future clients and customers without groping for words. Then you're ready to expand your mission statement into more of a business plan. Unless you're seeking outside financing, here's what you should then include:
   1. How much will I charge for my services or products? Jot down your pricing structure and how much you'll be willing to negotiate.
   2. How many hours a week do I want to be working? Set a tentative schedule of business hours.
   3. How much money can I expect to make? Will some of my profits go toward child care?
   4. What is my competition?
   5. How will I market my business to attract my target audience? What kind of promotional materials will I need? Should I have a Website? Will I advertise?
   6. What are my long- and short-term goals? Where do I want my business to be in three months? Six months? One year? Three years?
   7. What future directions can my business take?
   < Remember, neither a mission statement nor a business plan is written in stone. Both are fluid pieces of information that can -- and should -- change as your vision and business evolve.

9. Success Secrets For Work At Home Moms

   1. Do Your Homework. It’s essential to gather as much information as you can about your business to see if your idea will fly. Research similar businesses, unearth your competition and see how much they’re charging, and figure out your target market. Use books, go to trade shows and conferences, and surf the Internet to conduct your “sleuthing.”
   
   2. Get the Support of Your Family. No doubt about it—working and living under the same roof is going to interfere with your family’s dynamics. A supportive spouse or significant other is very important to your success—not only to help you juggle the responsibilities of work and parenting, but to build up your confidence and boost your spirits when things don’t go smoothly. Your children’s support is crucial too. If they’re old enough, have a family meeting and discuss how your home-based business is going to impact your family life, and how it will eventually be a great benefit. Extend the message to your parents, in-laws and other relatives as well.
   
   3. Have a Nest Egg. You’ll need some savings to bolster cash flow before the business gets going. If you have been contributing to your household income with a regular paycheck, and decide to try the work-from-home option, your income will take a major nosedive for at least several months. We suggest you have a nest egg of 6 months income to draw on for financial security.
   
   4. Write a Mission Statement. Just a few short sentences defining your business and your goals is all that’s needed at first. State what your business involves, what makes it unique, and where you would like to be in 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year from now (including the money you hope you’ll be making). Remember, this is a flexible statement that can and should change frequently.
   
   5. Set a Work Schedule. It’s important to set office hours and stick to them as best you can. Sure, your hours will vary from day to day and revolve around your kids’ schedules. But if you set time boundaries for your home business, it will be easier to give family and work demands their equal due.
   
   6. Carve out a Workspace. Ideally, we’d all have state-of-the-art home offices in rooms devoted exclusively to our work-from-home endeavors. But in reality, moms often have to work in a corner of the family room, basement, or kitchen. Wherever you set up shop, make sure you have a desk area, storage space, and supplies that are yours and yours alone.
   
   7. Don’t be Timid About Negotiating Fees. Know your value and tell yourself that your product or service is worth what you’re asking. Don’t price yourself out of the market, but don’t sell yourself short either. Check around and be competitive, perhaps quoting a range of fees for each job you’re offered. After a few tries, you’ll gain confidence and find negotiating a bit easier.
   
   8. Homebased Doesn’t Mean Housebound. Get out now and then to network with colleagues in similar businesses, exchange ideas with other mom s who have home businesses, or simply meet a friend for coffee. Try to join one professional organization related to the work you do, and attend local chapter meetings, a conference, or a trade show. We know that participating in online chats and message boards can really help combat the isolation of working from home, but occasional face-to-face interaction is very valuable.
   
   9. Don’t Forget to Laugh! When you work at home, madcap yet maddening events can occur. Take, for example, the time Ellen attempted to do a phone interview with then two-year-old Amy underfoot. Amy ran off with her pen and notepad, and then managed to disconnect the telephone mike—a crushing fact Ellen discovered later, when she attempted to transcribe the tape and heard 30 minutes of complete silence! You can prevent such disasters by setting the kids up with a DVD, computer game or special “phone” toys and then hightailing if off the phone fast! Better yet, plan extended phone calls and meetings for times when a family member or friend can lend a hand with childcare. Maybe you can even line up a neighborhood mother’s helper a few mornings or afternoons a week, so you can focus exclusively on work while kids are well-supervised.
   
   10. You Can’t Have it All, but You Can Control What You Have! Freedom of choice is what mompreneurship is all about! You can decide which projects you take and when you’re going to work on them. And if you need to run to the pediatrician’s or leave your desk for the preschool parade, you don’t have to ask anyone for permission. You may find yourself working at nights or on weekends from time to time, but you’ll be the one making that decision. The benefit of mompreneurship is that you can design your business around your family’s needs!

10. Spotting A Scam?

    While the Web can be a great resource for finding work-from-home jobs, it's also a gold mine for scammers who prey upon moms hungry for home-based opportunities. Here's how to make sure you don't get ripped off.
    
    Steer Clear of Starter Fees.
    
    Scammers often ask you to pay up front for software, business kits, supplies, or lists of hiring companies. You shouldn't have to send in money to receive information about how to get a home-based job.
    
    Beware of Big Promises.
    
    Be suspicious of any job description promising overnight success or using phrases like "effortless," "no experience required," "easy money," "hidden job market," "make money fast," or "earn hundreds or thousands a week." If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
    
    Do a Background Check.
    
    Before getting involved with any work-from-home opportunity or job resource, type in the company's name on various search engines to view any articles that may have been written about it. Then check out the company with watchdog agencies such as:

    
    
    

    The Better Business Bureau
    Scambusters
    National Fraud Information Center
    Web Assured (click on its "Watch List" to view complaints about various companies.)

11. Mompreneur® Trend Watch

    Moms who are starting or running home-based businesses can maximize success by paying attention to five trends that are gaining ground.
    
    Time pressures are increasing.Women who are in the full-time workforce and stay-at-home moms are both faced with too much to do in too little time. We all have to juggle many things at once—kids, aging parents, household duties, etc. Although technology should be making it easier, 24/7 e-mail, e-commerce and social networking add stress.
    How to profit: Businesses that target the time-crunched will find a good audience. Personal chefs or meal assembly companies, professional organizers, holiday decoration services, customer service companies and products that help people multi-task are some suggestions.
    
    Money is tight. Economic times are tough—everything from gasoline to food and electricity is high in price and unemployment is skyrocketing. With America in an “official” recession, consumers are extremely budget-conscious, trading down and eliminating when necessary. But quality and good value are still important priorities.
    How to profit: Strive to deliver topnotch customer service at Wall-Mart prices. As home-based businesswomen, you can provide more personal attention, lower prices and unique products and services that offer more value for the dollar. On your website, hold special promotions like coupons, contests and giveaways to attract customers and clients. People like to feel like they’re getting a “deal.”
    
    Green is mandatory. If it isn’t evident that your business is saving energy, supporting free trade, sourcing locally, recycling or otherwise being environmentally or socially conscious, you’re going to fall behind the pack.
    How to profit: Promote your green practices. Perhaps your products all use local or recycled materials so you can reduce your carbon footprint or you drive a hybrid car to deliver balloons and other props for your party planning service. Let it be known on your website, in your e-mail signature, and your business card.
    
    Ethnic demographics are shifting. There are more Hispanics and Asians in higher income brackets than ever before and they have more buying power. Although individuals in these groups don’t all spend their money in the same way, there are strategies you can use to attract these consumers.
    How to profit: Market to these niches. It can be as simple as printing bilingual directions, ingredients or warnings on your packages or learning about the values that are important to these groups. Asian-Americans, for example, place a high priority on education, while Hispanics are very family-oriented.
    
    The baby boomlet is peaking. The population of children under five has maxed out. Do the math—there are fewer women of childbearing age around to have babies, so although there are still millions of babies being born, U.S. numbers are declining.
    How to profit: If you have a company that sells baby and children’s products or services, think about how you can “grow up” to the next age group. Toddlers are maturing into school-age kids and tweens. Can you tweak your products or services to cater to this group? Think about ways to adapt your business skills and services or products to the next generation, perhaps even launching a new venture.

12. Five Survival Strategies for the Next Five Years

    What’s ahead for home businesses and how can you position yours for success? Start by taking a look at these survival strategies.
    
    Watch the trendsDon’t ride the wave of every fad, but look for long-term trends that mesh with your business. Some examples: a surge in retiring baby boomers; more parents seeking work-family balance; technology making all kinds of virtual businesses possible; the growing “green” movement in business and personal life; a re-evaluation of career goals and “new frugality” in light of current economic realities.
    
    Think out of the box You may believe that every possible niche on the Net has been filled, but there’s always a new way to position your product or service. Imagine a way to segment your business into one that’s targeted to a really unique group, like college kids going off for a semester to study abroad or senior citizens looking to find part-time work.
    
    Expand your brand Already known for your beautiful baby gifts or excellent website designs? Capitalize on your “name” by extending it to other products and services. How about starting a baby shower registry and advice forum or a graphic design service that integrates a small business website with other marketing materials, like business cards, a Facebook page and promotional gifts.
    
    Team up for success Forming partnerships and alliances—online and off—has helped many a home-based working mom grow her business. Join with other like-minded moms to create an online mall to sell your products and services. Or plan a regional small business conference in which you run panel discussions and exhibits with other work-from-home moms in “real” time.
    
    Go global China, India. Eastern Europe and Mexico are big online markets; both have large populations and a growing demand for goods and services. Although it’s not always easy to get a foot in the door, look into these and other countries as potential markets, offshore manufacturing centers and partners, for business growth.
    
    By Patricia Cobe and Ellen Parlapiano-Authors of Mompreneurs® and Mompreneurs® Online, Founders of MompreneursOnline.com. Copyright 2009, All Rights Reserved.