Ideas For A Home Based Business - Kelley Scarsbrook of stayathomemother
November 5th, 2007
| My guest today is Kelley Scarsbrook of thestayathomemother.com. Her business’s main goal is to help moms find a way to be closer to home and work from home. She runs numerous workshops, provides consulting services and writes newspaper columns all serving the purpose of helping moms to come up the home based business ideas and convert their ideas into real business.Read and get inspired. | |||
| You run a business called “Yes You Can Be a Stay At Home Mom Consulting Services”. Can you tell us a about this business and what you do? | |||
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I provide inspirational events and one-on -one consulting for moms looking to start their own home-based business. | ||
| A lot of mothers want to stay at home and start their own business. But most often they don’t know what business to start. Have you got any advice/tips for women to find the right business (their niche)? | |||
| Absolutely. The best way to discover the right business for you is to take some time to list out all of your interests and passions. Think carefully about each one and visualize yourself doing it. Which ones would bring you the most satisfaction and energize you? Also examine what skills and talents you may bring to a business that may help in determining the best path to take. | |||
| How important is a business plan? What are the key ingredients of a business plan? |
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A business plan is essential to the development and growth of your business. It is like a road map to guide you at times when you may feel overwhelmed. Some of the key ingredients to a great business plan include doing your research and asking lots of questions. Developing a business plan includes examination of your competition and knowing your market - and how you are going to reach your market. You can have the best idea in the world, but unless you know how to market yourself with a well thought out plan – the world may never know. | ||
| Balancing work and motherhood is even harder when you are working from home. Have you got any tips for our readers? | |||
| I don’t believe in balance. I believe in choices. For me, as a stay at home mother, I choose to spend more time with my children. In the day time, my cell phone is turned off and so is my computer. I do all my work in the evenings and on weekends. There will be sacrifices that they will need to make in order to achieve being at home with their children and having their own business. But it is “doable” – and as the children grow – so will their business. | |||
| What’s your definition of ‘success’? | |||
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Every mom’s definition of success is different. For me, my definition is being able to be here for my children and helping other moms find a financially viable way to do the same thing. | ||
| Based on your experience what are some of the most common mistakes women do in the start up phase of their business? | |||
| One common mistake moms have made with the start up of their business is not investing the time it takes to create a business plan. They don’t believe they have the time, when really, having a business plan will save them so much time down the road. As well, many moms don’t invest in a good accountant and/or lawyer etc at the beginning because they believe they are saving money. However, if it is something that is outside of their “expertise”, its best to invest in these experts right from the start - as they will always save them more money in the long run (and avoid having to go back and redo things - which can be very costly). | |||
| Finally, your five keys to success? | |||
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| Sites Of Interest | |||
| http://www.thestayathomemother.com | |||
| http://www.thestayathomemother.com/blog | |||
| Visit Kelley’s websites to read more about the tips and resources she provides for other mothers to start a home business.Check out her websites and get ideas for a home based business. | |||
| To read more stories about women who run personal and professional networking organizations click networking-for-women-professionals. | |||
| This interview was published on 7th September 2007 | |||
Entry Filed under: Business / Personal Support Networks
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