More and more women are becoming entrepreneurs than ever before – starting businesses, working from home, and employing other women, too. Women own a whopping 42% of all businesses, and it’s estimated that 1 in 3 of those businesses is owned by a mother. And that number is only growing, with over 1,800 businesses being started by women in the U.S. every single day.
Yet so many moms who start businesses feel lonely or even guilty, as though they’re the only ones. What’s more, many mothers even think that their responsibilities at home are totally at odds with following their dreams and starting their own business.
But though balancing raising a family with starting a business can be difficult, it can actually be an extremely positive thing for mothers, their children, and their communities… and mothers tend to make great entrepreneurs.
Here are just a few reasons why many mothers are choosing to take the leap and start their own businesses… and why it might be a great idea for you and your family, too.
Moms start businesses to follow their passion
After becoming a mother, it’s all too easy to set your own dreams aside and put all of your time and energy into your kids instead. For some, the transition from a full-time career to full-time motherhood can feel totally natural – but others might feel a bit stifled at home, looking for a creative outlet they can feel passionate about.
A 2018 study shows that passion is a major factor in why women start businesses and how they choose the businesses they start. Many moms turn to entrepreneurship as a flexible option for more inspiring and meaningful work – and to pave the way for other strong, capable women who don’t want to choose between working toward their career goals and raising a family.
Moms start businesses for their kids
Many mothers start businesses not just in spite of their children, but because of their children. Founder of ELL Holiday Co. Stephanie Thorne was inspired by her own son to start her business. She’d been dreaming of starting her own boutique since long before she became a mother, but put those wishes on the backburner once she had her first child. But as her son grew up and started pursuing his own goal of becoming a baseball player with admirable gusto, she realized she wanted to set a good example for him by following her own dreams, too.
Stephanie says, “I was always worried that starting my own business would cause me to spend too much time away from my son – but actually, it’s only brought us closer. He encourages me every day. He’s my cheerleader and I’m his. We’re still working on time management, but my business has been such a positive thing for our relationship.”
Roseann Licata, co-founder of Trendy Sisters Boutique, also started her business for her children. As a newly single mother of triplets, she “had nothing to lose and everything to gain.” Though she thought her sister had to be out of her mind when she suggested they start an online boutique together, she longed to be able to spend more time with her kids instead of working full-time and picking them up from an after-school program at 6:30pm each day.
She started working on her business every night, and after a year or so of nonstop work, Roseann was able to quit her job and work from home with her kids. In her own words, “We’ve really bonded. They see what it takes to run a business, and they see how hard work is rewarded. I’ve involved my children in my business as much as I can, and I see them learning that they can be independent, they don’t have to depend on anybody, they can fend for themselves. It’s totally changed my family’s life.”
Moms start businesses because they see opportunities
According to a 2018 study by SCORE, the top reason women start businesses is because they see an opportunity. Nowadays, there’s more opportunity than ever… and being an entrepreneur is better suited to the mom lifestyle than you might think.
In the digital age, it’s possible to start a business with no funding, no experience, and no in-person meetings whatsoever – you can purchase inventory, sell products, and advertise 100% online. Companies like Supplied make it easier than ever for Stephanie, Roseann, and other mothers like you to fulfill their dream of starting an eCommerce business, with over 100,000+ wholesale boutique items to choose from, no minimum order quantities, and a supportive community of thousands of business owners that feel like family. Stephanie and Roseann set their own hours, work on their business when it’s convenient for them and set aside plenty of family time, too. Opportunity is out there – it’s just up to you to find it.
Over 4 million mompreneurs in the U.S. prove that you don’t have to wait until your kids are out of the house to start following your dreams.
With hard work, careful planning, and a little ingenuity, it’s possible to start a thriving business and be an amazing mother at the same time. As Roseann puts it, “Take a chance, you have nothing to lose. Let your kids be your drive, work as hard as you can, and be consistent. The more you put in, the more you’ll get out.”
Joseph Heller is the CEO & Founder of The/Studio Technologies, which operates TheStudio.com and SuppliedShop.com. Joseph founded The/Studio based on his experience of living in China and working in the consumer products manufacturing sector. The/Studio is a Silicon Valley venture backed startup that is focused on democratizing manufacturing and supply chain for SMBs. TheStudio.com makes it easy for companies to make custom manufactured products and SuppliedShop.com helps small retail stores buy inventory directly from factories.
