WomenCo.

Many women have been emailing me privately and asking questions about how to a business start at home - I think the discussions are valuable for everyone in this group to be involved with! I think those of us doing it could offer some insights into what we went through, so this is the First Five of powerful questions to share!

1- How did you start your business?

2- Is it as brand you bought into, or did you create it yourself?

3-Where did you do for support?

4-How long before you were comfortable with the money you were making?

5- If you could give one piece of advice to a woman wanting to start, what would it be?

LilaK says ...

Hi, Ann. Good post to start.

1. I started my own business on the side while I was still full and part-time employed elsewhere. I wanted to make sure it would be a sustainable business but didnt' have the financial independence necessary to just go all-out without having a salary coming in at the same time. I wanted self-employent mostly for the flexibility it would allow me as a mother of three children.


2. I created my own brand, using the experience I'd built throughout my professional career. (I am a consultant to non-profits.)


3. I had my wonderful husband for support. As well as a network of professionals I'd met before I branched out on my own; they helped spread the word about me (network, network, network!).


4. It took about 6 months til I felt I was really comfortable enough to leave my job (which I'd already whittled down to part-time, when my third kid was born) and do my own business full-time. It might have taken me a bit longer had my husband not also been bringing in his own salary.


5. My advice? Try it. You will always wonder what could have happened otherwise.

Great sharing LilaK! I love that you shared the support you receive (so important) and the work it took to grow it! Thanks! Ann

Wow - powerful lesson in #4 - can you develop a relationship with a partner that you trust who won't steal from you! I hope you plan to start something wonderful again!

thebathproject says ...

1- How did you start your business?

I started it while working fulltime as a massage therapist.  The first couple of years were lots of R&D, trial & error.  When I began teaching massage, my schedule became much more flexible and I was able to create more & use my very willing students as testers.  I initially started selling on Ebay, then focused on the local market including the small day spas and then found Etsy, which is where I currently have my shop.

 

2- Is it as brand you bought into, or did you create it yourself?

I created it myself.  It wasn't easy to decide on, it actually took a couple of years to narrow it down so that it *fit* me, what I wanted to project.

 

3-Where did you go for support?

Initially my friends.  My husband was skeptical and it took awhile for him to get comfortable.  My boss at the school was very supportive as he & his wife had owned a few day spas and he saw the possibilities. 

 

4-How long before you were comfortable with the money you were making?

I continued to work fulltime from startup in 2003 until June of 2007.  My boss from the massage school & I had left to start a continuing education academy for massage therapists and our partner took the money and bailed.  So after only 6 months, we had to close our doors.  At that point I decided to go fulltime into my company.

 

5- If you could give one piece of advice to a woman wanting to start, what would it be?

Write it down, read it, speak it, believe it and then go for it!  If you keep it in your head, that is where it will stay.  If you talk about it in the present tense, you start to believe it and *it* happens.

1 - How did you start your business?

      I was not able to work the full time job I'd been trained to do.  I was a first grade teacher, and due to some health concerns that have since been resolved, I could not teach full time any more.  My sister in law introduced me to the products and philosophy of a company I'd never heard of.  So, once I tried the products, I was hooked!  I knew this was the answer for me!

2 - Is it a brand you bought into, or did you create it yourself?

     I joined a Network Marketing company that specializes in a blend of science and nature.  The products are pure, safe, and beneficial to the body and the skin.  The products range from vitamins and supplements to anti-aging skincare and cosmetics.  I loved the natural, botanically based philosophy and the wide range of products.  So, I jumped in with both feet!!

3 - Where did you go for support?

     My sister in law and other women have helped me immensely in my business.  I've connected with women all over the nation, in my team and others.  We all work together and help each other.  That's one of my favorite things about my business and my company.  I currently work with two women in my local area and we are all three from different teams.  What we do in our businesses does not benefit the others at all, but we still work closely and help each other!  Their support and help is invaluable.

4 - How long before you were comfortable with the money you were making?

     Because my husband has been supporting us on one income for years since I stopped teaching full time, any steady income was a help to us!!  I love that in this business, the money I make is directly tied to what I do.  If I work consistently, I make consistently increasing money.  If I get lazy and don't work like I should, then the pay drops.  I get to choose what is right for my family and me!  That's powerful!!!

5- If you could give one piece of advice to a woman wanting to start, what would it be?

     Find something you love and can have fun with!!  I'm a people person.  Because my business allows me to interact with many others, it's awesome!!  If you don't love what you do and truly have fun, then find something else to do!  You have the power to change your life, one step at a time!

I joined a MLM when I found out my company was closing our plant in hopes to replace my income before my last day.  I never considered doing this before but I was laid-off from a job I thought i would retire from.  It gives you quite a prespective.  You just can't count on what the job being there, like our parents generation could.  Gone are the days of working 30+ years at one company and then retiring with the gold wathc. 

My first MLM effort didn't work, not because of the products or MLMs but because I allowed my fear of picking up the phone to control me.

It's been a year since I was laid-off and since then I have gotten involved with a MLM that fits me like a glove.  I now get paid to be a card sender and help others become senders of cards.  Am I making the money I want yet, no, but it's coming.  I have learned to believe in myself enough not to let fear stop me and my product is great for any business with repeat customers and its also wonderful for individual use.  The product makes it easy to get past the fears.

I really just started telling people about the work I could do and trying to find someone to let me do it from home.  I'm just wrapping up a HUGE project that's gained me some serious connections with people who are really impressed with my calmness under pressure, ability to meet some very strict and serious deadlines (every single thing marked "urgent"), ability to handle confidential information, organize things and keep the flow going through some very difficult times, investigation and research, the list goes on.  I've gotten a brilliant reference, which is always a good thing.  And I keep selling myself to ANYONE who will listen!  The work isn't always steady.  In fact, once this big project is done in a couple of weeks, I'll be slow again.  Anybody need me????  Where do I go for support?  Here.  And I'm really glad that I found it.  Also, my family is very understanding that I'm really working hard.  It isn't a product right now, though I have made jewellery and bath products in the past.  I used to have my own website selling fine jewellery that I made and designed myself, and may go back to selling some things on etsy.  I don't have the time at the moment to maintain such a large website myself as I had created before.  I can't say that I'm necessarily comfortable with the money that I'm making yet.  But to any woman wanting to start her own business, I would say, first organize your idea.  Then, find the cheapest way to do it, not the most expensive.  Cash whenever possible.  And be prepared to work your beautiful bottom right off.  Enjoy it.

seabrownthree says ...

  And I keep selling myself to ANYONE who will listen!  The work isn't always steady.  In fact, once this big project is done in a couple of weeks, I'll be slow again.  Anybody need me????  Where do I go for support?  Here.  And I'm really glad that I found it.  Also, my family is very understanding that I'm really working hard.  It isn't a product right now, though I have made jewellery and bath products in the past.  I used to have my own website selling fine jewellery that I made and designed myself, and may go back to selling some things on etsy.  I don't have the time at the moment to maintain such a large website myself as I had created before.  I can't say that I'm necessarily comfortable with the money that I'm making yet.  But to any woman wanting to start her own business, I would say, first organize your idea.  Then, find the cheapest way to do it, not the most expensive.  Cash whenever possible.  And be prepared to work your beautiful bottom right off.  Enjoy it.

Seabrownthree - please if you do anything next, learn from Michael Gerber - the E-Myth Revisited. I think he is better in audio, but the book will do.  I think this is crucial to what you are saying up here. Slow again - working your butt off - they are not necessary. As business owners we have to get out of the work hard mindset if we are ever going to grow! (Trust me, 11 years self employed, current staff of 5).

Also law of attraction: I would NEVER do anything cheap - and I also learned tis the hard way. When do you high quality, they pay of high quality, when you do cheap, they pay for cheap! This year, with the recession my clients are paying more than ever!

AnnEvanston says ...

seabrownthree says ...

  And I keep selling myself to ANYONE who will listen!  The work isn't always steady.  In fact, once this big project is done in a couple of weeks, I'll be slow again.  Anybody need me????  Where do I go for support?  Here.  And I'm really glad that I found it.  Also, my family is very understanding that I'm really working hard.  It isn't a product right now, though I have made jewellery and bath products in the past.  I used to have my own website selling fine jewellery that I made and designed myself, and may go back to selling some things on etsy.  I don't have the time at the moment to maintain such a large website myself as I had created before.  I can't say that I'm necessarily comfortable with the money that I'm making yet.  But to any woman wanting to start her own business, I would say, first organize your idea.  Then, find the cheapest way to do it, not the most expensive.  Cash whenever possible.  And be prepared to work your beautiful bottom right off.  Enjoy it.

Seabrownthree - please if you do anything next, learn from Michael Gerber - the E-Myth Revisited. I think he is better in audio, but the book will do.  I think this is crucial to what you are saying up here. Slow again - working your butt off - they are not necessary. As business owners we have to get out of the work hard mindset if we are ever going to grow! (Trust me, 11 years self employed, current staff of 5).

 

Also law of attraction: I would NEVER do anything cheap - and I also learned tis the hard way. When do you high quality, they pay of high quality, when you do cheap, they pay for cheap! This year, with the recession my clients are paying more than ever!

thanks for the feedback, Ann.  I didn't mean that I use cheap products, I meant that I find the least expensive ways to get myself known, such as throwing out cards personally rather than putting out an expensive ad.  I did have an expensive ad in the phone book once, and had more business than I knew what to do with, so you're right, it does have it's advantages.  But I'm working on a shoestring at the moment, as I'm trying to recover financially from all of that fleeing and DV stuff that had taken my life over for awhile.  Any advice and feedback is always listened to and appreciated, so please keep it coming!  I do quality work, and I work for quality. 

majesticmarti says ...

I am still beginning my own freelance business. I live in the middle of the nowhere it seems and gas prices are killing us. I also feel I need to be at home with my kids, so I decided to find something I am good at that I enjoy. I am the brand. It is my ability to help people who have to much to do and not enough time in which to do it. My Mom and sister have been my biggest support. they were my chalk board as I sorted through the many ideas I had. They keep me focused when my husband is doubtful. I am still not comfortable with the money I am making, however our debt load has decreased tremendously. The advice I would have is to choose something you enjoy. You will be working hard and many hours sometimes more than if you were to leave you home. If you enjoy what you are doing then it does not feel like work and is easier to hold on to your dream. Also, dont let anyone tell you that you cant do it!  Yes you can! You may fall a few times but so do babies, Its a part of growing! Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going till you get where you want to go.

you go, girl!

All of my hard work is paying off right now, which is really great.  I stuck to what I wanted to accomplish, didn't compromise, and kept doing what I needed to do.  You don't get noticed if you don't get out there.  I didn't accept anything except what I wanted, and now I have exactly what I wanted, and my business is taking off again.  Recovery from the dark times which were a result of so much moving about fleeing from the domestic violence thing!  yeay!  I'm successful because I didn't accept less and didn't take no for an answer, and because I worked hard and persevered.  You really don't get far any other way.