How to become a Successful and Happy Work at Home Mum (WAHM) ... or Dad... or grandparent...

Become a Successful Work at Home Mum (WAHM)

"WAHM" used to mean "Work At Home Mums". Now it is more likely to mean "Work At Home Mums and Dads or Grandmas or anyone"...welcome to the Funky 21st Century Family!

The structure of the family, as we know it in the West, is changing as more and more parents decide to stop struggling to pay someone else to look after their children while they put up with a stressful and time-consuming, expensive daily commute to somewhere they only use a fraction of their skills and talents to bring home just enough money to live on. This becomes an even more attractive option if you are downsizing as a result of the credit crunch, or need to get extra money through the door for little or no extra spend.

And in today’s credit crunch climate, two incomes are pretty much a necessity for most families if they are to stay financially afloat, but once you become a parent, the cost of childcare can be prohibitive even if you just work part time. However, as a WAHM you can fulfil both roles more gracefully – as a hands on parent and a work at home breadwinner – and the benefits are huge not just for the emotional wellbeing of you and your family, but also in practical, financial, and health terms.

In fact, so many people are now clocking on to the fact that working from home is a sound financial, practical and emotionally fulfilling choice, that in the last 10 years thousands and thousands of people have changed tack and decided to work from home. Some do it so they can be with their families. Some do it to cut down on commuting and the frustrations of working for someone else. Some do it because it is the best way they know of to use the skills they possess. Some do it for all of these reasons!

What are the Benefits?
Working from home in your flexible own business is a dream come true for many people, especially if you want to be able to balance work with family life while still earning a good income.

As a work at home mum or dad, it means you don't have to feel stressed getting ready in the mornings before the school run, it means you can be there at sport's day and school presentations, it means you don't have to take time off when a child is sick. Basically it means you can be flexible, which is the Holy Grail of the world of work, according to most surveys.

And then there are the health benefits - less stress and more nutrious food because you have more time to prepare a nutritious and cost-effective family meal that you eat together, rather than always falling back on a frozen or pre-prepared costly meal, perhaps on their laps in front of the television, because you are rushed or stressed or both.

How long does it take?
I'm often asked how long it takes to be a success with a WAHM business. The answer depends a great deal on what business you are in and what you personally consider success to be. Is it success if you make a few hundred dollars a month or are you set on becoming a millionaire? Is your business something that will be a rapid turnaround or is it going to be a slow burn because, like when I started Funky Angel in 2003, people weren’t really ready for the concept of “working from home mums” even though loads of us were already doing it.

What do you need to do to become a WAHM (working at home mum) or Business Mum?
It’s actually incredibly easy and painless to set up your own business from home. There really is no other business in the world where you can invest £200 to £2,000, add some research and apply some elbow grease (actually brain power), and make real money in a matter of a few months, and make a proper success of it within a year, maybe two.

There are, in fact, very few businesses that cannot be operated from home – just think of how the world was before the Industrial Revolution, and think of all those cottage industries operating out of people’s homes! Well the 21st century is the return of the cottage industries, but with rocket power – ie the internet!

Take an inventory of your interests and skills by using our module or come to one of our workshops and get some great ideas too. If you think you might be looking for some financing, check out our Funky Finance area. Contrary to popular belief, very few WAHM businesses need more than a micro loan, but if you do have a need for more finance, perhaps to buy sophisticated equipment or you have high set up costs we can put you in touch with the right people to talk to.

Here's to your success!

Claire x