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Why Mom Should Start a Home-Based Business Today
by Carrie Lauth
Most Moms think about starting a home based business at one time or another.
Maybe the youngest has started school, and Mom suddenly has a lot of free time.
Or perhaps Mom was successful in her career before having her first child, and
wished to put her skills to good use in a home based business.
Another reason may be that a couple is accustomed to the lifestyle they can
afford with two incomes, and when Mom suddenly decides to quit her job to stay
home and raise the children, the loss of income is uncomfortable...or even
intolerable if the income is sorely needed to pay bills.
My purpose in writing this article is to give you some compelling reasons why
you SHOULD start a home based business, and do so TODAY.
1) Having a Home Based Business provides you with a safety net if your husband
loses his job.
We don't live in the days of our Grandparents, where the advice was: Get a good
education, get a good job, work hard for 40 years and let the company take care
of you. Retirement is almost a joke. There is no such thing as job security
anymore. Layoffs and downsizing are commonplace today. Social Security and
Medicaid may not even be around when some of us reach retirement age.
For many families, the loss of the primary earner's income is devastating. Most
families simply do not have the 6-12 months of living expenses set aside in
savings that financial advisors recommend. Oftentimes it takes a person weeks or
even months to find employment that matches the salary they are used to.
Unemployment benefit checks are not enough to cover even the bare necessities of
life.
Having a Home Based Business provides the family with a second income. During
the period of unemployment, Mom can step up her efforts to build her business
and make more money. Dad might be in a position to help out more, giving her the
ability to do this with more focus. Who knows... Dad might even decide to join
Mom in her "little business"...especially when she starts earning more than he
does. Stranger things have happened!
2) Having a Home Based Business provides extra income to help the family meet
certain goals.
For instance... getting out of debt. An extra few hundred dollars a month added
to the credit card debt load could make a huge difference in how quickly the
debts get paid off.
After this is accomplished, the money that was going to credit cards could be
applied towards private education for children, savings for college, that
special vacation the family has always wanted to take, a newer model car,
renovations on the house so siblings can have more space (or Mom her own
office!).
Another awesome goal is that of paying off the mortgage early. By making an
additional mortgage payment periodically most couples can shave YEARS off of the
life of their mortage. Few people own their homes outright, but what a freeing
feeling that would be!
3) Having a Home Based Business models entrepreneurship to children
In today's world, it's more important than ever for our kids to learn how to
"mind their own business". Children who grow up watching Mom work her business
learn how to manage time wisely, they learn how to take responsibility for
themselves financially (instead of relying on an employer), and they may learn
practical skills especially if Mom lets them help out or even pays them to help.
Current tax laws even allow young children to be paid (and this is a tax
deductible expense) for their services...check with your accountant. Young girls will also learn that it IS possible to have the best of both
worlds...a woman can stay home to raise her children and still earn income.
4) Having a Home Based Business improves relationships
Most women I have spoken with about the subject agree that it isn't good for
their self esteem to have to ask their husbands for money. What's bad for a
woman's self esteem is bad for the marriage! Women feel better about themselves
when they are at least somewhat independent financially. They also have
something besides "what little Johnny did today" to talk about at the dinner
table. It keeps the relationship fresh and lively when a couple can discuss
their challenges and triumphs in their business and work lives. Anytime you see
someone do something they're good at, it causes you to see them in a new light
and have newfound appreciation for them. This is always a good thing in
marriage!
Work-from-home Moms also tend to stay more connected with their peers, via
networking with other business moms, prospecting for new customers and business
partners, and the like. There is a tendency for new Moms to stay in the nest a
little too much at first, and this can lead to depression. A business Mom, on
the other hand, is almost forced to talk to people! She has a reason to get up,
get dressed in something other than sweats, and go out and meet people. Little
Johnny doesn't care if you put on shoes and makeup, but doing so does wonders
for your energy and mood.
5) Having a Home Based Business gives a Mom "something else"
While most women adore being Mothers and wouldn't trade their husbands in
anytime soon either, we all want "something more." Something for ourselves,
something to call our own, that isn't a title or duty like Wife,
Mother...something that isn't undone 5 minutes after we do it. Something we can
put our name on and be proud of.
Mothering is the most honorable profession in the world, but it isn't always
recognized as such...and it's nice to be recognized once in a while.
My Mother once told me that the main reason she always had such success in
Direct Sales was because she loved the recognition - and the women on her team
would often work like madwomen to get some little trinket. Sometimes it wasn't
the cash - it was the pat on the back, the feeling of accomplishment that comes
from meeting a goal.
That "something else" also makes the transition to empty-nest hood easier. So
many women fall into deep depression when their youngest child leaves home. If
more Moms had a Home Based Business, instead of having their self worth
completely tied to Motherhood, maybe this wouldn't happen so much.
There are more reasons to start a Home Based Business, (such as the tax
advantages) but I hope I've given you some food for thought.
I wish you the best in your journey towards the ideal Home Business for you.
Carrie Lauth
About the author:
Carrie Lauth is a home based working Mom of 3. She enjoys anything involving
espresso. Visit her on the web at:
http://www.business-moms-expo.com
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