Tips for Parents on Starting a Business When You Have Kids

With more parents seeking flexibility and balance in their work-lives, entrepreneurship, whether it’s freelancing or starting and running a business from home is becoming more attractive. While it is certainly a challenge to build a successful business while caring for young children it is possible with the right supports in place. At Winnie, we recognize that a one size fits all approach to childcare isn’t helpful for families. Parents with schedules outside of the typical 9-5 require flexibility in their childcare. If you’re considering starting a business from home with young children, here’s how to make it work for you.

Tips on working & running a business when you have kids

1. Make a Routine

It may seem difficult to carve out time to work on building a business while raising children but it can be done, it just takes some creativity. Children like to know what to expect, they find comfort in familiar routines and you can use this to your advantage when planning your days. If your child still naps, then you have a good solid chunk of time each day to dedicate to meetings or calls. If your child is no longer napping, you can still institute a “quiet time” each day where they have some alone time in their room to look at books, work on a puzzle or do another quiet activity for a set amount of time. 

2. Coordinate Childcare

Even though most parents turn to entrepreneurship because of the flexibility it offers, likely, you will still need some sort of childcare. Not only is it beneficial for you to have uninterrupted work time, but it will give your child a social outlet. Look for preschools that offer part-time options or drop-in childcare centers that allow you to pay per day. With more and more parents needing care outside of the typical 9 to 5 schedule, there are many more part-time options available.

3. Make Childcare Your Business

If you are looking for a way to earn an income from home without relying on childcare, you can start your own in-home daycare. Depending on where you live, different licensing options will dictate how many kids you can care for and whether or not you would need to hire an assistant. In a survey of 1008 parents, 20% reported that post-pandemic their preference is for home-based childcare. With tools like Winnie to help market your program for free, you can provide a much-needed service for parents in your area while remaining at home with your children. 

4. Start from Scratch

The best businesses are built as solutions to a common problem. Find a need you have the skills to fill and go from there. From virtual bookkeeping to graphic design, there are a lot of options to turn your job experience into something you can offer on your own. 

5. Designate Time for Your Kids

Children can tell when we are preoccupied. It may take some discipline on your end but it is important to dedicate time each day to be fully present with your kids. No screens, no interruptions, just you and your children. If they know they get this special time with you each day, they may be more flexible about giving you space to work. It helps to have a set time for them to look forward to rather than trying to squeeze it into the day. If your child likes to be close to you while you work, setting up your home to encourage independent play can help to keep them busy.

6. Stay Flexible

It is a good idea to remind yourself that things are not going to go smoothly, especially at first. If you are setting new routines with your children or asking them to play independently, start small and be patient. Use visual timers or visual schedules, so your child can see when they can expect to have you all to themselves. In time, you will find a rhythm that works for your family and things will get easier. Parenting and entrepreneurship both require thinking on your feet, so combining the two requires a little extra creativity. If you are trying to make do without childcare at first, find other parents who work from home and plan play/work dates or swap childcare.

7. Enjoy Yourself

Although building a business alongside raising children can be stressful, it is also a really exciting time. Just as children experience growing pains, so do businesses and once you get through them you will be proud of what you built. Stay connected to your why to help you through the hard moments and celebrate the small victories along the way.