Finding a Business idea as a Stay-At-Home Mum

8 steps to finding a business idea that works for you and your family.

For many of us, somewhere along the motherhood journey, the fog begins to clear, and we start to think beyond the feeding and nap schedule to the possibilities of something else exciting. There’s a spark of creativity, and a desire to make something of our own (beyond the little people that we made and are raising). Whether it’s a much needed extra income stream or simply a creative outlet that allows you to do something you love, starting a small business is an exciting journey to embark on. Finding a business idea can be hard, so a good place to start is with you and your passions.

So, how do we do that??

1. Make a list of the things that bring you joy in life.

2. Make a list of the skills, interests and talents that you have (or would love to develop)…And don’t let me hear you say you don’t have any! Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking:

- Creating
- Art
- Baking
- Sewing/Crafts
- Writing
- Finance
- Coaching
- Specific Industry knowledge

- Organisation and administration
- Photography
- Gardening
- Problem solving
- Talking to people
- Kids
- Elderly people
- Disabilities

- Technology
- Teaching others
- Education
- Parenting
- Reading
- Content creation

3. Write a paragraph on what you would like your life to look like 5 years from now (if you could do anything!). Dream a little, it can be as long or short as you like! 

4. Don’t get too caught up in the details just yet!
I know, you’re a mum, you’re good at details. But if you have an idea, before you jump ahead to finding a wholesaler to buy from, a shipping company or start imagining what your business cards will look like, just keep it in the big picture for a minute longer. Lot’s of businesses skip the stage of vision casting and dreaming, and start without clear visibility of what their purpose is. So that leads me to the next point…

5. Start with your purpose.
You want your business to work for you, not you work for your business. It’s good to think about what’s important to you, how you want to manage home life alongside your business, what your expectations are for making money, and whether you’re undertaking this out of a need to make money or whether it’s simply a creative outlet for you. Go back to what you wanted your life to look like in 5 years, and think through how this business idea helps achieve that purpose. 

6. Don’t be afraid to let go of or change an idea.
Sometimes you might think of something that you get excited about, but a little further down the process you realise it has a few big flaws. Sometimes we trap ourselves into thinking that we’re only ever going to have one good idea, and so we have to make it work. But that simply isn’t true. It may be that your idea needs to be refined a little, or it may be that you need to let go of it altogether. But even if that’s the case, remember that your bank of ideas is not empty! It’s also worth saying that finding a solution to the flaws you find in your business idea may be just what you need to be the one that stands out in the crowd and find your niche. 

7. See what other people are doing.
A great tool to use is google trends, and you can see how popular something is based on how much it is searched for on google. It’s good to have a good look at your competitive market and work out what your point of difference is - what makes you stand out from the crowd. Hint: often, it’s not the product itself that stands out, but it’s part of your brand. It could be the design and aesthetic, the customer service, the message behind the brand or how you run your business. Whatever your business is, you need to have a reason for customers to choose you over your competitors. 

8. Don’t keep it a secret.
Talk about your ideas with your partner, your kids, your friends. Having feedback from the people who really value you as a person is important, and you want your business to be something that you’re proud of, not something you’re ashamed of. By Inviting others in to the dreaming stage with you, you’re inviting those who know you best to pinpoint your strengths in a way that your own lack of confidence would have stopped you from seeing.