6 ways moms can start a thriving business from home in just a couple of hours a day
Courtesy of Christina NicholsonTV host Christina Nicholson is also a mom.
- Christina Nicholson is a former TV reporter and anchor now owns her own business. She's also a mother of two (soon to be three).
- She says moms can start a lucrative side hustle at home, even with just a couple of hours to spare a day.
- Below she details six of the most popular choices for mom-preneurs, including freelancer and virtual assistant.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.
With kids in and out of school, many moms find it difficult to have a normal routine or to just get a few hours of work done while playing cab driver to their children and their extracurricular activities.
It's common to think spending time working and making money is out of the question, but it's not. And no, you do not need to join a multi-level marketing company, or MLM, to bring in a few thousand dollars a month from home.
According to a Pew Research poll released this year, mothers are spending more time in the labor force. In fact, mothers are the breadwinners in 4 out of 10 families in the United States.
So, why not get a piece of that pie? There are countless ways to do this from home while keeping a flexible schedule. Marta Spirk, a female empowerment coach, understands that starting something different after dedicating time for your family and little ones can be a challenge, but focusing on the benefits it will bring helps.
"Not only will you be able to contribute financially, but you will also gain new skills, connect with new people and have a chance to develop your "own thing" outside of motherhood," Spirk says. "I encourage you to look inside yourself and revisit your talents and your uniqueness."
There are a variety of ways to do this. Here are some of the most popular.
1. Freelancer
Laura Pennington Briggs launched her business in 2012 with no formal training and scaled it to six figures in just 18 months.
Her work from home job? A freelance writer.
She says the first step to becoming a freelancer is by evaluating past experiences and current interests.
"For example, interests in research and organization make for great virtual assistants and a passion for words can lead to a freelance business as an editor, proofreader, or writer," Briggs, author of Start your Own Freelance Writing Business said.
Some of the most in-demand freelancers today include VAs, web developers, designers, branding specialists, copywriters, and social media managers.
"Research other freelancers who might be your competition to get a sense of how they package their work and promote themselves online," Briggs said.
According to Score, 47% of millennials already freelance, more than any other generation. By 2027, freelancers will account for the majority of the American workforce.
There is no better time to dip your toe in the freelancing water than now.
Read more: I'm 34 and make $200K a year as a freelancer. This is exactly how I spend my money to both scale my business and still enjoy my Miami life
2. Virtual assistant
One of the most popular routes for moms who want to work from home is a virtual assistant, or a VA.
Micala Quinn started her VA business while she working fulltime as a teacher. A few months after launching her business, she was matching her teaching income and quit her job to focus on virtual assisting fulltime.
"Everyone has marketable skills," Quinn said. "For example, if you are a great writer, offer copywriting services. An eye for design? Offer graphic design services. There truly is a market for everyone."
Next, Quinn suggests targeting a specific industry, like working with real estate agents or local restaurants for example.
"Picking a niche will help you focus on your potential clients and really understand their pain points and how you can help them as a virtual assistant," Quinn said.
Plus, this makes it easier to find them, build relationships, and grow your business
3. Executive assistant
Think of an executive assistant as a step up from a virtual assistant.
Instead of doing things like graphic design or email management for a business owner, you'd working more closely with a CEO.
If you have prior office experience, this is a great job to consider because you know how an office operates.
"Stay at home moms have well-honed skills that translate seamlessly to being an executive assistant - attention to detail, scheduling prowess, and the ability to wear multiple hats on any given day," said executive assistant and trainer Jess Lindgren. "Make sure you've got a basic structure to your business, choose what kind of executive you'd like to support, and then tell your network what you're up to."
Read more: 5 time-saving tricks I used to make $106,421 on the side while working a demanding 9-to-5 job
4. Social media influencer
If you're on social media, you might as well monetize it, right?
"Online creators can monetize through more channels and build a high converting platform when they have a loyal audience," says Meagan Faye, a travel influencer based in Canada. "Building a dedicated audience takes time and consistency, but once you have created a strong community, you can capitalize through things like affiliate marketing, digital display advertising, and sponsored posts."
The only problem? You need to build your brand before you start making money.
According to Faye, the best way to do that is to start with a very specific niche.
"Start posting quality content on a consistent basis and using niche-specific hashtags on your content to get discovered by your target audience," Faye said. "The more you post with hashtags, the more you'll get seen by people who may resonate with your content."
5. Coach or mentor
Jessica Stansberry teaches people to excel in something she's great at - creating content online.
"Showing your personality and original ideas on video platforms like Facebook live, YouTube, or Instagram stories will open the door to your potential new customers or clients," Stansberry said. "They'll be thinking, 'Wow, she really knows what she's talking about' (even if you have a 2-year-old run through with a diaper on his head as you're doing it)."
Don't think you need to work with businesses only. Many moms make money from home by teaching people how to excel with their hobbies too.
Cassidy Tuttle started a blog that teaches people how to grow succulents. That morphed into a book and an online course. Today, her husband works with her in the business.
Recently, in a live interview on CNN's Headline News, online marketing expert Amy Porterfield shared a story about one of her students - a working mom who left her full-time job because she was making money teaching other moms vegetable canning.
6. Create a product
Many moms let their creativity go to waste, but some sell their creations online in places like Etsy while other women take it to the next level, like Adriana Botti, founder of Little Words Project.
After being bullied as a high school student, she created the original word bracelet with inspirational words on them to promote self-love and kindness.
Today, she employees eight women in the multi-million dollar business.
People will pay for your knowledge, your creations, and your services.
The right word in the right ear at the right time makes all the difference, and you never know who needs help until you offer.
With just an hour or two a day, the possibilities are endless.
Christina Nicholson is a TV host. You can see her in front of the camera as a host on Lifetime TV, in national commercials, and read her work online in a variety of outlets, including her lifestyle and family blog, Christina All Day. She lives in South Florida with her husband and young children.