What is your business?

[Angela Moore]

I am not a business owner (yet) and there are a ton of questions that I'm sure all of us have. Let's start with the basics.

What is your business / business idea?

[Jennifer Tankersley]

Am I really the first to post here? Alright, well I love talking about my business! I am the founder of ListPlanIt.com. There are over 300 lists and planning pages designed for moms who either love lists or need a little boost getting "IT" (Information Turmoil) together. You can browse through all of the categories of lists to find grocery lists and meal planning pages in Kitchen, Birthday/Holiday Planning in Occasions, Chore Charts and Babysitter Instructions in Family, Daily To Do Lists and multiple calendar styles in Planner, and so much more! If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. I would LOVE to hear from other website owners. I've learned so much in the 11 months since my site was launched, but I still have so much more to learn and so many more ideas to employ. I would love talking with other website owners to discuss the joys and challenges of the work at home world.

[Mary]

I actually have 2 businesses... both of which have brought me to Hybrid Moms. They are best described as one that “pays” the other than “takes”. My paying business, Black & White (http://www.typeislife.com), is where I spend the largest portion of my day. I’m a graphic designer & have had this biz since 1985. My “other” business, Wish & Celebrate (http://www.wishandcelebrate.com), right now just Baby’s First Birthday kits, is the one that “takes” (i.e. doesn't really generate income... yet). I began working on this concept/product in 2004-2005, and launched my website to sell my kits in 2006.

I love what I do with and for both businesses. My design business has allowed me to share my creative side with many people for many years. And my online business (Wish & Celebrate) will allow me to share some of the interesting ideas for products that have been dancing around in my head for years. Life is good!

[Kristen]

I am the owner of Stuff for Sprouts - a line of fun, natural skin care for kids that I developed for my own kids. I launched my website (www.stuff4sprouts.com) in September 2007 and am working on building awareness and sales. It isn't easy, and the weight of the entire business sitting on my shoulders is a little daunting. But the flexibility to be available for my kids and to be able to build the business the way I want is very exciting!!

[Stacey]

I am the owner of Star Hitched Wagon. It has been an "official" business since April of 2003 (yesterday was my 5 year anniversary). I create bath and body products from scratch and jewelry design. I love it - it's my baby! ;)
We moved at the end of last April so the business slowed down a bit - it was so hard to get organized again. I still make and sale a lot of jewelry but have slowed down on the bath and body products. Now I am struggling to get back at it - I don't know why. Anyways...I am kickin around ideas to make a reintroduction - so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
And for any other bath and body product companies if you want to share your label sources with me that would be greatly appreciated. I love my labels I just don't want to print and cut them myself forever! :)

Can't wait to check all of your businesses out!

[Angela Moore]

So, my big question now is... where do you start?? It's overwhelming to look at everything at once, but I have no idea how to prioritize, etc. Any tips?

[Victoria Loveland-Coen]

What are you passionate about? That's the question you should ask yourself first. Running a business and making it successful takes LOTS of time, energy, money, etc. Am I right girls? And you need to be in it for the long haul. So I think finding what you're passionate about is the best place to start. It will carry you through the bumpy road and make the journey that much sweeter.

[Mary Davis]

Hi Angela!
The BEST business to start is one that allows you to do something that you love! What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? For instance, do you have artistic ability and love to paint? Muralists make a LOT of money working for themselves when they structure a real business. (And hooking up directly with decorators is easy once you've put together photos and samples of your work.) Are you a good cook? Like to bake? You don't have to jump in and start a restaurant right from the start.........you could start a baking business and deliver 'made from scratch' weekly orders to upscale restaurants in your area from whom you'd take regular orders. Then, once you've stashed away some start-up capital, you could expand into a retail location eventually. Are you extremely organized? Are you a 'list-maker?' How about a 'home organization business?' I know of a lady in South Carolina who started a business like this (out of necessity when her husband left her pregnant and with 2 kids!). She started out small, and has grown her business into a giant now! Plus, she does real estate staging and Christmas decorating for upscale homes. Start out by making a list of what you love to do; then make a list of things you are good at doing. The BEST business is one that you love working in! And those are always the most successful too! Good Luck! The time is NOW!

MARY E. DAVIS, Author
The Entrepreneurial Mom, Managing for Success in Your Home & Your Business

[Nicole Johnson]

Congratulations on your 5-year anniversary!!

[Stacey]

Thank you very much!!! :)

[Christie]

I am a Life Coach for Women. Most of my clients are Moms who just want to get back a sense of themselves in the midst of their chaotic lives. A lot of them also would like to start their own business as well. My company is called CGC Connections (www.cgcconnections.com). I do in-person and online workshops. My biggest challenge right now is letting people know that they do not have to live in GA to be coached by me! Life Coaching can be done from anywhere in the world... for me and my clients. I do (finally) have some out of state clients. I have friends in other states who say "Oh I have a friend who could use your services / benefiit from your workshop but they live in _____". Sometimes I feel like "What part of ONLINE do you not understand!!!" Okay, that was not very Life Coach-ish of me (LOL)...but as entrepreneurs, it just gets that way sometimes, right??? LOL!

I am also a representative for Mommy Perks (www.mommyperks.com/westatlantaga) It is a free site for moms to get special discounts from our Mommy Perks partners (local and national businesses who advertise with us). I love Mommy Perks because of course it gives discounts to Moms but it also provides super low cost advertising to small businesses... so I love it for Mom-owned start ups. If any of you have a business and a mom could use it...you should try it! Okay, shameless plug, I know!

[Maureen Daniels]

Hi Christine,
I want to put a link list on my blog called Mommy Resources and I would love to have a link to mommyperks. I'm a WAHM and have an online travel and entertainment booking service. My blog is http://recreationforall-marleetravel.blogspot.com/
Please check it out and let me know if you're interested.
Thanks,
Maureen

[Mary Beth]

I have a doll company about adopting baby dolls from around the world which I started in July of 2006. I put so much money into it because I wanted each doll to have their own unique look ~ not the same face with a different wig slapped on it and a change of eye color. Now being a single mom and working at making my company known, I don't have the resources (at this moment!) for mass advertising.
My mission is; to embrace other cultures by having parents let their child choose a doll and then learn about that dolls culture and heritage. Whenever I have had my dolls on display and asked parents if they would do this, they have been very agreeable and curious as to which doll their child will choose. I've never had a child choose a doll of their own origin!
Children see through different eyes than adults!
Mary Beth
www.preciousbabydolls.com