Mothers Working At Home
By S.J. Fiske

Many mothers are choosing to work at home, instead of commuting to and from a workplace outside of the home.  The advantages range from being able to set one’s own hours to spending more time with their families as well as building equity and ownership in a home based business. According to the NFWBO, National Foundation of Women’ Business Owners,  there are 3.5 women-owned home-based businesses in the US, accounting for 14 million part-time and full time people. The SBA estimates that there are 25-30 million full or part time home-based businesses.

For many mothers it is a matter of choice, however for others it is a matter of necessity. Single moms are finding it increasingly difficult to make financial ends meet, spend quality time with their kids and manage the affairs of the home. Couples who are raising young children find themselves having to choose between two incomes and having one of the parents at home with the adolescents. More often than not it is the woman who stays home to raise the kids instead of Mr. Mom.

Many women bring skill sets that may be utilized at home. The internet has made it much easier to work from home, however many women want to own and manage a business, rather than work for someone else, even if it comes with the flexibility of being able to draw a company paycheck while working in a home office.

Working from home may have many rewards, however where does one start? Perhaps with an assessment of one’s basic skills, or special interests, sometimes turning a hobby into a money-making venture is possible. Whatever one chooses understanding one’s strengths and limitations is valuable. There are financial challenges, logistical considerations and the ever present reality of knowing how to best manage one’s time. Of course working with children in the same environment also may present some challenges.

Moms who are considering a home based business may find a plethora of assistance and resources on the internet. The following websites are some of the best in this writer’s opinion.

Much like a conventional business one is strongly advised to consult an attorney and an accountant before venturing off into any new business enterprise.

The following are several websites you may find helpful in starting a new career at home or help you grow your existing one:

www.hbwm.com
Home-Based Working Moms is a professional association and online community founded in 1995. HBWM provides its members with support, networking, free advertising options a monthly (print) newsletter, email discussion list, searchable member directory, member spotlights and corporate discounts on various products and services.

www.mothersworkathome.com
Mothers Work At Home brings together mothers who are interested in starting a home based business. This site features message boards, a mom’s news calendar, advertising specials and links to home-based business sites.

www.happymomworkingathome.com
Stayin Home and Lovin it!, is an award -winning team that is dedicated to helping people find the quality of life that they are looking for and need.

www.jobsformoms.com
Provides resources for finding working at home jobs. Free services and FAQ’s. Home based job opportunities for stay at home moms. Home job listings and small business ideas.

www.wahm.com
Work at home moms. Assistance with finding work at home businesses. This site has numerous bulletin boards and excellent resources to assist one in selecting and starting a business. A classified section Links to the US Patent and trademark office as well as links to all of the US state’s business development offices.

www.mommyspalce.net
Forums, work at home guides, home based employment, works at home articles and home based business ideas. Good networking site and direct contact with women who are currently working from home.

www.mymommybiz.com
Advice, ideas, & resources strives to provide valuable advice, ideas, resources and much more for mothers working home based businesses. A line of “Start your own Business” ebooks, providing a starting point for women interested in businesses. All women will find useful products and services in the various data bases and links.

www.bizymoms.com
Help and guidance to improve existing businesses or how to get started. eclasses, ebooks, message boards and home business ideas.

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