5 Solopreneur Must Haves To Make Your Side Hustle Your Main Hustle (A Mom’s Guide)
Manifesting working in San Francisco cafe, made with. AI.
Hey there, busy mama! I see you juggling endless loads of laundry while sending those client emails and squeezing in work during nap time. If you're dreaming of turning your side hustle into your main gig, this guide is for you. Let's talk about what you really need (hint: it's simpler than you think!).
1. A Schedule That Actually Works Let's be honest - those "work while everyone sleeps" tips aren't always realistic. Instead, you need:
A clear calendar showing your non-negotiable family times
Dedicated work blocks (even if they're just 30 minutes)
A backup plan for sick days and school holidays
Help! (Whether it's a mother's helper, part-time childcare, or tag-teaming with another mom)
Mom Tip: Work with your natural rhythm. If you're sharper in the morning, wake up 45 minutes before the kids for focused work time.
2. Simple Money Tracking Forget complicated spreadsheets! You need:
A separate bank account for your business money
A basic pricing structure that values your time
A clear understanding of how much you need to make
An easy way to track expenses (even a dedicated credit card works!)
Reality Check: Know your numbers! How much do you need to earn to replace your current income plus cover business expenses and healthcare?
3. Basic Business Tools Keep it simple but professional:
A good phone with a reliable camera
A planner or digital calendar you'll actually use
Invoice templates (free ones work great!)
A way to take payments easily (Venmo Business, PayPal, or Square)
Time-Saving Tip: Use your phone's notes app for quick ideas and voice memos for times when typing isn't practical.
4. Your "Business in a Box" Create a grab-and-go solution for work time:
A dedicated laptop or tablet
Essential tools for your trade
Basic office supplies
Portable WiFi hotspot for backup internet
Mom Hack: Keep this "business box" ready to grab for library work sessions or coffee shop productivity sprints when you can snag child-free time.
5. A Support System You can't do this alone (and you shouldn't try!):
Join Facebook groups for mom entrepreneurs
Find one other mom with a similar business
Tell your family what support you need
Connect with local business resources
Sanity Saver: Find your mom-preneur bestie. Someone who gets it when you need to vent about toddler tantrums and client issues in the same conversation!
Next Steps:
Start small and build! Begin with:
Track your current time for one week
Set up a separate business account
Create your grab-and-go business box
Join one supportive online community
Find one regular time slot for work
Remember: You don't need to do everything perfectly to start. Many successful businesses began with a mom working from her phone during naptime!
Quick Reality Note: Growing your business might be slower than the internet "experts" claim, and that's okay! Slow, steady progress while balancing family life is still progress.
