5 Workable Business Ideas for Stay-at-Home Parents

As a stay-at-home parent, you might not be ready to return to work full-time. But maybe you’ve been wondering if you could start a small business from home in order to boost your family’s income. By getting connected to local South Jersey business resources through NJ Heartland, you can make your entrepreneurial dreams come true! And when it comes to business ideas, you can think outside the e-commerce box. Here are a few realistic business models for stay-at-home parents, as well as some tips on getting your new venture off the ground.

Consider Teaching a Skill

Are you talented when it comes to art, music, or fitness? You can easily build a business around teaching a skill, like painting, playing guitar, or lifting weights. If you have the appropriate space at home, you could offer art classes, music lessons, or personal training sessions!

Providing a Service

What if running a teaching business isn’t the right fit for you? There is still no shortage of business ideas out there! Instead of teaching clients, you could focus on providing a specific service. For example, you could clean homes in your neighborhood or provide organizing services to help people declutter on the weekends. Alternatively, you could become a pet sitter or dog walker. You could also write for local clients who need content!

Seek Funding

Even if you’re running a business out of your own home, and your startup costs will be minimal, you might still need additional funding to cover some of your expenses. After all, as a parent, it can be hard to draw money from your savings solely for business expenses.

You may want to apply for grants because if you win a grant, the money is yours – you don’t have to pay anything back! You can start looking into grants that you’re eligible for. For example, if you’re a female entrepreneur, there are all sorts of grants available to you, like the WomensNet Amber Grants and the Tory Burch Foundation Grant.

Choose Your Business Structure

You’ve chosen a business idea, you’ve started pursuing outside funding with grant applications, and now, you’re wondering if there is anything else you can do to set your company up for a bright financial future. This is a good time to register your business in the state. Many small business owners choose to incorporate with the LLC status. Pathway Lending states that the LLC structure protects your personal assets from business debts or claims, which can give you more financial security as a stay-at-home parent. No matter what business structure you choose, you’ll need to file the right paperwork according to the specific guidelines in the state of New Jersey.

Market Your Business

Marketing doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating! To let people know that you’re officially open for business, you’ll want to focus on local marketing efforts that will reach people in your area. If you want to target a local audience, WishPond recommends putting your company in local directories, creating a website and including the name of your area in your keywords for search engine optimization, and running hyperlocal social media ads – that way, you can be sure that your neighbors are seeing your marketing materials rather than a large, general audience who might not be nearby.

If you’re a stay-at-home parent, entrepreneurship is definitely within your reach. You just need to choose a business idea that suits your skillset! With these tips, you’ll be more than capable of finding a business idea that works for you and taking the necessary steps to offer your services.

Want to connect with other business owners in your area? Check out the directory from NJ Heartland! Browse our website today to start getting involved with your local business community.

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