Do you find that you have more time on your hands now that the kids spend more time at school during the daytime? Have you considered going back to work on a full or part-time basis?
You are not alone. According to a study by Pew Research Center, around 11 million parents in the USA stay at home taking care of their children. The study goes on to say that a growing share of stay-at-home fathers say they are home specifically to care for their home or family, suggesting that changing gender roles may be at play.
It may be time to think of a new path for you to follow. Ever wondered if you can have an online business that gives you time and flexibility freedoms? You get to be present for your family, and at the same time, you fulfil your calling to serve others with your business. Working for myself at home is an opportunity to do something new, earn income, and maintain a flexible daily schedule.
Then, my friend, you should consider starting Online Business. It is, in my opinion, amongst the best business models. If this, is you then this article is for you. This article will illuminate the benefits of owning an online business, dispel the common misconceptions associated with starting an online business and guide you on the tools you need to get started.
Why Is an Online Business Model Good for You?
Being at home with the kids is a rewarding experience. It is a privilege to raise them and pass on our values to them. I, for one, do not take it for granted.
Isn’t it incredible when you look back at the photos of the kids taken a few months earlier and see the difference in their appearance, knowledge levels and skills? How fast they blossom. I know if you are like me, you value the progress you see your children making.
Parents who decide to put aside their careers to raise their children are best suited to pursue this online business model. In a previous blog, I discussed the unique challenges we face. I advocate for you to work from home because you are free to set your own schedule.
I realized that I still needed to be with my children and that I needed a business model that allowed me the greatest opportunity to serve others and be truly present for my family. And now, with my business, I get to do both.
I realized that I still needed to be with my children and that I needed a business model that allowed me the greatest opportunity to serve others and be truly present for my family
It is 5:50 in the morning as I write this blog, the house is quiet, and I can really focus on writing. In a little while, everything will turn topsy turvy, with demands for breakfast, missing shoes, packing lunches, missing water bottles.
I forgot to mention that having a company is also a good source of extra and much-needed income for your family. This additional income will help the family with college fees, a mortgage down payment, and possibly a holiday.
Selling products and services on the internet has become the most significant entrepreneurial business opportunity of the 21st century.
The benefits of starting an online company of your own far outweigh having a fixed schedule and having to ‘ask’ for permission to be away from your desk to attend your child’s end of year class presentation.
I hope I am not painting a rosy picture here. Making money ethically online is not easy, but it is possible. I can tell you it takes a lot of humility to learn new concepts and a growth mindset to continue learning as your business grows.
Common Misconceptions About Starting an Online Business
Starting An Online Business by Yourself Is Difficult
That is a false belief and a limiting mindset. Technology has made it so simple for anyone to set up a website. I build my own websites, and I am a true non-techy. I know you are smart enough to figure this out. If you go to YouTube, you will find a plethora of website tutorials on ‘How to build a website for non-technical people,’
Granted that the website alone is not the business but the frame the houses your business. The rest involves you spending some time evaluating your strengths and how you can turn these into business opportunities. The Parent who Biz Framework takes you by hand and guides you through each online business creation step.
It is not difficult, but you need to commit to it, like everything else in life.
Buying A Domain Name and Hosting Is Hard
The truth is if you can buy stuff online, then it is true to say that you can also buy a Domain name and hosting. Most Hosting companies also offer Domain names. The whole process should take less than 10 minutes.
Do not look for a reason not to start, instead have a mindset that pushes you to explore new things and learn how to do them.
PS: You may get addicted to buying Domain names!
I Am Not an Entrepreneur, How Can I Start an Online Business?
The fact that you are looking at ways to develop yourself shows that you have an entrepreneurial spirit.
No one is born an entrepreneur. Most of us learn along the way. If you adopt a growth mindset, you too will acquire this knowledge.
Make a commitment to look for content that helps you build your entrepreneurial knowledge, and over time you will sharpen your entrepreneurial muscles and even become a serial entrepreneur.
How Can I Become an Entrepreneur and I Do Not Have a Business Idea?
The biggest misconception around entrepreneurship is the limiting belief that you have to create something new out of this world. The idea that you need a novel new innovative idea to start a business is, in short – Wrong.
The goal of an entrepreneur is not to come up with new ideas every time, but rather to satisfy existing needs by offering better value, service or quality with the aim of doing so at a profit.
There is a way to come up with ideas for a potential online business. The key to success is to deliver your product in a format that is easy to consume and to people who are willing and able to buy it.
You Need A lot of Capital to Get Started
You do not need a lot of capital to get started; this is false. The cost of a domain name and hosting is less than $100/ year. You just have to research which platform works well for you.
You could also go the route of hosting your business on WIX for free. You can see more options for affordable Webhosting here.
In a previous blog, we saw how Walt Disney lost his first cartoon character Oswald the Rabbit because he did not have the rights. I would encourage you to own the rights to your website. You are, after all, starting a business!
What Are the Benefits of Having an Online Business?
I have alluded to some in the previous section.
The ability to schedule my work around the children is a winner for me. I enjoy the ability to pick and drop them at school, take them to after school activities, even if it means that I have to drive across town several times a week.
I honestly enjoy opening up their worldview to the endless possibilities that exist for them if they are willing to grab hold of them. Yet, I enjoy encouraging other parents like me to start an online business at the same time. It’s my calling to make entrepreneurs out of you.
Let’s keep things in perspective. You will be starting a business. The very premise of a company is that there is an exchange of value between two parties. You deliver a product (actual physical product or service), and the other party pays for it with money.
You will have to work to earn your money in the limited amount of time that you have. You are not salaried (fixed income). Your revenue will fluctuate, and this is normal for any business model. At Hippos to Horses Marketing, we follow the ‘Parents who Biz’ framework.
Parents Who Biz Framework: The Basic Premise
The framework moves you along three value-creation stages:
Stage 1: Create value within – You are a treasure trove, and perhaps you do not know that!
Stage 2: Transfer this Value – Once you discover your unique value, it is time to transport it to others online.
Stage 3: Scale the Value- Make this Value available to a larger audience – grow your business.
Multiple Streams of Passive Income
The idea is for you to enter into a passive income system. Passive income is a system that allows you not to trade dollars for your time. You can create a product, e.g., an e-Book and sell it on a platform such as Amazon. You do not have to show up to make a sale every time someone wants to buy your product. Your product is available 24hours a day for 365 days a year. There are other income streams that you can incorporate into your business, affiliate marketing, monetize your blog, sell tangible products, run ads on your YouTube channels.
Alignment of values
The Parents who Biz framework encourages you to align your individual values to your business. If an opportunity came up, that would pull you away from your family when they need you. Then you would not have to suffer from decision fatigue; you know what is essential to you.
Systematize As Many Processes as Possible in Your Online Business
Just like managing the household requires you to develop systems, running your online business will require the same skills. A system is a process (series of small steps) made explicit and repeatable.
The primary benefit of creating a System is that you can make consistent improvements in your company.
The primary benefit of creating a System is that you can make consistent improvements in your company.
Creating systems may feel like extra work, but they ultimately make your job easier, specifically as your online business starts to grow.
Work anywhere, anytime on anything (Smartphone, Tablet, Laptop, Pen and Paper)
The other benefit is the ability to work from any location, anytime you like. You can plan your day to use your waiting times to update your business social media accounts. I was intentional with the word ‘waiting time’. When you are with the children, you must be present and available both physically and mentally.
How To Get Started with Your Online Business as a Non-Techy
Starting an Online business is much easier today than it was a couple of years ago. Advances in technology are making it possible for non-techy people like me to build a website in a matter of hours.
Quick Steps to Get You Started
Step 1:The first thing you need is a Brand name, you have the option to use your personal name, or you can choose any name that will reflect your business (individual) values.
Step 2: Get a Domain Name and Website Hosting—[affiliate links][1]. Our Domain Name is https://www.hippostohorses.com, and DreamHost[2] hosts the website. As always, do your research and see which company you would like to partner with as you start your online business.
Step 3:Install WordPress:-a free and open-source content management system (CMS).WordPress is software that you can download and install on your own webserver to create a website.
Step 4:Install a theme: – This is a layout of the look and feel of your website. I am currently enjoying the Astra theme. Go for the free themes. We want to keep costs as low as possible.
Step 5:Install the necessary plugins to optimize the functionality of your website.
Done! You are good to go.
9 Essential Online Tools Every Entrepreneur Needs to Get Started
MarTech is the group of digital tools you use to help enhance your digital marketing strategies, simplify your work process, and automate processes. Every online business will need to use MarTech to improve efficiency. Automation will be a game-changer for you as a Parent who Biz.
When you’re just starting out, your primary focus should be on building your platform, creating consistent content for your target market and growing your email list.
The tools below will help you get started in the right direction, even on a tight budget.
As a beginner, you will need the following tools
- EMAIL SERVICE PROVIDER: Email Marketing will form a big part of your growth strategy as an online business owner. I would recommend that you start with the ones that give you free services to use and see if they work for your business. I would recommend Mailchimp (I started off with this) and Convertkit(currently using it, and No, I am not at this moment an affiliate )
- SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS: As an online business owner, this will be your chance to engage with your target customers. It is the place that they get to experience your personality. It is one of the ways online entrepreneurs build trust and connect with their audience—the major social media platforms are FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter etc.
- SOCIAL MEDIA AUTOMATION TOOLS: Social media can feel overwhelming, and knowing you should be posting daily can feel like a total drag. The most common social media tools are PLANN, Planoly,MeetEdgar, Tailwind, LATER. You are smart enough to do your research and select the app that works best for you. I use social media scheduling programs because they fit well with my batch working system. I can sit down and plan out weeks’ worth of content all at once and know that they will be shared with my audience without me having to push a button
- CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: At Hippos to Horses Marketing, we use org. There are other systems that you could explore as well
- DOMAIN NAME: You can google to see which Domain name provider you want to use. Most domain providers also provide web hosting. As technology advances, the cost of getting a domain name is becoming cheaper. We are now buying Domain names from Hover —[affiliate links][3]. I told you it could get addictive.
- WEBSITE HOSTING: If you’re starting from the beginning, I recommend creating a website with org and hosting it with DreamHost. —[affiliate links][4]. It’s an effective and affordable way to make sure your site is always up and running.
- CANVA: Canva is the ultimate design tool for non-designers. It’s user-friendly, and the free version gives you access to most features. Use Canva to create shareable social media images, cover photos, even video thumbnails. In no time, you’ll be on your way to building a memorable online brand.
- GOOGLE DRIVE: Accessible from anywhere with the internet, Google Drive is a great collaborative tool for teams to use when you’re working with content, files, or images in tandem.
- DROPBOX: In my opinion, the key to minimizing stress in business is staying organized. Dropbox is where I store and systematize my files so that everything has a “home.” You can start using this tool for free and upgrade as your library of digital assets grows.
Conclusion
Starting and building your online business will give you the flexibility to be with your family and still create a company of your own. The ability to be present as a Parent and as an entrepreneur is priceless.
There will be challenges along the way, and at times you will get discouraged – you will have an opportunity to build your perseverance and resilience muscles.
The Online Business I advocate is not the one that makes a killing, but one that you can make a living . None of the 3 steps to 7 figures income in 2 hours’.’ in here. You will have to put in the time and effort to build something of value that delivers value to others.
What does an extra $1000 a month mean for you and your family? Is it the down payment for your dream house? College funds, paying off the college loans? Piano classes for the children? Forget the money, why should you not share your creativity with the world, why should you live the rest of your life putting your light under the bed. Make this your moment because you are a gem, and the world needs your sparkle.
why should you live the rest of your life putting your light under the bed. Make this your moment because you are a gem, and the world needs your sparkle.
The beauty of choosing an online business model is the flexibility and the ability to create something of your own. You also have the privilege to leave a legacy for your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren…
I have created a FREE downloadable Guide for you to Kickstart your entrepreneurial journey. Click Here to download. Start now to Build your Dream Online Business.
[1] This is an affiliate link; I will get a small commission at no cost to you.
[2] This is an affiliate link; I will get a small commission at no cost to you.
[3] This is an affiliate link; I will get a small commission at no cost to you.
[4] This is an affiliate link; I will get a small commission at no cost to you.