How to break into 'mompreneurship'

Thinking about mompreneurship? It's an increasingly popular choice, says Patricia Cobe, who trademarked the term "mompreneur" with Ellen H. Parlapiano. Cobe and Parlapiano are the founders of mompreneursonline.com, and they wrote "Mompreneurs: A Mother's Practical Step-by-Step Guide to Work-at-Home Success" (Perigree, 1996), and "Mompreneurs Online: Using the Internet to Build WorkHome Success" (Perigree, 2001).

"Technology makes it so much easier to run a business from home than it was even five years ago," Cobe says by e-mail from Scarsdale, N.Y. "It's easy and inexpensive to set up your own Web site, do e-mail blasts to attract clients and customers and run a business on the go."

Young mothers today want something a little different from the previous generation, she says.

"This generation of women who are in their 20s and 30s grew up when a lot of moms went into the workforce and had to work in offices away from home," she says. "They do not want the same thing for their kids. They want to be around them more. Plus, they are well-educated and have worked before they had kids, so they have skills and talents that can be applied to a home business."

Cobe offers tips to consider before getting started, and some challenges that might arise.

-- Before you leave your 9-to-5:

1. Tap your skills and talents to find a home-business idea. If you find something you're passionate about, the transition will be smoother and you'll be more motivated to become successful.

2. Write a business plan. Even a simple mission statement saying "This is my business idea and goals" is better than nothing.

3. Set up "office hours." Have a set schedule or devote a few hours a day to your business.

4. Have a nest egg of six months' savings to get your business up and running. It takes awhile to start bringing in money.

5. Network! Keep a list of contacts you've made in the 9-to-5 world. Join professional organizations so you can attend conferences or face-to-face events in your field. Get involved in online communities, where you'll find advice, support and exchanges of ideas.

-- Expect a few challenges.

1. Don't think you can do it entirely without child care. You can't rely on baby's nap schedule or work after the kids go to sleep. Part-time child care, even if it's once a week for a few hours, will help you make phone calls or set up out-of-home meetings. Once younger kids are in school, you can work around that schedule.

2. Convince family and friends that you really are working, even though you're doing so from home. Some people assume you don't have a "real" job when your office is in your home.

3. Your "salary" will probably be much less than it was when you worked outside the home. Although there are benefits of flexible schedules, you can't expect to make as much money at first.