Any self-employed single mums out there?

[24HrsNotEnough]

Last year I became a single mum of an 8 wk old baby and 2 yr old toddler, and so, naturally, I decided it was just the right time to jack in my 'good office job' and become my own boss (supposedly a cheaper, more flexible, family friendly alternative to going back to work..ha! Famous last words)

So, I'd be interested to hear from other single mums who are also self-employed so that we can share the peculiarities of being the boss on all fronts!

[babyface]

Hubby decided he 'just didn't want to be married any more' in the spring, so have been running a B&B and coping with 3 kids, 8, 5 and nearly 1 since. VERY tiring would be the best way of describing it! Would love a bit of contact with someone in a similar situation.

[mammya]

Hi, I'm a single parent, considering self-employment. I'm not working at the moment, getting income support, and I'm a bit scared about coming off benefits, especially housing benefit. I worry about not having a regular source of income. How do you self-employed single parents cope?

[Bugsy2]

mammya, haven't been on here for quite a long time but noticed your question. I have been working for myself for a year now. I really enjoy it (most of the time). I am a project manager/PA. I am entitled to working families tax credit & child tax credit. I don't know if I would be entitled to anything else as I haven't investigated but why don't you work out some potential earning scenarios and talk to someone at the benefits office.

[mammya]

Thanks for that Bugsy, I haven't taken the big step yet but am going to soon! I am going to arrange a meeting with my new deal adviser, apparently there is something called new deal for freelancers which needs investigating...

[codswallop]

what do you do?
and how do you do it?
respect

[Bugsy2]

I am a self-employed PA/project manager. I have two main clients. I work for one, 4 afternoons a week and the other 3 mornings a week. I am currently doing end of year accounts and desperately wishing I was PAYE, but most of the time it works very well for me.

[megandsoph]

hi,
I'm a single mum of two, and have been self employed for around 10 mths now and it is absolutley great, I made the desision to go self employed as a wedding consultant after being a recruitment consultant when me and my ex split I had a dilema ( scuse the spellin) with the agency where I worked, my youngest dd was sick one morning and as we know childminders are unable to look after ill children, I received a txt from her saying that had to pick wee one up, so I informed the branch manager and he blatently refused to let me go and get her, Tottally destressed I just walked out and yes you guess I got the boot, but I knew this was illegal as it's classed as time off for dependants.... so yup am self employed if the dd's are poorly I can just go and fetch them and rescedule my appointments. the flexability is fantastic and I could never go bk to working for someone else.... April should be good too as haven't made much since december but will get pennies bk for the loss made.. If anyone is considering going self employed talk to the businesslink they are great.

Megandsoph

[gugs]

hi i live in ireland and am thinking of starting a business in a retail shop for teenagers as i am a mum of two boys aged 16 and 4 yrs is there anyone in this type of business to give me some advice o this