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Original poster

Sahm who would love to set up a little business ideas please.

210 replies

Somersby12 · 07/12/2023 00:58

I am a very happy sahm & I need to be due go dhs irregular work pattern which involves being on call /needing to leave the country at the last minute etc.. So I obviously need to be here for the dc.
I would love to set up a small enterprise to keep myself busy & for the extra income for myself. Would love some ideas & I am absolutely not in any way crafty. Non crafty ideas would be most welcome

OP posts:
margotrose · 08/12/2023 08:20

How can you pet sit with small children? Most animals need visits early morning and in the evenings (this is my business).

You won't be able to provide overnight care or have animals at your home so you'll need to be available at all sorts of odd times.

Original poster
Somersby12 · 08/12/2023 08:25

margotrose · 08/12/2023 08:20

How can you pet sit with small children? Most animals need visits early morning and in the evenings (this is my business).

You won't be able to provide overnight care or have animals at your home so you'll need to be available at all sorts of odd times.

OK that's out then.

OP posts:
Whinge · 08/12/2023 08:26

margotrose · 08/12/2023 08:20

How can you pet sit with small children? Most animals need visits early morning and in the evenings (this is my business).

You won't be able to provide overnight care or have animals at your home so you'll need to be available at all sorts of odd times.

It does feel like OP is being very dismissive of those who actually work in these sort of jobs. Running your own business takes a huge amount of work and it really isn't something you can just pick and choose to do when you have time to spare.

Waitingfordoggo · 08/12/2023 08:31

Sorry if it’s already been suggested (I haven’t read every reply) but was going to suggest lunch time supervisor in a school. I know you’ve asked about home businesses but assuming your children are at school, you could work in a school for two hours a day as lunch supervisor. Min wage but should earn about £100 pw.

Original poster
Somersby12 · 08/12/2023 08:31

I'm not being dismissive! I came on here to look for ideas to earn extra cash. I don't know of anyone who works in these industries so I'm not aware of the structure or time constraints of such businesses.
This thread has been very informative & I can tell from the replies what won't work with my own commitments.

OP posts:
SD1978 · 08/12/2023 08:32

When the term 'side hustle' dies I will be pleased. If you want to work from home there are very few businesses that will make you much money with minimum effort. You need to have a talent, skill, equipment, appropriate tax or certificates, etc. have a look at online PA's or sometimes online medical secretaries typing up notes- although that depends on your typing speed. Most people who work from home in these 'side hustles' earn fuck all for the effort.

monsteramunch · 08/12/2023 08:32

OP running your own business is really tough even with experience and contacts. Expecting to be earn £500 a month within the first few months (at least) is a bloody big ask.

I definitely think that some work through an existing business/ agency is far more likely to help you earn money than going it alone.

And as a previous poster says, you need to really consider the other benefits of joining the workforce, even if part time, as financially you're in a very vulnerable position should your husband get ill, or worse, or if you break up.

dottiedodah · 08/12/2023 08:33

Child minding was always a popular option .However you now need to register and go on a course I think .Good if you like children. I think the idea of a "little business" you can run from home is attractive ,however not always as easy as it sounds! There has been a £10.00 a day thread here maybe worth looking at?

CharityShopChic · 08/12/2023 08:44

I also agree that it can be difficult to get going, and even when you do get going, earnings are erratic. I know from experience that for me, December and August are very quiet. It's fine if you go into it thinking that anything you earn is extra, but it's much harder if you are relying on bringing in a regular income.

LookAtThatCritter · 08/12/2023 08:49

I would suggest bookkeeping but it does require a lot of study and experience working under someone else before taking your own clients, so may not be the best in your situation for right now.

Babysitting, housesitting or pet sitting probably would be the best shout.

Market research studies could be a good flexible earner too.

JFDIYOLO · 08/12/2023 08:59

Do it!!!!!

Independence, self worth, keeping skills fresh, making money, savings, pension ...

Yes!

What to do?

There are loads out there offering free Facebook challenges, downloads, advice, etc - your email address is the price you pay for these. I learned a LOT. Lisa Johnson of That Strategy Group is a good one.

Get a notebook and write out everything:
You love to do
Are great at
Have training and qualifications in
Have succeeded in helping yourself with
Have succeeded in helping others with
Problems you've solved that others would love help with

Doesn't have to be businessy - can be home, personal development, parenting, pets, health, fashion - anything that ticks some of those first boxes.

Who can you help? What's your niche? Other SAHMs? Dog owners? Who?

What's their biggest problem? What do you know, have learned, got good at etc that could help?

What's your kit like - do you have laptop? You can do one hour 1-1 / 1-lots coaching on your subject to your audience
(A ring light and a nice mic and webcam are all good but not essential)

You're going to love this journey!

Original poster
Somersby12 · 08/12/2023 09:04

dottiedodah · 08/12/2023 08:33

Child minding was always a popular option .However you now need to register and go on a course I think .Good if you like children. I think the idea of a "little business" you can run from home is attractive ,however not always as easy as it sounds! There has been a £10.00 a day thread here maybe worth looking at?

To be completely honest I love & adore my own children but really wouldn't want to work with them! Sorry but it's how I feel personally. I have great respect for all the childminders, nursery staff, carers & teachers but it just wouldn't be for me.

OP posts:
margotrose · 08/12/2023 09:17

I think a side hustle that fits your criteria and qualifications is a pipe dream, to be honest.

While it can be possible to run a successful business part-time, it takes a lot of hours and dedication to get to that point. I earn 2k a month working 20-25 hours a week now but it's taken four years, long years and lots of antisocial hours to get to that point.

margotrose · 08/12/2023 09:18

margotrose · 08/12/2023 09:17

I think a side hustle that fits your criteria and qualifications is a pipe dream, to be honest.

While it can be possible to run a successful business part-time, it takes a lot of hours and dedication to get to that point. I earn 2k a month working 20-25 hours a week now but it's taken four years, long years and lots of antisocial hours to get to that point.

Sorry, that should be four years and long days!

Picklemeyellow · 08/12/2023 09:19

I run my own home help business and it’s hard work (constantly flitting from one area to another and stuck in traffic half the time!).
I’m lucky that my dc are teens and don’t need me at home but if you have young dc and a dh who has unpredictable hours then I wouldn’t advise this whilst your dc are little.

holidaylistmania · 08/12/2023 09:22

How about a dinner lady or lunch supervisor type role in a school? Would fit around your children and all holidays off with them etc.

SpringingJoy · 08/12/2023 09:32

If you want to work from home there are very few businesses that will make you much money with minimum effort. You need to have a talent, skill, equipment, appropriate tax or certificates, etc. have a look at online PA's or sometimes online medical secretaries typing up notes- although that depends on your typing speed. Most people who work from home in these 'side hustles' earn fuck all for the effort

Totally agree with this.

People who have 'genuine' side businesses or work usually have to put a lot of effort in and already have known they're good at whatever it is.

Scrolling or surveying for 'side hustle ideas' will have you joining an mlm or making wax melts and selling them for pennies or similar, which are (for most people) usually pointless endeavours.

The only 'side hustle' that I've done that genuinely, fairly easily made me quite a lot of money was matched betting. After reading about it for a week or so I jumped in and worked it for about five months, during which time I made about £6k. But the vast majority of that was in months 3-4. After that I got gubbed from everywhere and it became VERY hard work so I gave it up. Great for a one off cash hit though.

CharityShopChic · 08/12/2023 09:42

Also agree that the people who are making a success of a home business are people who have some sort of "skill" which they can sell to others, whether that be accounting, writing, something art/crafty, specialist legal knowledge or whatever. OP readily admits she has no degree or specialist knowledge, no experience in anything other than retail, and no craft/art ability. That is a problem.

Maybe OP you would be better spending the time doing some training, there are lots of free courses out there.

Caspianberg · 08/12/2023 10:12

I think pet sitting could work for some people. We always get a live in sitter as have space and cat likes company. But tbh it’s a bit of a luxury and tbh our cat is really independent and only really needs someone max once a day to check his dry food auto feeder is working ok, top up water, and check he’s ok. So that would be fine between 9-2pm.

Many people with dogs aren’t away, just at work, so want dog Walker to come midday for walk and company. If you found maybe 2-3 small dogs locally that needed walking weekdays it would be fairly profitable on a small scale.

LaurieStrode · 08/12/2023 10:32

Caspianberg · 08/12/2023 10:12

I think pet sitting could work for some people. We always get a live in sitter as have space and cat likes company. But tbh it’s a bit of a luxury and tbh our cat is really independent and only really needs someone max once a day to check his dry food auto feeder is working ok, top up water, and check he’s ok. So that would be fine between 9-2pm.

Many people with dogs aren’t away, just at work, so want dog Walker to come midday for walk and company. If you found maybe 2-3 small dogs locally that needed walking weekdays it would be fairly profitable on a small scale.

My dog walker in 2019 (before people started wfh) recorded more than 2,400 visits / walks in that single year. She had primary age kids at the time. She charges 15-20 quid per visit or 30-minute walk.

I think things have rebounded now.
Her husband has a good government job but her earnings pay for kids sport,holidays, home reno. She loves it but she is a hard worker.

Moltenpink · 08/12/2023 10:39

How about setting up a local slimming world group if there aren’t any close by?

Hiring a church hall or similar for regular clothes swap events? (Profit by charging an entry fee)

Where I live, we are so desperate for care staff that you can completely call the shots on your working hours, even if it’s 4 hrs in the middle of the day, term time only

AnonyLonnymouse · 08/12/2023 11:09

There is also smaller pet care, where the timing of each visit is far less crucial. Or you could have smaller pets to stay with you? I have seen people online who run a sort of guinea-pig boarding house 😁 with lots of separate areas in an insulated shed!

margotrose · 08/12/2023 11:19

Many people with dogs aren’t away, just at work, so want dog Walker to come midday for walk and company. If you found maybe 2-3 small dogs locally that needed walking weekdays it would be fairly profitable on a small scale.

What happens during school holidays or when OP has a child off school sick?

I'm a dog walker and you need to be reliable and available - you can't just do it term time or your customers will just go to someone else. I speak from experience (as the dog walker who took on loads of new dogs because the other walker wasn't available half the year).

margotrose · 08/12/2023 11:20

AnonyLonnymouse · 08/12/2023 11:09

There is also smaller pet care, where the timing of each visit is far less crucial. Or you could have smaller pets to stay with you? I have seen people online who run a sort of guinea-pig boarding house 😁 with lots of separate areas in an insulated shed!

But again, what happens when OP has sick kids and her husband is away and she can't leave the house?

AnonyLonnymouse · 08/12/2023 11:27

True, I had forgotten about the DH working away. Maybe a visiting model wouldn’t work and it has to be something that she can do from home.