Running own business and having a baby - Advice needed from other business owners!

[Saffra]

I am 6+1 weeks pregnant and have my own online business selling products. Business has been running for 18 months now and it's just me at the moment running it from home.

At the mo, although there is some flexibility, I work long hours to get everything done.

I'm worried about how I will cope in the future as the business is wholly dependant on me. Sales aren't high enough yet to employ anyone.

Will most likely use a childminder when old enough. But, really worried about how I will cope while the baby is newborn and very little.

Would love to hear any advice or suggestions from anyone that's been there.

Saffra
you need to slow down and not overplan.

Before I had DD, I, DH and everybody who knew me and worked with me assumed I would go back to work full time and use a chilminder to deal with the small loud thing.
To the amazement of all my focus changed totally within a week of her birth.
My ambition has transfered onto her and DS
I am quite content letting my business tick along, being DH's PA and enjoying watching my children grow up.

I know so many former professionals like myself who are still surprised that they never wanted to go back to the grind.
The hormones are amazing things.
Let them do what they do. If you fight them it may all end in tears.

You may still thrive on the hard slog, but be prepared for both options.

I think you need a nanny or childcare for your little one during the working hours. So if the baby cries, she can take him/her to another room. If you breastfeed you'd have to have someone take the calls when you breastfeed. Ideally get a nanny who doesn't mind answering the phone for you!

I can't see any other way round it. I have been volunteering and working since pregnancy but I don't make phone calls very often (I use email) so I can schedule them for quiet times. My baby never napped much or for long, so consider that! You might be lucky or not in the napping department.

I know somebody who had your predicament and she was manufacturing things too so she had to put a notice on website she couldn't take many orders, but if it's not an option for you, you need to hire somebody.

Saffra - realistically, I think you're going to need some time off. I appreciate that that's a scary thought, but if you get someone set up to cover the business for say - 12 weeks I think it will be less stressful in the long run.

You don't know yet what sort of a birth you'll have or how your baby will be. I don't want to sound negative, but if you've had no sleep and there's a baby screaming in the background, it will look a lot less professional that if someone is covering your work for a short time.

As a self-employed person, you can claim maternity allowance while you're not working.

FWIW, I took 4 months off when DD2 was born, and arranged cover. It might not have been perfect (you never think someone else is doing it exactly how you would!), but it was the best solution for me.

Thanks so much for the responses.... I can't tell you how helpful it is to dump what's in my brain and actually get some great advice back!

I still don't really know what I'm going to do yet (trying to loosely plan, whilst trying not to tie myself up in knots with it all). But, at least I feel I've narrowed options down a little bit since I started this thread.

As has been indicated, I realise that I will definitely need paid help - either with:

• childcare from day 1 (and not just from 4-6 months), or
• helper for the business

At this stage, taking emotional factors out of the equation, the key barrier is probably a financial one. I doubt I can afford a nanny or a 'proper' worker for the business, but then it's very hard to tell at this stage how finances will be at that time.

I gave up a fairly well paid job to launch the business, and have taken out loans, etc. to set it up. The business is doing well, but I've been pretty much ploughing all profits back into the business for growth, and only drawing a small salary. As I also mentioned, I am also buying my ex-partner out.

At the moment, my personal finances are very tight but just about manageable. But, there is no question that I will need to draw an income from the business, otherwise there would no way be enough to pay our basic bills.

So, the business definitely needs to continue. No question about this in my mind. I def will scale down marketing, so there will be lower outgoing costs for this. This, I guess, will help to cover the costs of bought in help.

Bramshott - lord, I would LOVE the luxury of 12 weeks off!!! But I just don't think this would be possible. The next best thing would be to hire someone really competent for 4 months to provide lots of assistance. Still, I really hate the idea of having a stranger around if I'm breast feeding. Idea kind of fills me with dread, but I guess it's the best practical option. Plus, there is that financial aspect. That said, I prefer the idea of someone helping with the business more than looking after the baby, as I would prefer to try and recuperate/enjoy the early months as much as possible.

BTW, you perhaps wouldn't think it, but this baby was planned!

I had spent the past 6 months agonising over whether to start TTC or not (mainly due to the business).

Thought I would have problems getting pregnant (had prev ectopic pg which resulted in one of my tubes being removed). Plus my age was a deciding factor.

But, managed to fall pg in 3 months.

Saffra, I've followed this thread with interest. I have similarities in my own situation - already have 2 kids under 3 (and a part time childminder). Would like a 3rd at some point, but don't know how I could ever step away from my business (which is currently going great guns), even for a month, I don't even take a holiday at all. I love what I do, but like you my situation is tricky. I don't think I could employ cover as I am my own brand sort of thing, my field actually sounds a little similar to yours.

Anyway, I thought, and sorry if someone has already mentioned this, what about an Au pair? if you the space? My sister has had about 4. and it worked out very well for her. And not too much ££.

I'm the same, Novascotia, I also have not taken a holiday since setting up the business. I haven't minded this too much TBH, but you do realise how dependent the business is on your day-to-day input when you start considering TTC!

During the time when I was agonising over the decision to start trying, I couldn't really reconcile the baby plans with the business ones. The two are inherently incompatible! But, I knew I would regret it if I left it too late, so in the end, I just decided to start trying and try and work around it when I did fall pregnant. I thought that at least I could in some way control the business, but fertility is something else.

How long have you been running your business? Do you produce your own designs? If you do, at least two of the designers that I work with have their pieces made by outworkers. Not sure if that is relevant or not? Of course, it very much depends on whether what you produce/sell is specialist.

Unfortunately no space for an au pair. But, thinking things through, I feel that I would actually prefer someone to help with the business rather than childcare and running everything with the business. Taking someone on is what I'd like to do at some point anyway, so perhaps a PT helper is the more logical choice (should finances allow at the time). And, would also be nice to have a holiday at some point!

Does anyone have any experience of employing a PT worker?

Concerned about legal/tax implications of this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Saffra, yes I'm a designer/maker. I cannot imagine outsourcing my work, but I guess it's an option. I'd have to factor it into the price point, and wonder how easy it would be to teach somebody how to do what I do. Not that I'm some kind of genius, I've just developed my own way of making my own designs and they are very particular to me.

It's a bit complicated, I set up my business, in New York when I lived there about 5 years ago, I did well, but then decided to move back to England to start a family, had two babies on the trot and really just let things barely tick over with the business, still using my agent in NY.

I recently relaunched myself at the beginning of this year. So I sort of feel it's still a very new business as it is in this country, I also took it in a bit of a different direction when I relaunched, reaching the customer directly, rather than through wholesale. PM me if you'd like to chat

Thanks Novascotia, it's so hard when you're at this stage, isn't it?

Yes totally, if one didn't love what one did, one could be a bit fed up

Novascotia-

Well, I hope you make the right decision for you and your family. I am fiercely protective over my brand and will find it very difficult to 'let go' of 100% control, which you inevitably need to when you grow anyway. So, that will be very 'interesting' to see how I cope with that!

Could you rope in one of your designers? They would know the products??

What about a placement from uni/college - someone looking for work experience in say admin/retail/internet type businesses?

I'm not sure about reducing your marketing budget though. Surely more marketing=more sales=more cash= 'can afford help'?

Do you have a business plan that you could take to the bank and ask for a small overdraft to help pay for help.

I'm in Scotland and one of my clients employ seasonal staff and get government grants to pay 6 months salary.

Hi Tracy

Thanks for posting... I haven't updated on this thread for a bit as I'm still having a big debate with myself over this whole issue.

The boutique stocks a number of designers/brands, who are mutually exclusive (they have nothing to do with each other at all. They don't sell under my brand. So, that wouldn't work at all, sadly.

The placement from uni/college is a possibility - perhaps something to think about. But, the more I have been mulling over things, the more I think I really need to plan for the medium term, rather than just the short term. Obviously, that means more upfront investment, so I do need to consider the risk aspect of that carefully.

Re: marketing, yes, I think you're probably right. But, with online retail, it tends to be that marketing investment is always the highest in the initial phase, because you're operating from a standing start. If I employ someone properly, then I will def need strong sales to support the extra overhead. Realistically, I would need to signficiantly increase sales (e.g. maybe double??) by the time the baby arrives to be comfortable really (not impossible, but not certain, of course).

So, I guess it depends on whether I'm 'making do' while the baby is newborn - or what!

I have an overdraft facility already, purely as a buffer. Don't really like the idea of using this to pay salaries (would be so close to the bone if I did have to - business v reliant on good cashflow).

The Scottish grants thing sounds interesting - not sure if such a thing exists in England - will need to look.

I think you are right in planning for at least medium - or even long term. ime kids get more demanding as they get older - not less!

What are your core hours of 'personal' contact availability? Can you reduce them at the start and end of day to be email only? Then perhaps you'd only need a p/t person?

Can you diversify in the winter/quiet season to keep up cashflow?

What does your business plan look like adding in a p/t salary?

At the moment, I'm available by phone and email from 9-5.30pm, M-F. My working hours vary from day-to-day. I'm no longer working 12 hours a day, as I was at the start!

Can't change it to email only, but can encourage customers to email instead of phoning. But, still, some customers prefer phoning, esp when what they want to ask is urgent. And, there's quite a lot of urgent enquiries, especially in the summer months.

I have since got quotes from outsourced tel answering/order companies, but there will be a proportion of these that will need to be called back within a reasonable timeframe (e.g. 3-4 hours). I think, TBH, I should really have someone PT who can deal with these queries. Other types of calls are of a more urgent nature, e.g. press enquiries. I really need to be on hand to be able to respond to these, or at least be able to tell someone exactly what to say and do, for them to respond in a timely manner (for a while at least). Not looking to outsource PR at this time, as actually see that as more work.

Re: business plan.... looks fine with PT salary as long as I meet my (pretty ambitious) turnover targets. PT is what I'm looking for, not FT. But, would be hard to afford if no growth at all from current levels. TBH, this is my problem with planning, it's really hard to gauge what monthly sales will be when the baby arrives. I think if the business had been running for 3 years, I would be able to see more established patterns. Like, this month, sales will be double last month's. This is great, but isn't anything last years!

Have thought about diversification before, but think it's a bit early. I don't want to dilute the brand at this stage by going too diverse. Then, to set up a new business would mean the long days at the start (and investment, etc.) which I definitely don't want to do.

To be fair,I think it's q good timing that it'll be quieter when baby arrives. At least there will be time for the new person to bed in, and I don't need to worry so much.

Apologies for what seems like a really long post... but it's really good to get it out of my head. It's driving me just a bit crazy!

Yesterday, I also emailed my accountant to find out costs of adding someone else to PAYE. I might also speak to Business Link (or Federation of Small Businesses?) to find out a bit more about employing. Would be nervous about employing someone - because of employment law considerations, etc.

Yesterday, I also emailed my accountant to find out costs of adding someone else to PAYE. I might also speak to Business Link (or Federation of Small Businesses?) to find out a bit more about employing. Would be nervous about employing someone - because of employment law considerations, etc.

Also, still a bit about having a stranger (at first at least) in the home.

Would a natural progression/diversification not be evening hire? Is it not the same type of thing - dinners/events and weddings? Kind of the same jewellery/accessories?

I guess you have got the summer to find someone and work with them and really get to know them before letting them into your house.

Do you have garden space that you could build a home office out there?

If I was the customer - I don't think I'd be too surprised not to be able to speak to anyone till 10am or after 5pm. Esp in your kind of industry. More and more shops don't open till 10am nowadays.

It will cost you salary plus employers NI - bout 12%? I think. Plus holiday and sick pay entitlement.

I put my ds into part time nursery at 16 weeks old and he loved it. Plan some time for finding a great nursery too - you might have to put your name on a waiting list. I found - even when ds was sleeping - I couldn't really concentrate on work 100%. Sods law he'd sleep through a quiet phone - only to wake half way through a phone convo!

No, definitely wouldn't work with evening hire - that would be incredibly complicated, with insurance/delicate products/recovery of products/deposits. There's companies that do that at the moment, and their marketing is all geared up for that TBH. My marketing works because it's targeted in my campaigns and SEO, etc. It wouldn't really work to have a secondary message. I did think about promoting for Xmas balls etc. last year, but when i did my research, I didn't find that it really stacked up.

Re: hours... I don't think making the hours only at start and end would work very well. It's probably hard to understand unless you saw the website. Again, it's a long term view that I'm adopting on this - customer, not personal convenience. Obviously that's an easier statement to make at the moment, but, like I say, I want to think longer term. If this was a lifestyle business, I wouldn't have made so many sacrificies. Perhaps my feelings will change when LO arrives - who knows! Hopefully, just maybe, I can engineer the two to work together in some way!

Did you start looking at nurseries before your ds was born? How many hours was he in for initially?

I was in a small (ish) village when ds was born. So being the 1st one - didn't realise about waiting lists!

I put his name on the list just after he was born - knowing I wanted him to start at 4 months.

They said I couldn't get a full time place till he was bout 9 months. But I was happy to take the couple of hours a week that they had available (I think 1 morning sess and 1 afternoon sess). Once I had my 'foot in the door' when hours became available - I was offered them first. His hours increased piecemeal till he eventually got 5 mornings a week. I could drop him off at 8.30 am - pick him up at 1 - and he'd fall asleep on way home in car - and stay asleep for 2 hours. So it gave me quite a long stretch to work.

Re hours - I meant - only be available to speak directly 10am - 5pm.

Thanks Tracy, that's a good point about waiting lists. Fortunately, there's a few in this area - so will starting putting the feelers out once pg is common knowledge. No doubt the best ones are likely to have waiting lists. Have my dating scan in 3 weeks when I'll be 13 weeks. Planning to announce pg then - v excited .

oooh - it's an exciting time - though like me (I found out pg at 5 weeks) - its a looooooooong pregnancy! I wished I'd been none the wiser till about 5 months gone!

Its amazing how much your social contacts will evolve with new situations. You may even find your p/t, right hand woman (or man!) when you start doing baby type things!

Pity you aren't in Scotland - I could recommend a few excellent candidates.

I know, I know - tell me about it! I've actually had three early scans already, but the wait between each seems so, so long. The last one was amazing as I saw the heartbeat. I actually said the word 'wow' out loud in awe.

Yes - looking forward to widening my circle as can be quite isolating working by yourself. Perhaps the timing is absolutely right for me and for the business [blind optimism emoticon] - as taking someone one is what I want to do at some stage anyway. Well, all of this is focusing my mind, that's for sure!!

All things happen for a reason. You could still be 'thinking' of taking someone on in 5 years time and not just getting round to it.

You need to sort it out now - and you have lots of incentive to push you forward.