Maternity Pay for Mumtrepreneurs

[Sjarvis]

Hi there! I'm Sophie from the Make It Your Business team.

Any queries, questions or comments around maternity pay for mums setting up a business, please post here!

How would maternity pay/allowance work once self employed?

Do you think 'mumtrepreneurs' or 'mumpreneurs' is sort of demeaning and unneccessary?

Why not business woman or small business owner? Just wondering.

Hi Gigi!

As a self-employed mum you get £140 pounds a week in statutory pay.

Some mothers who are entrepreneurs sometimes change themselves to director of their company so they can claim 90% of salary from the government. You get about 92% of that back from the gov after footing that expense upfront initially.

There is currently a debate in parliament to change this so it's more in line with employees rights.

Check out the gov.uk website for more details.

Hope that helps!

Hi Leatherboundanddown,

No I think it's a pretty accurate description of what a mother who is an entrepreneur is. It's never caused offence before when I've used it but I can understand why people may take offence. For example, you don't have Dadtrepreneur. Is that where you're coming from?

Sophie

I’m conflicted. Living on maternity allowance as a self employed woman was tough. But on the other hand I am self employed by choice and do not want to be treated like an employee.
I worry if we campaign for SMP or sick pay or any other benefit of employment we’ll end up giving hmrc a reason to ask for income tax deducted at source like ir35 people and I do not support that.

I find "mumtrepreneurs " extremely patronising. "No I think it's a pretty accurate description of what a mother who is an entrepreneur is." No it isn't and maybe check your grammar.

Mumtrepreneurs......seriously?! Very patronising.

I think Leather is right - there’s an image associated with ‘mumpreneur’ that people don’t take seriously. I’m not an ‘mumployee’, and I think women (who happen to be mothers) who run businesses or work freelance need to be called something that promotes a positive image.

Because the term ‘business-woman’ doesn’t convey a sufficient level of bullshit about running a business and being a female parent

Yes Sophie that is exactly what I mean. There is no term dadpreneur. Funnily enough they are just called entrepreneurs.

Also, 'mumpreneurs' tend to set up their own businesses after they have had their children therefore mat leave. Otherwise they wouldn't be 'mumpreneurs' would they, if they had not had children yet.

Why is maternity leave advice different for 'mumpreneurs' than it would be for 'self employed workers'?