I've come up with a good business idea, now I need practical advice on how to balance that with childcare

[Wills]

Ever since giving up my job 18 months ago I've been looking around to find a business/job that I can do that wont affect my children yet pay off the mortgate (I'm really desperate to pay off the mortgage). After 6 months of idealistic hoping I realised that this was impossible and lowered my expectations. I've thought of/seen a business opportunity that not only do I think I would enjoy (far better than working in the city) but that would also allow me to contribute to paying off the mortgage. But I need some ideas on how I can balance the job with the kids (3 kids ages 7, 3 and just 1). I don't mind us all putting up with something in the short term but in the long term they need me so I need solutions in the short term and solutions that are more practical once I'm up and running.

So.... My idea.

My daughter's best friend's mother runs a dance school in an old church. She utilises approximately 1/10 of the space available. Mothers turn up and sit with their other children whilst the dancing child has their lesson. My idea would be to open a cafe. I've always hankered with the idea of opening a cafe but have always wanted one where the kids could run around rather than being restrained as they would have to be in a shop. The dance school owner thinks my idea is fabulous and wants to go for the lease of the downstairs of the property thereby a) doubling up the number of dancers (and their carers) and b) sort of becoming a joint owner (although I would own the cafe and she would own the dance school). The downsides of this is that the school runs from 4.30 to 9.30 Monday to Friday and 9.00am 6.00pm on Saturday. From 4.30 to 7.30 (when dh gets home) I need to find a way in the short term of looking after my kids during this slot. (dh commutes 4.5 hours a day so he's definitely out of the equation) I would employ from the outset someone else to help me with the cafe as I can't see myself handling the number of customers (there's a reasonably large turnaround of mums (about 20 every hour). However I'd hope that I'd find someone that I could trust in this time so that in the longer term I can leave this person to set up and start things whilst I continue to look after my kids and I would join them about 7.30 to help out from that point onwards. The upside of this job is that I would be there for all school holidays and for my 1 year old son during the day. Once my 1 year old son starts school in 3.5 years I plan to open during the day as I will be well known by then as a good chillout place that's not quite as loud and noisey as a ball park.

I don't doubt that the business could be successful (there's too many mum's sitting there desperate for a cuppa) what I'm concerned about is how I can juggle my family to ensure that they don't loose out, that the business works and that I don't burn out.

So... Any ideas?

The next bit is background information in case you're curious as to why I'm so desperate to pay off the mortgage and why my dh commutes such long distances.

Dh has cancer. But please no sympathy as that's not why I started this thread. At his behest we moved the entire family to live a better life. He loves living here and doesn't regret the commute whatsoever. However a) I miss my husband and b) we have no life insurance so should he die (and that's not in the equation at the moment just a risk that might or might not happen in the future) we will loose the house. I don't want to loose my dh and my home and my children's home in the same second. Whilst he doesn't worry about the mortgage (because he's confident he'll die of old age only) it is a worry of mine.

Is there another Mum/friend that you could go into partnership with and run the whole cafe venture together as a job/childcare share? If you don't share the load with someone else you will end up needing childcare during working hours and hardly seeing anything of your school aged child. Not sure what else to suggest, it's tricky getting the right balance isn't it?

Once you've got this up and running would you be able to employ someone else to run the cafe a couple of nights a week? This presumably wouldn't be much more than the cost of the childcare you'd need if you were behind the bar and that way you'd see your kids more? Could you employ a teenager to be there with you with the idea of supervising your kids and then taking them home to bed at a suitable time? That way they'd see you (albeit behind a cafe counter), get used to the hussle and bustle and may find it a fun, sociable experience?
It's a fab idea by the way!

bubblerock.
I've definitely thought about sharing this with another mum and I know just the mum that I would do this with BUT she, like me has 3 young kids. Sharing the workload would mean sorting and settling 6 kids aged 7, 6, 4, 3, 1 and 10 months. Bed time alone would be unbelievable and where would you settle them? At whose house? I think I'd see the nights at the cafe as the nights off . Also whilst I feel that this would be successful I don't think I could afford to share the profits. I'm not doing this just because i fancy it (although I must admit I do) but also because I'd like to pay off our mortgage in the next 5 to 10 years (5 would be my preference!). So ultimately I decided that I would rather employ someone and take a cut into my earnings than share my earnings although admitedly I would also be sharing my responsibility which would feel good regardless.

Thirtysomething.
Definitely once I'm up and running I'll be in a better position to employ people to run the cafe. I had thought about the teenager route as well. My idea had been to employ a couple of trainee nursery assistants who were still at college and desperate for the work experience. They could watch my kids as you said and also help out where they could if the kids were occupied. BUT I've been talking to a mum who runs a ball center down here. She hates the occassions when she has to bring her son to work with her. She's pointed out that the moment you can't pay your child attention they will cotton onto this and demand it. My kids are good but I'm afraid I've thought this through and agree with her. Its amazing how many times I've ensured my kids are completely occupied before sneaking off to make an important phonecall (bill paying, complaints etc etc) and its as though they have an inbuilt alarm system. Ok mum's not able to give us 100% attention and they immediately seek me out and DEMAND it, loudly, obnoxiously and extremely forcefully. Everytime! I'm really not sure it would work taking the kids to work with me. Sorry.

Do you have room at home for an aupair? Maybe it could be an option for 6 - 12 months until you get the business up and running. It would be more settled for the children as it would be in their home and like having a big brother or sister babysitting for a couple of hours each evening.

I do have room for an aupair but am nervous about taking on an aupair. The media in general are full of the idea that I'd be taking in a stroppy teenager unable to accept helping out. I'm nervous of opening up my home to such a person. .

I'm stuck for ideas now, It would be very difficult to find someone willing to commit every evening for a couple of hours I would imagine, and even if you did it would be expensive. If I were you I would do a business plan and see whether it really is feasible once you've taken into account overheads and childcare - I'd imagine that you would have to sell an awful lot of coffee to cover it.

Sounds good but you must do the maths first to see if it all adds up. Once everything is taken into account you may not be left with as much profit as you expected. It could be a lot of time and effort for a relatively small return.

How about making cakes or desserts too whilst there to sell to pubs or other cafes?

Where is the church, is there other business nearby where you could sell lunch or snacks? Or catering for business lunches, quite easy if you can deliver.

How about a childminder to look after the kids while you get yourself up and running. They cou;ld have your children until dh comes home then you could train someone to work evenings so you could spend more time with the family.

The cafe that is run at our dance school earns a fortune full of parents waiting around and hungry children after dance class and thirsty ones that have forgotten their drinks so your cafe is bound to be a huge success. The cafe at our dance school 'employs' some of the older teenagers to work in the cafe in exchange for a reduction/free dance classes. Might be an idea.

Go for it. First of all pay someone per hour to help once it's up and running. I have spent too many years sorting out people who did business with friends and it went wrong. Get everything agreed in writing. I even had a dispute over a cafe thing which related to the electricity bills. So get all that clear. Presumably the dance school would take the extra lease of the ground floor and you'd pay her rent? Is that the plan?

once it's running you just need a few good local people, may be even sixth formers on the minimum wage to serve with you just popping in to make sure it's running fine.

I don't actually think people make much money from cafes though, profits, that is unless you're going set up a chain like Pret etc.

Have you thought about becoming a Phoenix Trader instead? Its something that can be so easily done around children and with a group of Mum's at the dance school - there is your first potential market. I do it and have signed up several Mums in just your situation. It has great potential. Check out their website on phoenix-trading.co.uk. If you want someone to sponsor you I'd be happy to or you may find someone in your area can.