For New Parents, Starting Their Own Business Can Be a Wise Choice

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For New Parents, Starting Their Own Business Can Be a Wise Choice

 

 

What better way to begin life with a newborn than to be able to stay home with them and still earn an income? Many new parents are finding that working from home means not only more time home with their children but more quality time as well. They’re not rushing home after a long commute, ending their day on their company’s time schedule trying to prepare a meal, take care of household chores and spend those important moments with their child that they both want and need. 

 

This can mean that this is the perfect time to start your own business from home. Being a new parent and an entrepreneur can be challenging for sure, but the rewards for all of you can make it well worth the effort. 

 

Here are some tips that will hopefully guide you into making your dream of entrepreneurship while being home with your newborn a reality. 

 

 

 

Start With a Plan

 

Rather than try to jump into the deep end of the business pool right away, use the first few weeks at home with your newborn and go slowly. You probably don’t have a lot of energy anyway, so this can be the perfect time for you to plan your business ideas.

 

Keep a notebook and use some quiet time to brainstorm ideas for your at-home business. You can sell products you hand make at home, begin a catering or meal prep business, photograph weddings on the weekends, or whatever works for your skills, talents, and desires. 

 

Once you’ve decided on what you want to do and a name for your business, it’s time to write your business plan. This is something that will take you weeks to write since there will be research involved. This can mean how you will pay for your start-up costs, who will be your backup on the days you can’t work, who your competition is, how you’ll market your business, and if your services are needed in your area. You can find a lot of online resources that will guide you through writing your business plan, including templates you can use, most of which are free. 

 

Choose a Business Structure

 

Decide how you will structure your business early on. Most at-home entrepreneurs choose to structure their business as an LLC since it’s something you can do yourself and does not require a lawyer’s assistance. An LLC protects your personal assets, has a lower tax burden, and requires less paperwork than other business structures. A formation service can handle the registration process—search for the best LLC services online.

 

Start Marketing

 

As a small business owner, it’s important to get the word out about your products or services. But with so many marketing options available, it can be tough to know where to start. Content marketing is a great way to reach new customers and build brand awareness. By creating and sharing informative blog posts, infographics, and other types of content, you can attract attention from your target audience and establish yourself as an expert in your field. In addition, content marketing is relatively inexpensive, making it a great option for businesses on a tight budget. Visit Cornerstone Content to learn more about how to effectively market your business.

 

Use Available Technology

 

Keeping track of everything that needs to get done in the life of a new parent as well as a new business owner isn’t anything you can leave on sticky notes or in your memory. Instead, choose an online calendar app or software that can keep you organized and on track. Calendar is one app that eliminates the need for sending email reminders since you can share your calendar with multiple people. 

 

The Blueberry Pediatrics app offers live, 24/7 virtual access to doctors They can make diagnoses, send in prescriptions, or tell you what your next steps should be, all while you and your baby are still at home. They even send you a medical kit to use at home. The app is free, but it costs between $12 and $18 per month for a membership. 

 

When you need a sitter, you can browse profiles of babysitters or nannies for hire with Sittercity. Or you can post a job, and one of their members can respond to it. The service does background checks, and you can read reviews from other parents before you book. 

 

With so many things to consider, like how to balance childcare and work life, you’ll definitely need a support system. Make that the number one step before you do anything else. Then by following smart guidelines like choosing the best business structure, office tools, and apps, you could well be on your way to having it all: entrepreneurship and parenting. 

 

Visit Rachael Caskey for unique abstract and mixed media art paintings. 

Learning how to post professional-looking art videos

Mixed Media Art Series

Back in my college days, I thoroughly enjoyed learning how to edit videos for my Communication major television course and co-curricular.

Those same feelings of accomplishment have returned 20 years later (no joke!) since I’ve been working on recording my art processes to share on my YouTube channel.

You can see it here:

Mixed Media Series on Paper Youtube art timelapse video

There were a lot of moving parts to creating this simple, yet professional-looking video. Part of this video process included the following steps:

  • Setting up my video camera to record from overhead as I painted
  • Taking relevant photos of my tools used for the paintings
  • Using Canva templates
  • Learning video editing in Adobe Premier Pro via the software tutorials as well as searching up Youtube tutorials
  • Creating and adding a voiceover
  • Searching for a music audio service (Epidemic Sound in this case), subscribing and adding the music

For me, learning new skills such as video editing is just as exciting as working on my art. I love learning a new skill and applying it. While it took me literally hours to learn some of the ins and outs of video editing, I feel confident enough now that my next video will take much less time to create and post.

And, on top of that, I can add these new skills to my expanding repertoire of freelance skillsets.

If you are looking for someone to help edit your videos, please feel free to contact me! We can discuss your project and rates.

The starving artist syndrome: overcoming through action

cute abstract art tote

As an emerging mixed media artist and surface designer who grew up in the Rust Belt of Pittsburgh as a Xennial, I find the hardest part in following my art entrepreneurial journey as my full-time career is the internal negative dialogue brought on by the “starving artist” syndrome. The starving artist myth has been perpetuated in so many circles for so long because the Boomer generation didn’t have the same tools we do now.

Without the internet, I could only imagine how hard it would have been for me as a single mother of teens to succeed as an artist. But, today, everything is at my fingertips.

Here are just a sampling of the income-generating activities artists today have as options:

  • ad revenue via content creation on Youtube, blogging
  • TikTok creator – the Creator Fund
  • in-person art workshops and retreats (see ===>> travel opportunities!)
  • online art workshops via Skillshare, Udemy and Teachable
  • Patreon donations
  • affiliate programs
  • sponsorships and collaborations
  • wholesale relationships with retailers and boutiques
  • galleries
  • individual art collectors
  • art fairs & festivals
  • print-on-demand products such as Redbubble, Zazzle, Spreadshirt, Teespring and Society6
    • The cute tote above is one of my abstract digital designs created in Procreate and uploaded to products on Redbubble for sale. Check out my Redbubble shop!
  • publishing how-to eBooks
  • self-publishing actual books

There are plenty of “working” artists out there that aren’t looking to necessarily be the next Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keefe or Frida Kahlo. But, they are thriving in what success looks like for them. A simple YouTube search will show you all of these successful-to-them artists. Following these artists and their journeys via social media gives me the inspiration to keep moving forward with my journey.

Exercise: Define what success in your art business looks like to you. Create a vision board of what your ideal lifestyle looks like.

If you need help figuring out the logistics of building your art business, check out some of these books from my book shelf:

  • Art, Money, Success: Finally Making A Living Doing What You Love by Maria Brophy
  • I’d Rather Be In The Studio: The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion by Alyson B. Stanfield
  • Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau
  • Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers by Russell Brunson
  • The Handmade Marketplace: How to Sell Your Crafts locally, globally, and online by Kari Chapin
  • How to Sell Your Art Online by Cory Huff
  • Show Your Work! by Austin Kleon

Also, some of the lessons I’ve learned in the corporate world carry over into my entrepreneurial journey. For example, the corporate world focuses on SMART goals. One way you can use these SMART goals is by entering them into your calendar and check them off as you complete them. Doing this gives me a sense of accomplishment and realization that I am moving forward as an artist.

Another way that artists can overcome this “starving artist” syndrome is by networking. Once you get out and socialize whether in person or online with other artists, you are no longer isolating yourself in that negative mindset. You can collaborate with other artists or venues out there. Make lists of the art clubs and galleries in your area and introduce yourself. One way in which I’m doing that is through volunteering. I’m helping PGHMuseums.org update their website, specifically their gallery section. This not only gives me the opportunity to give back, but also build upon those gallery outreach efforts in my own art practice. It’s a win-win!

Look for those types of win-win situations with your art business and you’ll see your business thrive and grow. Then, you can kick that “starving artist” mindset to the curb for good!

Preparing for the Next Show

After quite a bit of self-introspection, I am back in the entrepreneurial mindset for my art business. Currently, I’m focusing my efforts on preparing for my next art exhibit. Since I’ve started making connections in the art industry, I’m slowly making headway on the direction of my work.

Some of the ways that help me get back to focus on my work include journaling and sketching. The weather has been absolutely gorgeous this springtime. So, I’ve been taking advantage of sitting on my front porch while drawing in my gratitude journal with pen only. I’ve noticed that the bumblebees have returned. I’m somehow no longer afraid of bees and insects like I used to be. It’s as if I’m coming to peace with nature around me. There’s a kind of calmness about enjoying nature.

A lot of my work is inspired by nature and the supernatural or spiritual, including but not limited to biblical prophecy and scripture. Now, before I get ahead of myself, I want to explain that I am not into date-setting or proclaiming I am the know all and be all. That kind of black and white thinking can lead to disastrous outcomes as I’ve noticed in my own spiritual journey. However, this focus on the spiritual has been an epiphany of sorts that has led to a revived sense of purpose and renewal of my spirit. I find myself relating more and more to other people, children and animals than before. It’s a very freeing way to be.

Patreon Poll…

Since I’m now pursuing my art business full-time, I want to start a Patreon to provide value to my patrons as well as begin a steady stream of membership income.

For those of you who like and follow my art journey, what type of content would you like to see on my Patreon (specific techniques? art income stream and/or business topics? etc.)?

How much would you recommend to charge for such a membership? A lot of the artists I see on there have a tier-based system with $5 per month as the lowest, $20/mo as the middle and $49/mo as the highest. What are your thoughts?

I appreciate any and all feedback! Thank you for your support!!! Hugs & Love!