By Derek Goodman
When you welcome a new baby into your world, it impacts every part of your life, including your work life. But it doesn’t have to stand in the way of your growing business. Below, the International Nanny Association shares some tips to help you set up systems to make your business run smoothly as you enjoy spending time with your baby.
Hire Help
Hiring a nanny or babysitter might be just what you need in the early days. Nannies, in particular, can be a lifesaver. They can free you up to focus on your business. You can also hire help for light office duties like making coffee or cleaning up.
Tap Into Resources
Starting a business means you’ll need the right information and resources. Online community forums, blogs, and local networking events can help you connect with other parents in business. Explore Meetup.com, which has groups for just about anything, from breastfeeding moms to small business owners networking.
Work From Home
Working at home can be a terrific option. It allows you to be home with your baby and still make money. Many new parents opt to work for themselves, either part-time or full-time. Some parents choose to start companies around their hobbies or areas of expertise. Others develop online businesses that let them earn money from home, either working for themselves or freelancing.
Marketing Your Business
The most successful business owners know how to use a variety of marketing tools effectively. Here are some marketing strategies to help grow your small business.
- Build a mailing list. Emails are one of the most cost-effective ways people find out about new products and services.
- Advertise on social media. Social media platforms allow you to connect with customers, share your products, and build your brand.
- Use search engine marketing (SEM). Using SEM, or paid search, to get in front of customers when they are specifically searching for your services is an effective way to grow your business.
- Build an app. With so many consumers preferring to do business or shop online, it pays to have an app built for your business. Creating an easy-to-use and intuitive app is probably something you’ll need to hand off to a pro. Look for app development companies with strong reviews that can bring your application to life.
- Work with a marketing expert. A marketing specialist can be a worthy investment. They can guide you toward an impactful strategy that fits your small enterprise. Simply settle on a professional, then send them details, images and graphics showing examples of what you want. You can merge PDF files too so that these are easier to send and don’t take up much space.
Forming an LLC
Forming a limited liability company (LLC) for your business can give you many advantages — including limited personal liability so creditors can’t come after your personal assets if your business fails, tax advantages, and more flexibility. Forming an LLC is tricky, though, because it involves several steps and state-specific requirements. Fortunately, there are online services that help you register LLC paperwork. These business formation services (for example ZenBusiness) will file the correct paperwork and are cheaper than going through a lawyer.
Make it Work
Combining a new baby and a new business is not easy. Fortunately, you can take some simple steps to make it work.