STAPLES BizTIPs 4business: Becoming a Mompreneur
By Adam
May 07, 2010
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By Small Business Expert Roger Pierce, BizLaunch
What does it take to be a Mom and a small business owner? It takes a lot of courage, skill and time management. It is hard to debunk myths about making more money and being able to spend more time with your family when you have a business to run. But more and more moms are quitting the corporate life to become entrepreneurs.
Currently, there are over 800,000 women business owners in Canada and the number of women-owned businesses is growing 60 percent faster than those run by men. Since 1995, there has been a 50% increase in the number of self-employed women in Canada, and one-million Canadian women will own a small business by 2010, this according to a report released by the CIBC, "Women Entrepreneurs: Leading the Charge". Today, about 80 percent of these women-owned businesses are also mothers.
What’s it like to be an entrepreneur? You can make your own decisions, set your own schedule, work with people of your own choosing, create your ideal lifestyle and enjoy the sheer satisfaction of doing what you love. However, self-employment is not for everyone. It’s a life full of twists and turns, long hours, uncertainties and endless multi-tasking. Before you take the plunge, test the waters with these exploratory steps:
Take some training. Entrepreneurship programs will help you understand all that’s involved in running a small business.
A day in the life. Arrange to job-shadow an entrepreneur for a few days to make sure it lives as well as it reads. Ask an entrepreneurial friend, family member or neighbour if you can tag along for a day.
Test yourself. Online self-assessment tools will explore your aptitude for entrepreneurship.
Be paid to prepare. Before launching into your own business, take a job in that industry. You’ll make valuable contacts, understand the competition, wire into customers and make sure the work truly suits you.
Identify your passion. Most entrepreneurs don’t just do it for the money. Explore a business idea that combines your personal passion with marketplace opportunities.
There’s plenty of strong support in Canada for entrepreneurs: educational institutions, business associations, non-profit and for profit organizations and all levels of government. Seek out resources such as training, mentoring programs, loans, grants, workshops, conferences, peer groups and online communities in your area to help you learn about entrepreneurship.
ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve success. Co-founder of Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch.ca, he’s launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls “the good, the bad and the ugly” sides of entrepreneurship.
BizLaunch advises thousands of Canadian startups through its popular how-to seminars and webinars delivered with partners such as STAPLES.
What does it take to be a Mom and a small business owner? It takes a lot of courage, skill and time management. It is hard to debunk myths about making more money and being able to spend more time with your family when you have a business to run. But more and more moms are quitting the corporate life to become entrepreneurs.
Currently, there are over 800,000 women business owners in Canada and the number of women-owned businesses is growing 60 percent faster than those run by men. Since 1995, there has been a 50% increase in the number of self-employed women in Canada, and one-million Canadian women will own a small business by 2010, this according to a report released by the CIBC, "Women Entrepreneurs: Leading the Charge". Today, about 80 percent of these women-owned businesses are also mothers.
What’s it like to be an entrepreneur? You can make your own decisions, set your own schedule, work with people of your own choosing, create your ideal lifestyle and enjoy the sheer satisfaction of doing what you love. However, self-employment is not for everyone. It’s a life full of twists and turns, long hours, uncertainties and endless multi-tasking. Before you take the plunge, test the waters with these exploratory steps:
Take some training. Entrepreneurship programs will help you understand all that’s involved in running a small business.
A day in the life. Arrange to job-shadow an entrepreneur for a few days to make sure it lives as well as it reads. Ask an entrepreneurial friend, family member or neighbour if you can tag along for a day.
Test yourself. Online self-assessment tools will explore your aptitude for entrepreneurship.
Be paid to prepare. Before launching into your own business, take a job in that industry. You’ll make valuable contacts, understand the competition, wire into customers and make sure the work truly suits you.
Identify your passion. Most entrepreneurs don’t just do it for the money. Explore a business idea that combines your personal passion with marketplace opportunities.
There’s plenty of strong support in Canada for entrepreneurs: educational institutions, business associations, non-profit and for profit organizations and all levels of government. Seek out resources such as training, mentoring programs, loans, grants, workshops, conferences, peer groups and online communities in your area to help you learn about entrepreneurship.
ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs achieve success. Co-founder of Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch.ca, he’s launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls “the good, the bad and the ugly” sides of entrepreneurship.
BizLaunch advises thousands of Canadian startups through its popular how-to seminars and webinars delivered with partners such as STAPLES.