Last week, my friend Sarah told me she’s been thinking about starting a virtual assistant business for three years. Three years! She has the skills, she needs the income, and she knows the virtual assistant industry is expected to reach $4 billion by 2025 [3]. But every time she’s ready to begin, something stops her.
“I need to learn more first,” she says. “I need to get organized. I need the perfect setup.”
If you’re like Sarah, you’re not alone. More and more women now have their own businesses, yet so many stay-at-home moms hesitate to take that first step.
Here’s what I discovered: it’s not about time.
Yes, working mothers juggle about 98 hours weekly [6]. That’s exhausting. But time isn’t the real block. Freelance writers earn AED 180 to AED 550 per hour [3], and freelance proofreading pays AED 55 to AED 130 hourly [3]. The opportunities are there. The money is real.
The real block? You’re waiting for perfect conditions.
Perfect = Never happens = No business
I see this pattern everywhere. You overthink every detail. You compare yourself to established entrepreneurs who’ve been at this for years. You tell yourself you need just one more course, one more certification, one more thing before you’re “ready.”
The handmade market is projected to reach $448 billion by 2025 [9]. That’s a lot of opportunity passing by while we wait for perfect.
This article will help you see what’s really stopping you and give you simple steps to move forward. Not when everything’s perfect, but right now, wherever you are.
What’s Really Stopping You (It’s Not What You Think)
“Working moms sort of do the impossible every day. We move from ‘What will people think of me?’ to ‘How can I make this work for my family?'” — Shonda Rhimes, Television producer, writer, creator of ‘Gray’s Anatomy’ and ‘Scandal’
Image Source: Jupiter Hadley
Here’s what I’ve learned from talking to hundreds of moms who want to start businesses: time isn’t the real problem.
The real problem? We don’t believe we’re good enough.
93% of mothers anticipate bias when re-entering the workforce [1]. That means before we even start, we’re already expecting to fail. Before we write our first proposal or send our first email, we’re convinced people will judge us for the gap in our resume.
I felt this too. After years at home, walking into any professional conversation felt like wearing clothes that didn’t fit anymore. 62% of “mompreneurs” struggle with confidence issues [2], and honestly, I get it. One mom told researchers: “There’s no organizational chart or advancement in the career path of being a stay at home mom” [4].
She’s right. We spend years in a role where success looks like everyone else being happy and fed. How do you put that on a business card?
This is why so many of us get stuck in what I call the three traps:
Trap 1: The endless preparation cycle. You tell yourself you need one more course, one more certification, one more thing before you’re ready [5]. The list never ends.
Trap 2: “My skills don’t count.” You’ve managed budgets, schedules, and small humans having meltdowns. But somehow you think none of that matters in business [1].
Trap 3: Playing the comparison game. You look at established entrepreneurs and think you need to be where they are before you can even start [6].
The hardest part? Many of us don’t even think our business ideas are “real businesses” [6]. We call them side hustles or hobbies, as if making money from home isn’t as valid as making money anywhere else.
I know this feels overwhelming. But here’s what I’ve discovered: confidence isn’t something you wait for. It’s something you build, one small step at a time.
Building Your Confidence to Start
You know what doesn’t build confidence? Waiting until you feel ready.
Confidence comes from action, not preparation. Many stay-at-home moms get stuck waiting for the “right” feeling to start their business. Here’s what works instead.
Write down your skills. All of them.
Create a simple document that connects what you do as a parent to what entrepreneurs need. Organization? You manage a household. Multitasking? You’re doing it right now. Problem-solving? Every day with kids is advanced troubleshooting. This tangible reminder helps when the “not good enough” thoughts start [3].
Find other moms who get it.
Connect with parents who’ve started businesses [7]. They understand your challenges in ways others can’t. As one successful mom entrepreneur told me: “Surround yourself with people who believe in you… practice telling a close friend about this goal, someone who will lift you up” [8].
Their support matters more than you think.
Start a wins journal. Today.
Write down every small success, even tiny ones [3]. Called a potential client? That’s a win. Set up your workspace? Another win. Our brains love to focus on what went wrong and ignore what went right. A wins journal fights this tendency.
Set goals that make sense for your life.
Celebrate your milestones, not someone else’s [3]. These small wins trigger dopamine, which tells your brain that success is possible [9]. Compare your chapter one to someone else’s chapter twenty and you’ll never start.
You don’t need perfect confidence to begin. You need just enough to take the first step.
Feel uncertain about where to begin? Schedule a 15-minute call with me https://calendly.com/dana-2502/15min for personalized guidance on turning your business ideas into reality without waiting for perfection.
You Already Have What You Need to Start
“I’ve learned that the key to being a happy mother is to find time for yourself and bring that energy and stimulation back to your family.” — Tina Fey, Emmy-winning writer, producer, and actress; working mother
Image Source: Mom Blog Society
“I don’t know enough yet.”
This is what I hear most often from moms who want to start businesses. They think they need more courses, more training, more something before they can begin.
Here’s the truth: you already have marketable skills [10]. The path to starting a business is more accessible than ever with free online courses designed specifically for moms entering entrepreneurship [10].
The question isn’t whether you have skills. The question is: can you see them?
Look at your former career, your interests, or what you’ve learned as a parent [11]. These are your jumping-off points. Some promising business options include:
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Resume writing [12]
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Virtual assistance [13]
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Online tutoring or teaching [13]
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Financial aid planning for college-bound students [14]
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Life-coach
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Book keeper
You managed a household budget? That’s financial planning experience. You organized family schedules? That’s project management. You helped kids with homework? That’s teaching ability.
The difference between staying stuck and taking action comes down to this: you don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough to help one person with one problem.
AI, books, workshops, free resources like Business Essentials courses walk you through exploring your interests, setting prices, and legally establishing your business – all in daily lessons that fit your schedule [15].
Knowledge = Progress, not perfection
Ready to see which skills you already possess and how to use them? Schedule a 15-minute call with me https://calendly.com/dana-2502/15min. Let’s identify what you have and how to make it work for your family.
Let’s Make It Count
Here’s what I know about you: you have the skills already.
You’ve been negotiating with toddlers, managing impossible schedules, solving problems on the fly. These aren’t “just” parenting skills. They’re business skills.
The successful moms I know who started businesses? They didn’t wait until they felt ready. They started scared, started messy, started anyway.
Remember Sarah from the beginning? Last month, she finally launched her virtual assistant business. Not because she learned everything. Not because conditions were perfect. She just got tired of waiting.
Her first client found her through a Facebook post. Nothing fancy, just: “I’m starting a VA business. I’m good with schedules and emails. Anyone need help?”
That’s it.
So here’s what I want you to do: stop telling yourself you need more time to prepare. Start small. Pick one you can offer. Tell one person about it.
Not ready yet? That’s okay. Remember: no blame, no guilt. But also remember that your dreams don’t get less important while you wait for perfect timing.
The knowledge you need is out there. Free courses, local business centers, other moms who’ve done this. You don’t have to figure it out alone.
Your business can start today with whatever you have right now. Not when everything’s perfect, not when you feel completely confident, but right now.
Let me know how it goes. I’m rooting for you.
With love,
Dana Elena
Key Takeaways
The biggest barriers to launching a business aren’t what most stay-at-home moms think. Here’s what really holds you back and how to overcome it:
• Perfectionism, not time, is your biggest enemy – 62% of mompreneurs struggle with confidence issues, waiting for perfect conditions that never come instead of starting with what they have.
• Your parenting skills are valuable business assets – Organization, multitasking, negotiation, and problem-solving developed through motherhood directly transfer to entrepreneurship and businesses.
• Small wins build unstoppable momentum – Document minor victories in a “wins journal” to combat self-doubt and trigger the dopamine that reinforces belief in your success.
• Free and paid resources make business knowledge accessible – Books, AI, workshops, online courses, provide the guidance you need without requiring perfect preparation first.
• Action beats preparation every time – Successful mumpreneurs started exactly where you are now, facing the same doubts but choosing to move forward despite imperfect circumstances.
The business industry offers real earning potential. Your dreams don’t need to wait for someday; they’re ready for today’s imperfect first step.
FAQs
Q1. What are some profitable service business ideas for stay-at-home moms? Some profitable options include virtual assistance, freelance writing, online tutoring, social media management, and resume writing. The virtual assistant industry is projected to reach $4 billion by 2025, while freelance writers can earn AED 180 – AED 550 per hour.
Q2. How can stay-at-home moms overcome self-doubt when starting a business? Build confidence by creating a skills translation document connecting parenting abilities to entrepreneurship, joining supportive communities of other parent entrepreneurs, and keeping a “wins journal” to document even small successes. These practices help combat impostor syndrome and build momentum.
Q3. What resources are available for moms to learn business basics? There are numerous free online courses designed specifically for moms entering entrepreneurship.
Q4. How can stay-at-home moms balance childcare with starting a business? Focus on businesses that offer flexibility, such as freelance work or online services. Set realistic goals, use time management techniques to allocate specific work hours, and leverage automation tools for tasks like scheduling posts and managing emails. Remember that consistency is key, even if progress is gradual.
Q5. Is it possible to start a successful business without perfect preparation? Yes, many successful entrepreneurs started with imperfect circumstances. The key is to take action despite fears and doubts. Start with the skills and resources you have, focus on small, consistent steps forward, and be willing to learn and adapt as you go. Perfectionism can be an expensive barrier to getting started.
References
[1] – https://www.nakishawynn.com/business-ideas-for-stay-at-home-moms/
[2] – https://www.ownr.co/blog/business-ideas-for-moms/
[3] – https://www.virtual-headquarters.com/content-hub/blog/17-brilliant-business-ideas-you-can-start-as-a-stay-at-home-parent/
[4] – https://bask.health/blog/small-business-ideas-for-moms
[5] – https://www.forbes.com/sites/kimelsesser/2023/05/11/majority-of-stay-at-home-moms-face-bias-when-returning-to-work-survey-shows/
[6] – https://www.mumsandco.com.au/news/15-most-common-mompreneur-challenges?59e6f7f0_page=100
[7] – https://houstonmom.com/battling-self-doubt-when-being-a-sahm-doesnt-feel-like-enough/
[8] – https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesbusinesscouncil/2021/09/14/five-time-management-tips-from-a-mompreneur/
[9] – https://jennymelrose.com/tips-for-time-management/
[10] – https://thetappingsolution.com/stories/from-stay-at-home-mom-to-entrepreneur-navigating-the-confidence-gap-with-tapping/
[11] – https://invoice.2go.com/blog/communities-for-mom-entrepreneurs/
[12] – https://elizabethmccravy.com/stay-at-home-mom-starting-a-part-time-business/
[13] – https://shetakesfive.com/mompreneur-motivation-small-wins/
[14] – https://bossmomcollective.com/free-online-courses-for-stay-at-home-moms/
[15] – https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/105-service-businesses-to-start-today/80684
[16] – https://www.logomaker.com/ideas/business-ideas-for-stay-at-home-mom/
[17] – https://www.entrepreneur.com/starting-a-business/20-business-ideas-for-stay-at-home-parents/299781
[18] – https://madebymotherhood.com/business-essentials-course-for-stay-at-home-moms
[19] – https://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/strategies-for-success-as-a-mompreneur
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