I speak to so many busy Mums who have been dreaming of starting their own online business but just don’t think it’s possible for them right now and I see members in my Facebook group, Remarkable Business Mums ask about this all the time. They say they feel short on time, support or funds and it is true, as mums, we really just don’t have the same amount of time as someone with no kids does to spend on growing a business.
Some of them ask me about passive income because they’ve heard it could be the perfect solution. I mean, it sounds awesome doesn’t it? I’d be for it too. The reality is, passive income can be sort of passive, but it takes a lot of work to implement it, maintain and sustain it. So, in summary, yes, there are more advantages and benefits going with an income stream that can be more automated and streamlined, but it isn’t a cash cow for doing nothing. Damit 😅 I generally call passive income ‘sell one to many’ business models as I think it is a truer representation. If we can partly automate, streamline and sell the same thing to many people at the same time, then we are coming in a little closer to an income stream that is more passive than the other options.
So what to do when you have a quiet calling to do something different. When you have a knowing whispering to you that there is more out there, when you’re struggling with feeling so damn unfilled and uninspired but you just don’t see how you could make it work? When you know you’re selling your soul and betraying your true desires but you just can’t see a way to make it work?
Let me share this with you, if you want to make it work you will. Sometimes it just takes finding the right path.
I think of Mums like Jessica Osborn who signed up with Business Jump while in hospital after giving birth to her second bub, her daughter was just 3 days old and I think how far she has come since that fateful day on her quest to spend more time with her fam, never to return to her corporate job because even though she didn’t know how she would do it, she just knew she would find a way. And, of course, she enlisted our help to illuminate the path for her to make finding her way simple, easy and fun.
The truth is there is never a perfect time to start a business, and they can take some time to gain momentum. But the sooner you begin, the sooner you’ll start to learn, grow and make a profit.
So it isn’t about finding the time, it is about working with what we have more efficiently, expanding our energy and choosing a one-to-many business model.
In this blog, we are going to cover what some of those one to many business models are and in short, they are exactly as they sound, instead of selling one-to-one, you’re selling one-to-many, which means you’re working in a compound ratio. For the same amount of time it takes to sell to one, you could sell to 50 instead.
There are a heap of different business models to choose from, all will fit differently into your busy #mumlife. That’s where we come in. Business Jump helps you determine what business model will work best for where you are at right now based on your interests, strengths, the time you have to build your business around the kids, and your income goals.
We’ve helped hundreds of mums just like you build their dream business. You can continue adding extra income streams as you nail the skills and find more time as the kids grow.
Let me tell you about a few different income streams below that we help bring to life for our Business Jump Family.
Marketplace (Drop shipping)
Drop shipping is a great option for busy mums because it requires no inventory and no upfront investment aside from your branding and website (which you can actually DIY if you are up to the challenge). You can simply create a store online and sell products that are shipped directly to your customers from the supplier. This means that you never have to worry about stocking or shipping products yourself! You receive a commission for each sale that is made. The more people that land on your website the better – so SEO (search engine optimization) or paid ads is a great starting point for web traffic. The only downside to drop shipping is that you will have less control over your product and brand. But if you are looking for a low-maintenance business model, drop shipping is a great option.
Directory Model
A directory business is also another great biz model for busy mums because it can be highly automated. You can create a directory of businesses or services in your area, or a niche directory like gut health or home improvements. You can charge a monthly fee for listings and when you are ready, extra advertising opportunities for your vendors. It can take some time to build up your audience and traffic in the beginning, but not always – Becky from Lake Mac Family Life grew a FB community of over 1000 people organically in just a couple of months, and still growing rapidly. If you are patient and put in small bursts of work on the right tasks, a directory business can be super profitable.
Service-based business
A service-based business can work if you have a little more time kid-free and are super smart with how you set things up. It is great because you can choose how many clients you can take on and generally at least with working with Business Jump we can always find something you can turn into a service and sell. It can be a little tricky if the kids are sick or something goes pear shaped if you are being the technician and delivering the work but the key here is to build out a team and leverage off streamlining and automating parts of your business to reduce your labour.
Blogging
Blogging is perfect for busy mums because you can do it anywhere, anytime. You can blog about your kids, your life, your business – anything, so you don’t need any expertise or a specific skill set. You don’t have to be an amazing writer, just write how you speak and with a bit of personality in there. You can even record voice to text will feeding bub lol.
To monetise your blog you can sign up for display advertising (those ads that pop up when you land on a website) but you need a decent amount of web traffic to earn from this. Most people add other income streams to their blog like affiliate marketing, where you link to other companies products through your blogs. Some bloggers create digital products like printables and e-books to sell as well. It can take some time to build up a following, but if you are consistent, focus on your SEO and provide quality content, people will read your blog and you can make money through advertising or sponsorships and selling your digital products.
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is where you market someone else’s product or program and receive a commission when a sale goes through. This could be an Amazon product woven through a blog or email, a company like Siteground where you can recommend their reliable web hosting, or an online course or membership from another online business that you have confidence in. You can promote their products or services on your blog, in your online shop or social media and earn a commission on every sale. The more traffic to your content and affiliate links the better. It’s a numbers game. If you are consistent, and learn how to sell without the sleaze, you can make an awesome income through affiliate sales without ever having to create or sell a product or service of your own.
Online Programs and Memberships Sites
You can create a course or membership about just about anything these days. Think decluttering, fitness, calm parenting, clean eating, marketing etc. As long as you can fill a need and get your people results. You can have it all pre-recorded with resources in the members/program area, or you can add some live coaching in as well. It’s really up to you. It can take some time to create the content but there are plenty of options on how you deliver it. For example, you can drip-feed content one module per month, meaning you don’t even have to have created much content before you start to make money and can add to it each month. If you are consistent, learn about how to market your offer and provide quality content that get results, people will be interested in signing up for your program or membership.
So, which business model is best for busy mums?
The best business model for busy mums is the one that fits your lifestyle and interests. Some mum’s may have more time to dedicate to a service-based business, while others may prefer the highly automated directory model. Some may prefer the flexibility of blogging or affiliate marketing. It really depends on your individual circumstances. But whatever business model you choose, you can be successful as long as you continue to learn, grow and provide your people with what they need.
You have all the time and resources you need to start a successful business around your kids. The rate of growth will be different for everyone, but the sooner you begin, the sooner you will have a successful business to support the lifestyle you want to lead. Feel the fear and do it anyway. 6 months from now you’ll be thanking yourself for not waiting for the ‘perfect’ time to get going.
Have you always wanted to be your own boss? Why not take this free, quick and easy email challenge by clicking here that takes you behind the scenes so that you can gain inspiration, clarity and confidence in choosing a business idea to get you on the path to purpose and fulfilment. Also, check out our free resources by clicking here.
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