Why I Chose Online Business As My Superior Income-Generating "Hobby" As A Busy Mom
When my kids reached their teens and mid-life arrived, we were facing rising inflation and looming university fees, while taking stock of our life in the corporate humdrum. I remember sitting at my desk and thinking about my family abroad, tears rolling down my face as all I could think about was being tied to my desk not feeling confident that we could afford to travel to see our family each year. I became acutely aware of our most precious commodity - TIME and what is most precious to me - FAMILY.
I made a decision that day. I chose to change my reality.
I wanted to be present for my family, but at the same time have something of my own where I could use my giftings, make a meaningful difference and impact in the world and live out my best potential while creating financial freedom.
Although I wanted to generate a second income, it needed to add value and serve the marketplace at the same time. This is why creating an online business was the solution for me. You can build something that you are passionate about, but you can do this while bringing a valuable service or product to the world and generating income. And with the technology today, a lot of the process can be automated which enables us to run a business alongside our 9 to 5 job.
One of the most exciting parts about online business is the vast scope of options, enabling you to express your true creative, authentic self! Women are using their passions, skills, experience, or professions to create the most interesting businesses and doing it all from the comfort of their home.
I have put together five of my favourite online business ideas for moms wanting to start a legitimate online business, even alongside a full-time job.
Wind back to when I started out... I was nervous about the concept of business online. As a business graduate in a corporate job, my prejudiced impression of the online world was that it was frequented by sales-y scammers trying to make an easy buck, but I felt compelled to keep looking for ethical opportunities until I came across an article much like this one and signed up for a free introductory video series to online business education. The series reassured and encouraged me of the authentic and ethical possibilities online. Its inspirational content covers everything from business mindset to all aspects of the different business models and the concept of generating multiple streams of income online in an automated way! The series carries no obligation, so if you want to learn more, you can sign up below and be inspired by the opportunities we have.
As promised, these are my favorite online business ideas, based on the relatively low starting cost, flexibility, creativity (!) and scalable opportunities. I hope you find it helpful.
1. Affiliate Marketing
This has got to be one of the most genius business models for a host of reasons. Low startup costs, flexibility scalability, and automation. Furthermore, you do not need your own idea or product and can start immediately by marketing something that you believe in. It is a go-to solution for people who do not have a specific business idea of their own but want to learn the real skills of marketing and selling online and earn while doing so! Many highly successful online business owners have their roots in affiliate marketing and later went on to create their own product, brand or service. As a time-strapped mom, you do not need to dedicate hours to your business every day. Laying the foundations correctly will require consistent effort, but once the marketing system is set up effectively, it practically runs itself and only requires a few hours a week to maintain. Many women enjoy incredible success with this model and have been able to not only supplement their income but even retire themselves from their 9 to 5 and do this instead.
- What: An online business model where you are marketing products or services as an affiliate, for other businesses, for which you are paid a commission if customers purchase the product or service you are advertising.
- Startup Costs: Low startup costs. Costs for marketing tools.
- Launch Time: Launch time is short. Requires finding the product to market and the setup of your marketing tools.
- Scalability: Highly scalable. As your marketing system is set up to advertise 24 hours a day, the model is consistently working. This means there is no limit to the ability to generate sales. you are not limited by your time availability, unlike a service where you bill per hour of your service.
- Personal Interface: Depending on your preferred marketing strategy, you may or may not be the face of the business. This is all up to personal preference.
- Marketing Strategy: Affiliates use various marketing strategies, such as YouTube, blogs, social media, or email campaigns, to drive traffic to the company's website through unique referral links.
- Time commitment: This model allows affiliates to generate passive income without the need to create their own products, making it a flexible option for those with busy schedules, like corporate moms.
- In the free video series I mentioned earlier, they talk about affiliate marketing as a business model, so if you are interested in seeing how this model can generate additional income for you, sign up for the video series.
2. Course Creation
This business model really excites me. This is where the heart of online business truly beats because this is the space where people can bring their own unique skills, passions, life experience or wisdom to create an authentic and unique offer to serve the marketplace. Doesn't that excite you? The idea of monetizing your unique skills and adding value is genius. As a time-strapped mom, you do not need to dedicate hours to your business every day. Creating the course well will require hard work and consistent effort, but once the content is complete and your marketing system is set up effectively, it practically runs itself. Many women enjoy incredible success with this model offering a vast variety of courses and have been able to not only supplement their income but even retire themselves from their 9 to 5 and do this instead.
- What: Creating your own content or course based on a skill or passion that you can bring to the market.
- Product: Digital products (such as a video series / written content).
- Startup Cost: Low startup cost. Costs would involve branding, website design and marketing tools. But no physical stock! (Win!)
- Launch Time: A longer launch time is required to create and prepare your course content.
- Scalability: Highly scalable. As your marketing system is set up to advertise 24 hours a day, the model is consistently working. This means there is no limit to the ability to generate sales. You are not limited by your time availability, unlike a service where you bill per hour of your service.
- Personal Interface: You are most likely the face of the business.
- Marketing Strategy: You can use various marketing strategies, such as YouTube, blogs, social media, or email campaigns, to drive traffic to your business website through unique referral links.
- Time commitment: Time will be required to create your course content. But once this is complete and you launch your offer, the automated system sells for you and generates passive income without the need to call customers, or post cringy ads on the radio! This makes it a flexible option for those with busy schedules, like corporate moms.
- In the free video series I mentioned earlier, they talk about the concept of creating digital assets and selling wisdom. If you are interested in seeing how this model can generate additional income for you, sign up for the video series.
3. Online Tutoring or Coaching
This is a wonderful model for women passionate about teaching or coaching and thriving from the personal interaction with their clients. Coaching is a great way for you to teach from any geographical location which means you do not have to come home from vacation so you can teach your class! Furthermore, coaching can be one-to-one, group coaching or even large audiences. This is an exciting business model for those passionate about sharing their knowledge, professional skill or life wisdom with their audience in an interactive way.
- What: Creating your own content or course based on a skill or passion that you can bring to the market.
- Product: Real-time courses hosted online.
- Startup Cost: Low startup cost.
- Launch Time: Time required to prepare and create course content.
- Scalability: Selling time for money.
- Personal Interface: You are the face of the business and are working directly with people.
- Marketing Strategy: Marketing your business can be done on a variety of platforms such as Google ads, social media, email marketing, LinkedIn.
- Time Commitment: Online coaching will naturally require your time during coaching sessions and also in the preparation of material.
- In the free video series I mentioned earlier, they will talk about the concept of creating digital assets and selling wisdom. If you are interested in seeing how this model can generate additional income for you, sign up for the video series.
4. Dropshipping
For some of us physical goods just make more sense. We can relate to receiving a parcel at your door and the excitement as you unbox the delivery you have been anticipating. We understand the concept of sourcing a great item, designing a label, brand or packaging and selling it to happy customers. Dropshipping is this, selling physical products, BUT with an awesome advantage, you do not own the stock. In fact, you do not even deliver the product. You sell the product from the supplier, who delivers the product to your customer. This is a great model for people who love physical products and would like to get into e-commerce, but without having to create their own product or invest a huge amount of money into inventory.
- What: Selling physical products to the end consumer from your storefront, but without owning the stock or buying it upfront.
- The consumer purchases the item from your store and the order is then packed and fulfilled by the supplier.
- The difference between the selling price and the cost of the goods, fees and fulfilment is your profit.
- Product: physical goods.
- Startup Cost: Fairly low startup costs as you are not buying stock.
- There are other costs such as setting up your store and for integrations with the print-on-demand supplier and for advertising.
- Launch Time: Longer launch time: Requires time to choose a niche and products and find a suitable supplier. You then need to set up a storefront and advertising.
- Scalability: Highly scalable.
- Personal Interface: You are not the face of the business. You can remain in the background.
5. Print-on-Demand Business
For the creatives, or those who would like to be more creative, this is such a great model. A fun way to create your designs on all things merchandise without owning the stock upfront. The best part is the programs required to do all the logistics already exist, you just need to create your storefront and plug into a "print on demand" supplier, who does the printing and fulfillment on your behalf. Your role in the business is to create designs. The merchandise is provided by the POD supplier. The beauty of this model is the micro niches that are being served as people create designs based on interests or hobbies or for events.
- What: Selling merchandise with your own designs to the end consumer from your storefront, but without carrying the stock or buying it upfront.
- The end consumer purchases the item from your store and the design per the order is then printed onto the merchandise, packed and shipped to the customer by the print-on-demand supplier.
- Printify and Printful are two popular examples of POD suppliers.
- Storefront examples that can be used are Shopify and Etsy.
- Startup Cost: Fairly low startup costs as you do not have to carry the inventory, so there are no large upfront costs for stock and no risk of having inventory that does not sell.
- Launch Time: Launch time would be required to set up your storefront and integrations with the print-on-demand supplier.
- Time Commitment: Ongoing design requirement.
- Ideal for creatives but not a requirement as the designs can be outsourced to designers.
- Scalability: Highly scalable.
- Personal Interface: You are not the face of the business. You can remain in the background.
- Fun and creative.
Which Online Business Idea Is Right for You?
Thousands of women enjoy success online in so many different business models and niches. It comes down to finding the model that suits your skillset and interests and what passion or service you want to bring to the market. Choose the business that resonates with you and bring your unique offering to the world. If you come to serve you will be passionate about your business and that passion will keep you moving forward. Points to keep in mind:
- Skillset
- Passions and Interests
- Resources
- Time Availability
- Scalability
- Initial Investment
To learn more about online business models that can generate income on auto-pilot and generate multiple streams of income sign up for our free video series.
Essential Tech Tools & How To Get Started
- Decide on your preferred business model.
- Laptop and internet connection.
- Identify the necessary online tools depending on the business model, such as:
- Website. Website builders (e.g. WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy)
- Email Marketing tools (e.g. Mailchimp, Aweber)
- Ecommerce Platforms (e.g. Woocommerce, Shopify)
- Etsy account
- Print-on-Demand account (e.g. Printify, Printful)
- Social media account (e.g. Facebook, Instagram)
- Invest in an online business education.
- There are a lot of short courses online proclaiming insights into how to make a fortune in a short time. Beware. Although these may offer little snippets of encouragement, to really be successful you need to invest in learning real skills and in order to master them you need to commit for the long run.
- Make a decision to commit to doing the work and doing it correctly.
- Build for the long term.
- Learning the skills means you have them for life and these are transferrable to other businesses.
The Power of Marketing Online
No matter the business model, an online business is only of value to us if we are able to sell our offering.
This leads us to the critical skill of online marketing. No matter the business model, the key to the success of any business is the ability to introduce your offering to your target audience in a way they relate to and meet their need or solve their problem.
The power of authority marketing harnesses a proven strategy to automate selling online to any target audience anywhere in the world, enabling you to make more money in less time. This truly is the golden nugget to having flexibility and generating income 24 hours a day.
You can learn more about the system of authority marketing and how it is empowering moms across the globe to run an online business from anywhere and generate multiple streams of income on autopilot.
Why An Online Business?
It is no secret that in the current economic climate, we are feeling the pressure of the rising cost of living. Many women are facing the challenge of trying to balance a demanding job and home life, yet still face the real need for generating additional income.
In 2020, my family and I relocated from South Africa to Canada, in the middle of the pandemic. We were starting from scratch in a new country and I found working full-time as an accountant was demanding on my time and energy but not equitable in financial reward. Living so far from friends and family I was acutely aware of the need to provide enough to secure our financial future or give us the freedom to visit loved ones back home.
I felt trapped at my desk, financially hamstrung, and very frustrated! This was why I made an active decision to find viable ways to start an online business on a part-time basis alongside my job. I was determined to have more freedom and to create a life of meaning, purpose, and financial security for me and my family.
At the time I knew nothing about online business and honestly had no idea where to even start. I actively sought out ethical online business ideas and came across a training resource that resonated with my values and opened my world to the different business models, as well as the concept of generating multiple streams of income online in an automated way that can work for you all day long!
I am so grateful to have found an authentic viewpoint and am eager to share this framework with other moms seeking out business solutions. Come and learn more about this approach to business in a free four-part video series. You will not be disappointed. And there is no commitment. You can receive the free video series with no obligation. It may just be the inspiration you need today.
Conclusion
We know that having our own business provides financial relief and flexibility while creating a sense of personal achievement. The rising trend in online businesses owned by women is indicative of the host of opportunities that the online world offers and proof that it works!
It is incredibly exciting but can also be overwhelming to start your own business. That is why I recommend being intentional about your journey. Find a mentor or a community where you can work alongside fellow entrepreneurs. Building a business requires consistency and you do not want to be fumbling around on a whim. I have found the resources in the online business training to be incredible. There are various tiers of resources to fit your needs and budget and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to share the load. This was where I started my journey, in this very same free video series which shares valuable insights into a proven framework for launching a successful online business.
Take the step today, make the change you need to be the person you need to be to achieve that dream of building your own online business.