5 Mothers On Turning a Hobby Into a Business They Love

Read these inspiring stories of how five stay-at-home moms found jobs they love—and can do remotely.

When it comes to our career lives as stay-at-home moms, the ultimate dream is finding a paying gig that feels more like play. One that fills us up creatively and helps sustain us financially.

We tapped five inspiring women to share how they do just that—detailing the paths they took to transform a passion project into a thriving business. Here, small business owners from across the country spill the secrets of how they make creative entrepreneurship work—while also relishing time at home with their little ones. They prove, yes, you can focus on your family and find a work-from-home job you love.

Work in Shorter Bursts If You’re at Home

Outside of the traditional 9 to 5, the women we spoke to find their rhythm working in smaller pockets of time throughout the day, toggling between parenting and running a business. For Caitlin F., a mom of three in Ross, California who describes her working hours as “completely flexible,” a loose schedule can also come at a cost.

“I wish I was better about having set work hours to compartmentalize my life more,” she says of her time dedicated to her popular fashion blog, A Daily Cup of Couture. “When my children were younger, I used to work on my blog every day during nap time and I loved it. It was so nice to know I had those set few hours of the day where I knew I had to be home and it was peaceful.”

Now that her kids are school-age, Caitlin tries to fit work time between pick-up and drop-off, but also finds she hits peak productivity at night when everyone’s in bed. Bottom line? Take a cue from Caitlin and find a set window of time to ensure that work hours don’t bleed into family life.

Let Business Grow Organically

For Katy R., a mom of four in Chicago, Illinois who runs an online wellness community for women, her secret to success has been simply to follow her bliss.

“I never considered myself to be an ‘expert’ in meditation or mindfulness, and I never would have thought about making a career out of it. But the more I shared, genuinely, about something I was so passionate about, the more I felt called to do more, and opportunities began to present themselves. It's strange to say, but it unfolded organically. I had to be open and willing to take a risk on something that, at the time, felt so risky to me,” Katy says.

The more I shared, genuinely, about something I was so passionate about, the more I felt called to do more, and opportunities began to present themselves.

Svenja O., a mom of two in New York City, followed a similar trajectory. Svenja is a nutritionist and founder of MO•AI —a company that empowers women to live their healthiest lives. When asked for the inspiration behind MO•AI, Svenja says, “I have a passion for healthy food and I realized that I am good at motivating and connecting others. I love creating a community… so this is how my business was born.”

Enlist Friends as Test Subjects

Lisa R., a mom of four in Rye, New York, tested her business on close friends to first see what was possible. Now, years later, Lisa runs a thriving company, Smitten Films, that turns family photos and videos into beautiful keepsake films.

“The very first thing I did was test the concept for free for friends. I put in so many unpaid hours to see if it was possible to tell other people’s stories (I had already been making films for my immediate family)—turns out it was and that it was, in fact, easier to tell other people’s stories than it was to tell my own! Now I had proof of concept plus films I could show to prospective clients to help them understand what I was doing,” Lisa says.

The very first thing I did was test the concept for free for friends. I put in so many unpaid hours to see if [my idea] was possible…

“Armed with the confidence of people’s emotional reactions to the films and a portfolio of films + testimonials to prove it, I let my networks know what I was doing. All it took was a first few clients, which turned into a steady trickle of referrals, which lead to a steady stream of clients, and so on. Our earliest adopters still make films with us every year, and I would encourage people to invest heavily in those early ambassadors of your business. They are loyal and will sing your praises from the rooftops whenever they can!”

Build Your Village

We talk so often about leaning on our communities to find our footing in early parenthood. Turns out, the same concept holds true for entrepreneurship, too. Leah F., a mom of two in Brooklyn, New York, found herself pulled in a thousand different directions: leading a group for new moms, helming a Jewish community organization, and selling tie-dye creations. It wasn’t until Leah hired a business coach of her own that she found the clarity she needed to fine-tune her path toward becoming a business and life coach.

Now, with many of her interests consolidated, Leah can settle into a more sustainable, predictable schedule of working three days each week. “I keep this schedule so that I can have time with my family and time to be creative, learn, and have fun outside my job,” she says.

Community was instrumental to Caitlin’s success, too. “I started my blog when I was still working full-time and it was purely a hobby. I had always done it because I truly enjoyed it and once I decided to stay home with my children, I realized there was a bigger opportunity to take advantage of the platform and community I had built and make it more into a business instead of just a creative outlet. I now make money off of my blog and social media by collaborating with other brands as well as using affiliate links for products,” Caitlin shares.

And don’t discount childcare. While Lisa’s oldest is in school for a full six hours each day, her youngest—just 3 years old—is still at home. To ensure she can dedicate those six school hours toward her professional goals, Lisa hired a full-time nanny to provide care for her toddler.

Include Your Kids

There’s no rule to say that kids and business can’t mix. At least, that’s the no-pressure credo Katy seems to live by. “A lot of the meditations I lead are when the kids are still in bed in the early mornings, or when they're fast asleep at night. It's woven into our lives. Not seamlessly, but it works. And when it doesn't—I adjust,” Katy shares. “My kids and my family will always come first, but they also understand what I do and love being a part of it too. My little ones will sometimes join me for a mediation or pop in on a call and I try my best to just let it be ‘OK’. I think the less pressure I've put on it, the smoother it's felt.”

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How a Serial Entrepreneur Turned Her Passion Into a Business