Can I Start a New Business When Pregnant?
Most working moms dream of starting their own businesses at some point. The opportunity to open a new company can come even when you are pregnant or when trying to get pregnant. As such pregnancy does not prevent you from working or starting your own business.
If you have a business idea that you want to launch, go ahead and be an entrepreneur. You can successfully start and run a new business when pregnant. Managing your own business, despite being pregnant has many benefits that you will enjoy.
No one should make you think you are crazy for quitting work and starting your own business when expecting a baby. You may face a few challenges but running your own business during pregnancy is very possible and doable. It is not a risky or reasonable move. You can have a baby and run a successful business.
Read: Do this before Quitting Work for Self Employment
Should I Wait Till Birth/After Pregnancy to Start my own Company?
You should not wait on setting up your company because you are pregnant or just before getting pregnant. There is no need to wait until you deliver your baby for you to pursue the dream of running your own business.
You can open and run a successful business now without waiting till you have a baby. An opportunity for your business will not wait and hence do not wait before actualizing the idea for your startup.
Do not wait until after pregnancy to improve and develop your professional dreams. Don’t give up starting my business because you are having a baby. While new startups face a lot of challenges in the beginning, you do not need to put it off till you give birth.
You should start at whatever stage in your pregnancy you are in. You can have a successful startup in your first trimester at 1 month, 2 months, or 3 months pregnancy, your second trimester at 4 months, 5 months, or 6 months pregnancy, or your third trimester at 7 months, 8 months, or even 9 pregnant.
A Step by Step Guide on Successfully Starting New Business when Pregnant
Step 1: Choose a Favorable Niche/Market for your Company
Choosing a good and profitable niche is a very important step towards a successful new venture for pregnant working moms.
To make your new venture successful, you need to carefully choose your niche and market. Because you are pregnant or just before getting pregnant, you need an industry that will allow you flexibility, and balance family and work.
Starting a business in a mom or family-friendly industry is very important. It will become easy for you to manage the transition from being employed to being self-employed. Also, the right niche and industry will give you time to take care of yourself during pregnancy and once your baby arrives.
Read: Mom-Friendly Niches and Industries to Start New Businesses
Step 2: Develop a Business Plan for your New Business
Once you have figured out the market and the niche that you want to target with your new company, you need to develop a business plan. Writing a solid business plan for a new business is important for pregnant moms seeking to be self-employed.
It is important that you are able to create a solid plan as it is the blueprint for your business. You will need to refer to its details to ensure you remain on course and aligned with your mission and vision.
The business plan should describe the business, the products that your new company will offer, a model of how you will make money, how you will market the products, how your business will operate, the personnel you need, the competitors, and eventually how much money you need to start and run a new business.
Step 3: Raise Money for Starting and Running the Business
For you to start and run a business, you will need a heavy financial backup. Because you are already pregnant you will need even a strong financial base because of baby and delivery-related costs. It will be a while before your business starts making returns.
Having financial security is important in successfully starting a new business. As such the first thing to do when opening your business when pregnant or just before getting pregnant is to set up your financial safety net. This step of starting involves setting a target of the amount that will cater to your personal and business costs.
Once you know how much you need to rise to open and run your company for at least six months, devise strategies for how you will raise this money. You can save towards this from your salary. Alternatively, you can secure a loan that will or get assistance from your partner.
Step 4: Quit your Job and Launch your Business
Once your business place is ready, it is time to run your plan. In this step of starting your own business when pregnant, you will actualize what you have laid down in your plan. Look at what your operational plan guides you on and gets things running.
It is also time to quit your job so that you can fully commit your time and other resources to your new business.
Secure the funds, acquire and set up your new office, employ needed employees, buy products, etc, and lastly launch the new business. All these are very possible and doable even when heavily pregnant.
Read: How to Quit your Job when Pregnant
Simple Expert Tips on Balancing New Business & Pregnancy
1. Get a Support System – Helps Relieve Stress
Have a strong support system in place. It could include your partner, family, and friend. They will help you navigate the transition to running and managing a new business when pregnant.
2. Get an Alternative Source Of Income
Get a source of income to use between quitting your job and when your new business successfully starts making money.
3. Hire Competent Employees – Ensures Smooth Running of Business
Acquire competent employees and train them on your chores. While you have started your business while pregnant, its continuity and success are important even when you take maternity leave. To ensure that your new company is successful you need to acquire and train competent personnel now.
4. Train Employees for Succession- Helps you Work Balance
Let your employees know how to handle your chores so that your new business does not stall once you take leave after delivery. Delegate as much as possible for your business. Anything you can automate or give someone else is key.
Also, write an operation manual your employees will have as a reference book if you are not available. Create an actual step-by-step guide to how everything works now or when on maternity leave. It will be very crucial to make your small business a success.
5. Outsource and Delegate Household Services-Helps you Work Balance
You need help with household chores so that you can focus your time and energy on your company. Successfully starting and managing a new business when pregnant is time-consuming and draining. You need help with keeping your home in order.
Read: Top Services Working Moms Should Outsource
6. Self-care is Important for Pregnant Moms Managing New Businesses
You need to take good care of yourself. Eat right, get adequate sleep, and exercise when you can. You need your body and mind to be in good shape so that you can focus on your company.
Always remember to take a few minutes to yourself no matter where you are to decompress. Doing this is crucial in making your new business a success.
7. Plan for Adequate Maternity Leave
Do not deny yourself the time to heal and recover once the baby arrives. Take as much time as possible on maternity leave as you need and your business can allow. You can successfully plan this by putting systems and routines in place that allow your new business to run successfully while you are away.
8. Save for Maternity Leave
To take adequate time in maternity leave, you need to start saving towards this. If your business does not break even by the time you are going for leave you will not have an income. Therefore starting saving early allows you to take more time when you need it.
9. Lay the Groundwork for your Business Now
Start laying the groundwork for your new business now when pregnant. Your employees should know what to expect and what is expected of them. Start training your staff to do those tasks only you can do, and start that now. Doing so will make your new company successful despite being pregnant and expecting a baby soon.
10. Remote or Work Virtually when Possible
If your business allows you to work remotely do so. Take time to work from home or virtually to give you more flexibility in managing your business while pregnant.
Remote or virtual work will allow you to stay in touch with your business even when you are on maternity leave. Be frank with employees about what you’ll be able to do, what you can’t, and what will be different during maternity leave.
11. Plan for Reliable and Affordable Childcare
Get reliable and affordable childcare in advance. Starting and running a business when pregnant means at some point you will need childcare. Now is the time to plan for your childcare in order to ensure you will be back to your business after maternity leave.
