I'm a Mom-Entrepreneur as well.  I have found another great group that I love:  American Business Women's Association (ABWA), my local chapter is:  www.nbexpress.org (Newport Beach Express Network-ABWA).   The ABWA is group of diverse business women, some business owners---some work for companies.  I really like being exposed to both...sometimes we entrepreneurs get to caught up in our E-bubble.  I think it' s beneficial to learn from those in other fields and also share with them, what we've learned.  I find this especially beneficial as many of my clients are not entrepreneurs.

Here's another question--Anyone know of a group that's beneficial to single-mom entrepreneurs?  I havent' found one yet and being a single mom entrepreneur is a whole other ball of wax. :)

Hi Joy,

Wow! You're a busy woman! I have a couple of suggestions for you. Since you can't find a sitter, is there a daycare locally that might take one or two kids maybe one day a week or a couple of half days? I found that sometimes they have little extra slots open that they will let you have as long as you're flexible. You'll probably break even for a while with the cost but it might give you some time to get ahead. I think sometimes kids benefit a little from being with their peers too.

Also, are you selling items? Maybe instead of doing your own web site, you can sell through eBay, or etsy.com or indiefinds.com. I have a friend who sells purses and totes through eBay and makes a good living. If your stuff is more upscale, you can sell on the others. Either way, you don't have to know HTML or anything about programming or shopping carts.

If you are offering sewing services, that would be local, right? Then maybe you can just have a basic web page telling about your services and a link to your "stores" on the other sites.

I hope that helps!
Chris

I like the word "mompreneuer." I hadn't heard it until recently, but it really explains in one word who we are. My children are 12 and 7 (and 20, but she doesn't live here). I worked full time outside my home when the kids were little because it was a necessity and because I loved my job. Now that we moved to a new location I decided to work at home. I love the flexibility of fitting work around the schedules of my husband and children. While school was in session work hours were easy to find. Now that school is out for summer I find more of my time is taken up by family matters. One thing that has helped me is getting up at 5 or 6 a.m. and working before the kids get out of bed. My kids sleep until at least 9 - usually later. Even though the 12-year-old polices the 7-year-old fairly well I still get to play referee often. But I don't worry about them being in danger of getting hurt if I'm not watching constantly - which is a plus.

I admire all of you who are operating businesses and raising small children at the same time. One idea ... find a reliable high school or junior high student who can babysit for a few hours a day or a few days a week. If you're going to be in the same house, even an older child could play with the kids and read them stories to give you time to work. My 12-year-old would be able to do that.

For an all-volunteer site, dedicated to small businesses who wish to succeed in federal government contracting, please see the below site:

http://www.smalltofeds.blogspot.com/

The federal government will contract in excess of $80B to small businesses in the next fiscal year.

There are over 50 agencies or "Departments" in the federal government. Each of these agencies has a statutory obligation to contract from small business for over 20% of everything it buys.

Contracting officers must file reports annually demonstrating they have fulfilled this requirement. Not fulfilling the requirement can put agency annual funding in jeopardy. Small business has a motivated customer in federal government contracting officers and buyers.

Large business, under federal procurement law, must prepare and submit annual "Small Business Contracting Plans" for approval by the local Defense Contract Management Area Office (DCMAO) nearest their headquarters. These plans must include auditable statistics regarding the previous 12 month period in terms of contracting to small businesses and the goals forecast for the next year.

The federal government can legally terminate a contract in a large business for not meeting small business contracting goals. Approved small business plans must accompany large business contract proposals submitted to federal government agencies. Small businesses have motivated customers in large business subcontract managers, administrators and buyers.

There are set-aside opportunities available for small entities,veterans, disabled veterans, women and minorities. All it takes is navigating the system, persistance, asking questions, registering, marketing, teaming and working hard.

Small Business America is good at that.

Hi Chris,

Sorry I haven't written sooner. I only have 1 home 3 days a week. My 4 yo goes to preschool M,W,F. I've been looking at these options for websites. Thanks for all your suggestions. I will try these.

Thanks

Joy