I first wrote this post back in 2014. Blogging was just the most recent of the self-employment options I had tried, and my virtual assistant business was still in its infancy (as were my children!) I really didn’t expect to still be here more than 10 years later, but here I am, older, wiser, and with adult children who, for the most part look after themselves now (it does come to most of us eventually!).
But I still remember all the start ups. the things I did that just weren’t right for me, and then finally, the new career that has stuck and has allowed me to learn and grow.
Starting your own business can be exciting, empowering and… let’s be honest, slightly terrifying. Whether you’re working from your kitchen table of your peaceful McCarthy & Stone property while the washing machine does its third spin of the day, or running things from a small home office with a cuppa in hand, there are a few pitfalls almost every new entrepreneur stumbles into.
And guess what? That’s OK. We all make mistakes (yes, even the business coaches and so-called ‘gurus’ who claim they never do 🙄). But if you can avoid the big ones, you’ll save yourself a ton of stress, time, and probably a bit of cash too.
I’d love to say that I didn’t make any of these when I started, but I would be lying. Being your own boss can be so exciting when you first do it, that of course you want to do all the things all at once, and that’s where it can all go wrong.
Let’s talk about three of the most common hiccups I see from mums starting businesses from home, and how to sidestep them like the savvy CEO you want to be.
1. Trying to Grow Too Fast (Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Remember?)
You’ve got your business idea. You’ve set up your social media. You’ve even made a logo in Canva (go you!). Now the temptation kicks in to go big or go home, right?
Please don’t!
Trying to scale your business like you’re running Amazon from your spare room isn’t just overwhelming – it can be dangerous. Hiring help before you’ve got consistent income, launching new products every five minutes, or trying to be on all the social media platforms at once (don’t do it, Susan) – these things can burn you out before you’ve even seen your first proper client.
All the gurus are out there telling you to do all the things. But if you look harder, each one of them generally only does one or two of the things – the one which they have proved works best for them. When you start up it is physically impossible to do all the things, so you need to pick just a few ideas and run with them. Then figure out which works best for you, and mix and match.
Start small. Build smart. Choose one product or service, sell it well and become an expert. Nurture the customers you already have instead of always chasing new ones. Honestly, your first handful of happy clients are worth their weight in gold—they’ll bring referrals, reviews, and the confidence boost you need.
Real talk: You don’t need to be “everywhere” and “everything” all at once. Just be really good at one thing to start with. You can add bells and whistles later.
2. Saying ‘Yes’ to Everything (Even When You’re Screaming ‘No’ Inside)
I get it. When your first clients want to pay you to do something – anything – you say yes, right? You need the experience, the testimonials, the cash.
But if you say yes to everything and everyone, you’ll end up running yourself ragged, doing work you hate for people you don’t even like. I’ve certainly done this, and to be honest the client wasn’t particularly satisfied and neither was I. Definitely no glowing referrals there.
Learning to say “no” is one of the most powerful skills you can develop as a mum in business. Not every job is the right fit. Not every client is your dream client. And not every opportunity is as golden as it looks.
Pro tip: If something feels off in your gut – if it underpays, undervalues you, or sounds like it’ll suck up all your time—say no (politely) and move on.
One brilliant client who respects your boundaries will do more for your sanity and success than five who treat you like their personal assistant.
3. Overplanning Yourself Into a Corner
Let’s talk about the mum who spent three months designing the perfect website… before she’d even sold a single product. Or the mum who had a colour-coded planner, a 10-year vision board, and 74 to-do lists, but still didn’t actually start the business.
Ahem… if you’re feeling personally attacked, I promise it’s only out of love.
Planning is great. I love a good planner as much as the next super- organised chaos queen. But overplanning can become a sneaky form of procrastination, especially when you’re too nervous to actually launch.
If your business plan is so rigid that it doesn’t allow for real-life curveballs (like toddler tantrums, postal strikes, or unexpected viral trends), then you’re going to struggle to adapt.
Top tip: Keep your goals loose enough to flex with life. Plan for the next 6–12 months and leave room to pivot. You don’t need a crystal ball—you just need momentum. Planning is good but it’s only part of the equation. YOu have to do the things on the plan and figure out if they work or not.
In a Nutshell…
You’re allowed to make mistakes. In fact, get used to the fact that you will, because it’s part of the learning process. But if you can, try to avoid these three biggies:
- Growing too fast
- Saying yes to the wrong things
- Planning yourself into a never-starting spiral
…then you’ll give yourself the very best chance of creating a business that works for you; your life, your family, and your goals.
And remember, you don’t have to do it all alone. Get support, find your community, and don’t be afraid to start small and grow at your own pace. You’re building a business, not running a race.
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Hi Debbie! I am Mai of Fourerr:) This post is a must read for every startup business. What you shared here is truly an eye opener for them to realise that starting small should not intimidate them after all. Success will surely follow in the long run. From our point of view, we believe these startups should also consider hiring freelancers to help them in executing some of their goals and objectives. Being a one-man business, freelancers could give them the assistance they need without costing them much compared to hiring workers on a traditional job set up (8-5 employees).Will come back for more informative posts from you, see you around the web Debbie!