Those who have been reading my blog for a while know that I recently transitioned out of my full-time web marketing job to become 100% self-employed. Truthfully, it was a very scary transition, and it was something that I considered for a few years before taking the leap.  I was able to transition to full-time self-employment because my side businesses had a proven track record of success, my husband was in a stable, good paying position, and we were able to switch over to his health insurance (which consequently turned out to have far better benefits than the plan we were on with my employer). God has certainly blessed my business efforts over the past several months (transitioned on April 30), and my salary has even increased by a significant amount. Talk about confirmation that it was the right decision to work from home and spend more time with the kiddos!

Women often ask me how to make money working from home, and more specifically, how to start a successful personal training or web marketing career. As a result, I started my Health and Wellness Business Mentorship Program. I have really enjoyed mentoring several women, and it’s so fun to see their businesses grow. However, not everyone has the right personality to enjoy working from home. Here are a few helpful tips if you are considering a career transition.

• Consider your gifts and passions. Do your talents and abilities fit in with a career that can be accomplished from home? For example, I am a web marketing specialist. I am able to do 100% of my work on the computer — from anywhere. And thanks to modern technology, I am working with clients from all over the world. Our meetings can be conducted via Google Chat, and we are able to do video calls and screen shares on a regular basis. The same goes for my personal training business. I have developed a tried and true program that I can run from home to help ladies all of the world reach their fitness and nutrition goals.
• Ask yourself — are you a self-starter and/or capable of motivating yourself to stay focused and complete project without any oversight or clear deadlines. Frankly, are you a workaholic like me? Being self-employed is not easy for everyone. I wake up early every day and am working by 8 a.m. No exceptions — ever. I write out my to-do list and check things off the list every day without anyone asking or checking up on me. I often work 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with very little to no breaks (besides playing with the kids and tending to their needs). Does that sound like something you would enjoy?
• Do you have a designated space in your house to work — free of distractions? Truthfully, I am feeling claustrophobic right now in our temporary apartment. I have to work in the main living area since we only have a two bedroom apartment until we move into our new house (which will have an office for me on the main floor where I can still see and keep tabs on the kids).

• Financially, can you afford to have a few “down months” while you build your business? Do you have debt that needs to be paid off, any big upcoming loan applications, or the need for insurance? Do you have 6-8 months of living expense in your emergency fund and significant money in your retirement accounts. I waited until we were 100% debt free before I transitioned out of my full-time job. Thankfully, God blessed my business immediately after I became 100% self-employed. However, I was in a financial place where I could afford a few “down months.” Here’s where I messed up — I failed to realize that mortgage companies will not accept self-employment income unless you’ve been self-employed for more than 2 years. I sold my house, and THEN realized that my mortgage company would not consider my income for the loan on our new build. Thankfully, Brandon’s salary is significant, and we were approved for our loan solely based on his pay (but it was a close one). Honestly, this could have caused a major problem for us, and I am very thankful that it worked out.
• Will you have more than one source of income to make money working from home (ie: I have income from my online gym clients, my DVD sales, my web marketing clients (my most significant income is derived from these clients), and my in-the-gym clients (my least amount of money is derived from in-the-gym clients, but it also brings me the most fulfillment).

I provide the list above, not to discourage you from transition to a work-from-home situation to make money working from home, but to encourage you to consider important factors. I truly believe that I have the very best of both worlds — a successful career, and the flexibility to be with my babies all day. And I would absolutely LOVE to mentor you as part of my business mentorship program if you believe that you have the right scenario to be 100% self-employed and to work from home.

Here are the benefits of being a work-from-home mom and making money working from home.

• I get to be with my babies all day — Hello, can it get any better than that? I am currently typing this while holding Cole and blowing raspberries on his cheekies, and watching Emma try on all of my shoes from the closet.
• I have the flexibility to make money working from home, but I can also work from anywhere. When I go on vacation, I am still able to service my clients, and when I went on an 8 day business trip with Brandon, and was sill able to do social media strategy, SEO work, and website updates for clients, in addition to run my online Virtual Boot Camp.
• I am home and available in case of an emergency with Brandon’s work. If he has to stay late at work, I am already home with the kiddos and don’t have to call in any extra help from sitters, etc.
• I have more time to be productive. I don’t have any transition time from commuting to work, etc. That being said, I do take the kids to a sitter two times a week so I can have 3 focused hours of work on Tuesday and Thursday with my interns/clients. However, I used to drive at least an hour each day, and that is a lot of time that I could be using to do client work.
• I love being at home (when I live in a house). It’s so nice to wake up in the morning and answer client emails with my PJs on while I sip my coffee. I am ready for the day by 8 a.m., but even if I’m on a video call, I only have to be sure that my shirt is business casual. No one knows what I wear below the waist. Ha.

So, do you have what it takes to be successful as a work-at-home mom? Does it sound challenging or appealing to you?