be deducted. That brings me to the
next point:
Hire a bookkeeper or a certified public
accountant (CPA) to do your taxes.
I know I am suggesting you spend
money here, and I realize that is not
something you may be able to do at
first. But as soon as you are able, I
highly recommend you hire someone
to help you do your taxes. Your taxes
will be more complicated when you
are self-employed, and investing in a
professional to help you will save you
money in the long run.
Determine your business type. If it’s
just you, you are probably going to file
your taxes as a sole proprietor. Once
your income increases, you might
look into filing as a Limited Liability
Company (LLC). This protects you in
the event of a lawsuit. One day you
might be able to set up your business
as an S-Corp, which has certain tax
benefits for those who are earning
above a certain amount. If your at-
home business is direct sales or a
multilevel marketing venture, your up-
line should be able to help you with
this. If not, I recommend talking to a
CPA.
Join a business suppor t group.
Brilliant Business Moms, iBloom
in Business, and Christy Wright’s
Business Boutique are all networks
for Christian women in business that I
have utilized at some point in my work-
at-home mom journey. Also, check
44 • Solutions
your local Chamber of Commerce for
their offerings. Consider attending a
professional conference like Business
Boutique, which is perfect for female
entrepreneurs. This has been one of
my favorite conferences to attend
over the past few years.
ACTION STEP: If you’re ready to try
a work-at-home mom gig, start by
setting up a separate bank account
just for your business (make sure to
discuss this with your spouse first!).
Then work your way through the other
steps to set up your business.
MAKE AND SELL
M
any moms generate income
from home by selling home-
made items on online marketplaces
like Etsy.com and HyenaCart.com,
at local craft shows, and even via
personal websites. Homemade goods
can range from skin-care products
to baked goods to graphic design to
clothing to baby items and so much
more!
After she became a mom, my friend
Erin, a nurse and lactation counselor
by trade, began making lactation
cookies to help breastfeeding mamas
increase their milk production. She
and her friends enjoyed them so
much that she decided to make a
business out of baking and selling
custom-ordered lactation cookies