Starting your own business with photography and design - tips and tricks from an experienced Mompreneur

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What made you decide to become self-employed?

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A few years ago I completed a creative further education in the field of photography and multimedia design. My passion for this profession grew from day to day, but it was hard to reconcile with family and my former job at a bank. At some point I had to make a decision and decided to become a freelance photographer and designer. I have not regretted this step to this day. I work a lot, but I can organise my time myself, I am so much more flexible and can spend more time with my family.

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What is the best way to prepare yourself for the Mompreneur-existence?

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Of course, the initial dream of independence is very appealing. But good planning is also important here and that is not always just exciting. On the one hand, everything administrative like business plan, bookkeeping, entry in the commercial register. The financial aspect is of course also very important. A good financial planning helps to develop the business. Do I need savings to cover the first months? How do I avoid financial difficulties for my family? How do I avoid debts? Do I need investors? What investments do I need to make? Statement of costs, etc. Often I was a little overwhelmed here, but experts like a trust office and an insurance consultant can help. My own research as well. There are countless checklists to help you on your way to independence.

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What fears did you have during the founding process and how did you deal with them?

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My greatest fear was the financial aspect. Could we still pay our bills at the end of the month? Was it enough for my family and their needs? That's why I waited a long time before I took the step. For a long time it was a sideline, but once I had built up a customer base and achieved a certain "notoriety", I simply did it. One can only regret not having tried.

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What tips would you give other mompreneurs to help them cope with everyday life as a mum and as an entrepreneur?

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• When you are self-employed, you tend to work even harder to keep the business running. In my case this meant working night shifts to edit photos, answering emails even on weekends, stress, pressure and fear of not making it. At some point I realised that although I love doing it, this is also a job. And as with any job, whether employed or self-employed, you should stick to rest periods and days off. Enjoying time with the family, taking time for yourself, taking advantage of the benefits of self-employment and taking it one step at a time. If you are satisfied, this will also transfer to the family and to your business. Take the time to make it flourish. Rome was not built in a day either.
• We are specialists in our field, but when it comes to self-employment, other disciplines are also in demand (as a mompreneur you are somehow an all-rounder): For example, in addition to mum and photographer, I should also be a marketing expert so that I can reach my customers. Work into such areas or hire specialists to support you with your website, social media or Google Ads.