Being a strategy consultant and mother at the same time? What you should pay attention to.
Motives for entrepreneurship
For Noëmi, freedom is the highest value in life. So it was always clear to her that she wanted to start as an entrepreneur. So she did not become self-employed - as is often the case with Mompreneurs - because of motherhood, but wanted to start a business from the very beginning: Whether with or without a child.
The harsh reality
However, Noëmi realised early on that the impact of her motherhood on her and her business had been underestimated. After a difficult pregnancy combined with physical exhaustion after giving birth, she suffered a burnout. With her little daughter, she was much less flexible than before and always had to rely on outside care for her daughter to be able to work at all.
Her consulting job requires a lot of flexibility and mobility - it's not a nine to five job and the client decides when and where to meet. At the same time, childcare provided by a crèche is usually not very flexible, is open during normal office hours and in case of an emergency or illness, someone must always be nearby.
Despite being an entrepreneur, she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her daughter, who was going through a major development in early childhood. In addition, the cost of caring for children in Switzerland is high. So before any money comes in from a client, Noëmi has to spend money. So doubts soon arose: Is the business still worthwhile financially? Because even a car trip to another canton now costs her even more than it already does.
Taking responsibility
As Mompreneur, Noëmi is not only responsible for herself, but also for her daughter and, for the past year, for an employee whose salary must also be paid. Her responsibility has therefore increased in recent years, which again creates pressure and stress.
What Noëmi would have done differently in retrospect
In conversation, Noëmi says: "I should have either set up a business with regulated working hours and a fixed place of work or chosen another man who would have been more supportive in looking after my daughter". This shows how important family support would have been for her, especially in her daughter's early childhood. Noëmi also makes it clear that Mompreneurs everyday life would be easier with a child who is already older and therefore more independent.
The activity of the company itself also makes a difference for Noëmi. In her field of activity, for example, many things cannot be planned because she is very dependent on the customer and has to be very mobile. In other industries where a nine to five job is possible as a self-employed person or in an online business she can imagine that the advantages of being a mompreneur can be more realistic.
How to best prepare for the Mompreneur-existence
Noëmi was particularly helped by the exchange with other Mompreneurs. She recommends you to find contact points or people who have experiences as mompreneurs and as entrepreneurs and tell them about them. She also emphasises the importance of the social environment, which actively supports the decision to become a Mompreneur. It is important to have people around you who support you not only as an entrepreneur or as a mother, but in combination and as a whole.
Otherwise it is essential to prepare for entrepreneurship itself with a good strategy, medium to long term business planning and well thought out positioning. Self-employment brings with it many different challenges, as you are responsible for everything yourself. You should acquire knowledge in advance on topics such as accounting, taxes, insurance, legal issues (such as liability, contracts and data protection) and administrative or external experts. For the last year, Noëmi has had a member of staff who takes care of delegable tasks such as e-mail, social media and finances for her.
Everyday life as an independent mother
Noëmi emphasises that it takes a lot of time, energy and discipline to build up your own company. One could not assume that it would run right from the start and that one would immediately be 100 percent employed.
Another important point to be aware of once you have set up your business is insurance, Noëmi says. As an employee, you are very well protected in Switzerland, but as a self-employed person, you pay unemployment benefits, but you are not entitled to them in case of unemployment. This can result in financial problems, which can be devastating, especially as a single mother. Financial planning is therefore particularly important.
Tips from Noëmi Schöni for prospective Mompreneurs:
- Having a vision:
You should always be aware of why you started your business and what your values are. This vision can also change over time. Think again and again why you are taking the whole thing upon yourself and what your goal is.
- Reality Check:
Do a Reality Check before you start your business. Is it realistic what you are planning or is it just a dream? How does the whole thing work in reality? What are the costs that come your way? Gather experience from mompreneurs and entrepreneurs, draw up a business plan and think through everything.
- Plan a cushion:
You should always start from the unpredictable. Therefore, build up reserves for bad times and be careful with your income.
