Name of Business: Family Friendly Working, The Mumpreneur Guide, PRBasics and ACPR

Antonia Chitty

Tell us about your family: I’m 38 and live in Sussex with my partner, David and Daisy, 6, Jay, 3 plus number 3  should be here by the time you read this.

What did you do before coming up with your business idea (previous career, stay at home mum etc) and how was it making the transition?

I started off as an optometrist. I took to heart careers advice about a ‘good career’, but this didn’t take into account what I loved to do. I found seeing patients every half hour repetitive and was delighted to move, after 5 years, to a job with RNIB promoting eye health. This made me realise that I enjoyed researching, writing and promoting, all of which are skills I still use today. I followed this with three years covering health for which magazine and a short stint at the British Medical Association before going freelance. I hated working once Daisy had been born and felt that I wasn’t being a good mum, and wasn’t putting the hours in at work either. Working for myself has allowed me to control my time the way I want.

When did you launch? How did you get started?

I went freelance in April 2003, and started ACPR very soon after, as a result of a request from a mum on a forum for help in writing a press release, in return for some of her handmade cloth nappies. I did various further trades to get the business going, and found a real need for affordable help with PR. I developed some factsheets which went down well, and a couple of people suggested I turn them into a book. In 2007 I brought out A Guide to Promoting your Business, a workbook for busy entrepreneurs who want a straightforward guide. It is all about doing your own PR rather than theory. That was my first book, and I’m now working on books 7 and 8.

What has worked well about your business?

It has allowed me to work on a variety of interesting projects, continually develop my skills and make a contribution to the family income every month. I get to see my kids when I want and use childcare only as I choose.

I am also delighted with the way my business has expanded. I started off with a little feature writing and a PR business, ACPR, www.acpr.co.uk. As I became more experienced and business savvy I could put my prices up, so I slotted in www.prbasics.co.uk and A Guide to Promoting Your Business so I could continue to offer plenty of free resources and advice and a low cost guide for business owners on a budget who wanted to do their own PR. I then wrote Family Friendly Working for White Ladder Press, and have since developed this website for anyone who is looking for flexible work or inspired ideas about starting a business. And I’m still working on www.themumpreneurguide.co.uk, which will contain the ultimate handbook for mums in business, just as soon as I can slot in finishing it!

What has been your biggest challenge so far? How have you dealt with it?

Having new babies always throws things back a few steps. It can be a challenge to manage maternity leave when you run your own business. This time, I’ve had to postpone finishing The Mumpreneur Guide book. However, I’ve really enjoyed the chance to get back to work gradually and think this should be available to all employees. Staying in touch days are a good start at this.

How do you fit in work with the family?

Daisy is at school full time, Jay goes to nursery three days a week, which gives me around 18 hours of undisturbed work. I may then deal with emails and short queries after they are home or in the evening.

What advice would you give to someone else wanting to work in this area?

There is lots of scope for freelance writing and PR. The best thing to do is find a niche and develop it. 

Antonia Chitty is author of

Family Friendly Working (www.familyfriendlyworking.co.uk) (White Ladder Press)

A guide to Promoting Your Business (www.prbasics.co.uk)

What to Do When Your Child Hates School (White Ladder Press)

Special Educational Needs: A Parent’s Guide (Need2Know Books)

Insomnia: The Essential Guide (Need2Know Books)

Parenting a Child with Special Needs (White Ladder Press)

The Commercial Writing Guide: Business Writing for a Living (Robert Hale Books)

The Mumpreneur Guide (ACPR Due September 2009)

You can find out more about her freelance writing at www.antoniachitty.co.uk and her PR business at www.acpr.co.uk .