Interview with Antonia Chitty
1) Did some of the inspiration for this book come from your own experiences of setting up a business to fit around a growing family?
I struggled after the birth of my daughter to find a real work-life balance. I found being a stay at home mum on maternity leave hard going, and thought returning to work would be the answer. I negotiated to work a four day week and thought that would be a good balance. In reality I found all too quickly I was trying to do 5 days work in 4 days, and still paying most of my salary for childcare. Daisy was getting to be more and more fun, so, by the time she was 15 months I had quit and taken the plunge to work for myself.
2) What would you say are the most important things that people need to grasp when attempting to set up in business?
It's vital to have sticking power. No business is an overnight success, there will be ups and downs, but if you spend some time on the business every day you'll get there in the end.
The second most important thing is to get some help and support. I couldn't have done it without linking up with other working mums with their own businesses through websites like Babygreenhouse and Mumszone.co.uk. A second opinion or the reassuring voice of someone who has been there can be all you need to keep going, and the joy of networking online is even busy parents can do it in five minutes at the pc. If you can, visit your local enterprise agency for advice, and find a local networking group too - but I now it can be hard to find the time to do this, which is why the internet is so invaluable.
3) Has the book been constructed in such a way that it can offer relevant advice, no matter what kind of venture is being set up?
Absolutely. There are general chapters to tell you about your rights, legislation, and with plenty of practical tips on how to set up a business. Then, there are chapters focusing on franchises, working freelance, selling a product etc. Each chapter is packed with real life experiences from mums and dad, which can help inspire and inform you, whatever sort of enterprise you are creating.
4) What, would you say, are the best things and worst things about building up your own business after you've started a family?
Two sides of the same coin really - the main plus point is that you are entirely in control of your own time, and can be there at the school gate, stay home when a child is sick, and work the hours that suit you. However, to counter this, there are never enough hours in the day, always one more thing to do, and it can be hard to switch off.
5) What are the most common pitfalls to avoid?
Starting without enough research. Save yourself expensive mistakes by asking people how much they would spend on the sort of product or service you are offering, then do a few trial runs.
Giving up too soon. It can take up to three years for a business to be making a steady profit. Work out your pricing carefully, calculate how much you need to sell to break even, and you'll have a clearer idea of when you are likely to see a profit. Hang in there, though - it won't happen overnight.
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