Starting a Business: My Story

In 2009 when I started my blog I thought someday I might be able to build my love of writing into a career. Someday came much sooner than I expected, and now in my fourth year of blogging I can say I have a bonafide business that I grew from my own hard work. Whether you’re considering blogging as a career, or are already blogging and looking for ways to earn more I hope my story helps.

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Earning Money

My motivation to earn money came with the realization that in order to turn the tides on our debt we needed more money. While I focused on cutting back for several months, including slashing monthly expenses totalling $17,000/year, and experimenting with how frugal we could be, eventually the focus had to shift to earning more.

In my first year of blogging I focused on writing, building my network, and learning while juggling parenting and part-time work. Since I knew blogging may never bring in money (though I hoped it would someday), I had to earn money elsewhere since every dollar helps us get closer to being debt-free.

In that first year I wrote after the kids went to bed for the night, early in the morning, or on break from my part-time jobs. With my startup costs for the blog coming in around $50 for 2 years (I scored a sale on hosting, and my domain) I considered it an investment knowing if it didn’t work out it was a fun hobby.

Over the next two years I had a variety of ways to earn more money:

• babysitting for friends
• bartering time for services
• part-time jobs including coaching swimming and working at Target
• freelance writing for other sites
• providing childcare for a church once a week

Finding Time & Balance

I was still a full-time mom responsible for homeschooling (for 2 years), household chores, and caring for the kids every day. But I also needed to make time for writing, learning, research, and social media.

The key to finding time was giving up TV watching, some activities and community groups I had been active in, and even sleep.

It wouldn’t have been possible without my supportive and encouraging husband though who often takes over the household and kid wrangling duties so I could find some quiet at the bookstore or local Starbucks to work.

I don’t believe balance is something that happens all at once, it an ever evolving process that can change on a daily basis. The key for me is knowing what is most important, and prioritizing. Family always comes first.

Success Slowly & All at Once

By the end of my first year of blogging I had earned enough to cover my expenses (including my laptop-a gift from my husband for Christmas before I started the blog). I also learned that if I was going to get serious about blogging (and paying down debt) I need to pick and choose my projects.

In 2010 I cut back on working outside the home and focused on building my blog’s advertising, and creating content for my blog.

As time went on I started to work more with brands and sponsors, and by the end of my second year of blogging I had launched two more businesses. I had to say ‘no’ more often to opportunities and quit some side gigs as my main businesses grew.

Bootstrap Business:

In the last 4 years I’ve launched a blog business for myself, a consulting company with my business partner {Just Centsible Consulting}, and a collaborative group with several other bloggers {Splash Creative Media}.

All three of these businesses were launched through hard work, and very little upfront costs. With both the consulting business and our collaborative group the earnings from our clients were used to offset the costs of our startup. The blog (as outlined above) cost very little upfront for the first two years ($50).

To keep costs to a minimum we do as much work as possible ourselves, and hire out for the important stuff like filing an LLC, taxes, or creating contractual agreements between partners.

No matter what your field starting a business doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to mean giving up family time or activities you love. It’s important that you follow some guidelines to keep your business from taking over your work life, and to focus on where the money is coming from.

Lessons Learned

Now in my 4th year of blogging, and 2nd year of consulting I’m finding a balance between earning money, spending time with family, and focusing on myself.

I’ve learned so much about myself, my strengths, and weaknesses through the process of building these businesses. My top 5 pieces of advice for starting your own business:

1. Be passionate: Without passion for what you are doing it will feel like work.
2. Know your weaknesses: If you need something done and don’t have the skills or passion to learn them, ask for help (or hire help!).
3. Be mindful of your Money and Time: If you have a fabulous business idea but it will take tons of capital or time that you don’t have, consider out of the box ways you can make it work. Does finding a business partner make sense? Starting up smaller than your vision?
4. Follow the Data: Tracking your time, expenses, and income is the most obvious data to follow. Use data to figure out what your readers or customers are really engaged with, and why.
5. Take Care of You: This should really be number one, but if you’re stressed, sick, and not taking care of yourself it will be much harder to give your business your all.

Since my husband is launching a business as well {Whalen Labs} we’re always adapting and evolving to work smarter.

Being home when my kids need me is priceless. I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Have you started your own business or figured out ways to earn more? I’d love to here about your experiences in the comments.

Resources:

Looking for resources on starting your own business or blogging? I’ve linked to some fantastic products below.

ProBlogger’s book

Julie’s blog post on How to start mom blogging (applies to all kinds of blogging)

Visit MomComm for lots of great free content, and courses on blogging.

Take Your Mom Blog to the Next Level (again applies to all kinds of blogging)

Kelly

This post contains affiliate links.

About Kelly

Kelly Whalen is the founder and editor of the Centsible Life. She started the blog in 2008 as her family faced a mountain of debt and the fixer upper they purchased became a FIXER UPPER. The website was born out of her desire to share what was working (and what was not) on her family's journey to financial security. Kelly lives in Minneapolis with her family.

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