Business Ideas For Single Moms

Business Ideas For Single Moms

Being a single mom without a regular source of income to take care of your kid(s) and yourself can be frustrating. However, you don’t need to be a victim when you can control your life instead by starting a business either as a side hustle or full-time? So, if you need business ideas suitable for you as a single mom, here are the best and most profitable business ideas for single moms.

An Introduction To Business Ideas For Single Moms

As a single mom with a full-time or part-time job, you can also become a business owner.

Just because you are a single mom doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the life you want and be financially happy.

If you are strong enough to cater to and nurture your kid(s), then you can equally nurture and grow a thriving business.

Above all, starting a business does not mean that you won’t have time for yourself or your family anymore.

The trick is to manage your time and your priorities well.

But first, let’s discuss the benefits of starting a business as a single mom.

Reasons Why You Should Consider Starting A Business As A Single Mom

There are various reasons to start a business as a single mom.

Firstly, you have developed multi-tasking and problem-solving skills.

You’ve picked up these skills naturally when managing your kids and attending to their every demand.  

These are vital skills for business success.

Another reason is your ability to work independently.

So far, you’ve fared well raising your kids alone.

You’ve built the mental, emotional, and physical agility that will help you cope with the challenges of running a business all by yourself.

Furthermore, you’ve undoubtedly coped with the uncertainties of motherhood.

You weren’t sure if you could handle the demands of motherhood or be an excellent mom to your kid(s).

So far, you’ve been doing pretty good at it.

Business is just the same.

There are so many uncertainties involved.

Just as you’ve learned to adapt to the changes motherhood brought to your life, you’ll also learn to adapt to the uncertainties in business.  

Above all, there’s no limitation to starting a business as a single mom, except those you’re placing on yourself.

Countless stories abound of single moms who beat the odds stacked against them and established successful businesses.

We can certainly draw some inspiration from some of these phenomenal ladies.

Single Mom Entrepreneurs Case Studies

Let the success stories of these successful women featured on ESME inspire you to be all you can be and more- a single mom & Entrepreneur.

Janice Taylor

Janice Taylor is a single mom of two kids and CEO of a tech brand in Canada.

She founded Mazu Technologies Inc- a digital platform where parents and kids connect.

Cashmere Nicole

Cashmere Nicole started her business at 32.

She is a single mom, breast cancer survivor, founder, and CEO of a cosmetics brand called Beauty Bakerie.

Yalanda P. Lattimore

Yalanda P. Lattimore is also a single mom with four kids.

She worked three jobs, one of which included selling gift baskets – these she did seven days a week.

Eventually, she realized there’s more to life than her current status.

Putting all her past experiences and passion together, she founded and launched DryerBuzz.com in 2002.

Alyson Fox

Alyson Fox is also a single mother with a successful business.

She started Levine Fox Events- an event management company, in 1997 alongside her daughter.

If there’s anything, these success stories are proof that anyone can start and scale a successful business, as long as they’re willing to put in the work.

With that said, let’s explore 12 profitable business ideas that single moms or anyone desiring to own a business can invest in.

12 Business Ideas For Single Moms

These businesses cut across different industries.

So, whether you’re technically inclined, artistic, or have more interests in the education sector, there’s something here for you.

1. Catering Business

Catering is a wonderful business for a single mom.

If you have culinary skills, you can be a good caterer.

It is a profitable and self-fulfilling business idea if you do it right.

To be successful in this business, you should be able to cook healthy and tasty food for your customers.

Also, you should be able to cook large portions of food for multiple people.

You’ll need to purchase cooking equipment, serving dishes, cooking apparel, napkins, and more.

Of course, certain cust cutting measures like renting cooking items/utensils, starting the business from your home, and so on will help save some startup costs.

In addition, before you start, make sure to decide on your area of specialty.

This is all about asking what events you will provide your catering services.

Will it be; children’s parties, corporate events, weddings, birthdays, special anniversaries, and so on.

Finally, get the right licenses and permits, decide on what your menu will consist of, and pick a suitable location for your business.

2. Beauty Salon / Makeup Artist

Not everyone can afford an expensive beauty parlor service.

You can set yourself up as a business that offers affordable and good-quality services in this regard.

This way, you’ll be offering them quality services that match those of other saloons for a budget-friendly price.

It could be a unisex salon.

You could personally render these services to your clients or hire competent individuals to do the work.

You could get an office space or use a space in your home, depending on your unique circumstance.

3. Tutoring – Business Ideas For Single Moms

This is for you if you have a degree, extensive knowledge in a particular subject area, and the confidence to teach students.

With this business, you have two options regarding how you grow your business.

Firstly, you can do your tutoring business one-on-one with your students.

However, you’ll be restricted to working with only students in your area/locality.

This is a lot more manageable, impactful, and easier to get tutoring clients.

You could simply walk up to parents/guardians/colleges/Academic institutions and pitch to them.

However, your earning potential can be minimal since you’ll be working with a handful of segmented individuals- students in your area.

The second option is online tutoring.

Here you teach your students across various regions online through video calling.

You could either register with tutoring companies and offer your tutoring services to their premium clients.

Otherwise, you could create your video lessons and upload them on your social media/video-sharing platform account.

You could help students break down complex subjects or courses to their simplest forms.

Also, you can help students prepare for their college entrance exams.

4. Fashion Designing

This is also one of the best business ideas for single moms because the fashion industry continues to grow exponentially.

Do you love sewing?

Then, it’s time to turn this passion/hobby into a business.

However, sewing as a hobby and sewing for business is a different ball game.

So, you may need to sharpen your sewing skills by learning from any reputable fashion school.

When going into this business, you’ll need to pick a niche: what types of clothes you’ll be sewing?

You’ll need to decide if it’s kids’ clothing, runway dresses, home wear, and more.

This makes it easy to define your target audience.

5. App Developer

Developing apps are not a business for males only.

These days, there are many female developers.

As a single mom, you can also be an app developer, especially if you’re tech-savvy.

Even if you know nothing about app development, you can always learn the skill.

However, it’s a lot easier to master this skill if you have a background in computer science and other related subject areas.

As an app developer, you’ll work with businesses by developing apps that help their clients better interact with their brands.

This business is perfect for you because you can work from home and have more time for your family.

You can start this business immediately if you have the skills with just your laptop and a reliable internet connection.

6. Pet Care Services – Business Ideas For Single Moms

If you are an animal lover, then this is ideal for you.

You can start pet service businesses like pet sitting, pet walking, pet care, pet grooming, and so on.

Furthermore, you can sell pet accessories.

However, before you start any of these businesses, check to see the necessary licenses and permits you need.  

7. Freelance Writing

Becoming a freelance writer is another profitable work-from-home business idea for single moms.

You can either do this as a side hustle or a full-time business.

To be truly successful in this business, you need to be good at writing and marketing your services.

Starting this business will require a laptop and a strong internet connection.

It will also require you to be disciplined with your time while working from home.

8. Crafting – Business Ideas For Single Moms

If you possess artistic skills, then you can start a crafting business.

Crafting could be your hobby.

However, you can turn your hobby into a business and earn a cool income.

There are five different types of crafting which are;

Textile Crafts

This includes working on different fabric types or yarns, such as weaving, dyeing, knitting, quilting, and appliqueing.

Functional Crafts

This has to do with pottery.

You can start a crafting business if you can make beautiful pottery designs.

Decorative Crafts

This type of craft has to do with wood and metal materials.

If you have the artistic skills to create beautiful items from wood and metals, you can start a crafting business.

Fashion Crafts

This deals with designing fashion materials or accessories, such as shoes, bags, hats, jewelry, etc.

Paper Crafts

Lastly, papercraft has to do with paper.

Examples of paper crafts are paper making, papier-mache, and calligraphy.

You’ll need to decide what types of craft you will specialize in.

Finally, you can create and sell these designs on online platforms like Esty or Amazon.

9. Gift Basket

Another profitable business idea that can serve as a side hustle for you as a single mom is starting a gift basket business.

You could either run this business from home, open a store, or sell online.

It involves designing baskets with gifts in a way that will attract people to patronize you.

Mostly, the occasion determines what types of gifts will be included in the basket.

Similarly, the client’s budget will determine what gifts you include in the basket and how much you’ll charge.

You could offer this service for Christmas, Mother’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Graduation day, Bachelor/Bachelorette party, etc.

You can save costs by buying gift items at wholesale prices.

10. Virtual Assistant

Being a virtual assistant is a profitable business idea you can start from home if you possess impeccable organizational skills.

This is one of the best online jobs serving as a means of income for many people, not just moms.

So if you can help busy business owners and executives organize, manage, and plan their schedules/activities, you’re fit for this role.

However, you’ll need a personal computer, access to a strong internet connection, communication gadgets, and the right skill set for the role.

11. Selling Organic Products – Business Ideas For Single Moms

Organic products are one of the trending businesses globally and will continue to exist in the future.

This business involves hand-making products from natural sources.

These could be skincare, hair care products, body care products, cosmetics, pet foods, pet products, and flowers, among others.

Decide on which area you wish to specialize in and identify who your ideal clients are.

Furthermore, you can open a walk-in store for your business or sell online.

Above all, you need to undergo training to learn the workings of the different raw materials you want to use for your products.

You may also need some necessary licenses and certifications.

12. Day Care Business

Lastly, starting a daycare service is another way to earn more money as a single mom.

In fact, this business shouldn’t be hard for you since you’re a parent.

So, you have experience taking care of children.

However, you’ll need to be more accommodating and patient to run a daycare because you’ll be managing several kids at once.

Also, you’ll need to get a permit from your local authority before starting the business.

You can start by using a room in your house and decorating it nicely with children-themed items/colors.

Finally, you’ll also need to ensure that the environment is conducive and safe for the children.

Conclusion On Business Ideas For Single Moms

Now you know so many things you could do to earn more money as a single mom.

It’s up to you to pick the one that best fits your interest and get started.

Good luck to you as you begin your entrepreneurial journey.