Mompreneurs: Beyond the Avon Lady

Are you a mompreneur? Chances are you may be. 

According to the Center for Women’s Business Research, businesses owned by women contribute an estimated $3 trillion a year to the economy and create 23 million jobs. Apparently the trend among women to start their own business is not only growing, it also seems to be paying off. 

As a stay-at-home mom of three kids with another on the way, I have recently spent a lot of time considering my interests as a writer as other interests such as pursuing a long standing dream of becoming a real estate agent. While I’m still weighing my desires against my reality, I felt compelled to talk with other Petaluma moms who have successfully managed to incorporate work and family and become mompreneurs.

Jennifer Hundley, Just Between Friends, North Bay 

Jennifer Hundley, mom to 3 ½ year old Alex, always knew she wanted to own her own business. 

“Unfortunately/fortunately my job wasn’t available after I had my son. I knew I really wanted to do something for me but also have it be something fun and incorporated kids” says Jennifer.

Having almost given up on the idea of starting her own business after the economy took a downward swing, one day it hit her. Jennifer decided that there was a need in the community for a consignment event centered around babies, children, and families.  After working out a business model with her husband, Matt, she saw her idea come to fruition and Just Between Friends was born.

For the past two years, Jennifer and her husband have holding an event twice a year where families can consign gently used baby and kids clothing, toys and gear. Happening this weekend September 9-11 at the Sonoma County Fair Grounds, consigners make upwards to 65 percent on stuff sold if they volunteer at the event or 60 percent if they are just selling. Consigners can earn such high rates because Just Between Friends Events are entirely volunteer run leaving no overhead to pay to staff the events.

Partnering with Our Kids Sake, a local nonprofit serving over 1000 homeless children in Sonoma County, all of the unsold and unwanted merchandise is distributed to children and families in need in Petaluma and beyond. 

“People’s lives have been touched by our business," Jennifer says.  "A lot of them are middle to high income people but also there are many on the lower income level. People have told me that they are consigning to raise money for their groceries. Some use the extra cash for trips with their family to places like Disneyland.”

Jennifer Rau, www.taxesdone4you.com

Local mom of three, Jennifer Rau, who is new to Petaluma, having just relocated here for her husband’s government job, has her own private home-based business as a CPA. Three months after her first child was born, she started her own business in accounting, bookkeeping, and tax work. One year after opening her home business, Jennifer got her license as a CPA and has been working in the business ever since.

“I enjoy adult talk, and adult interaction. I’m a numbers person. If someone sends me their books and they are really a mess, I enjoy finding the mistakes and fixing it. If I had to stay home constantly with kid videos, it’s just not me. I love being a mom working from home, but to do just that, I would be bored out of my mind”.

On an average week, Rau works anywhere from 10-15 hours per week not including tax season when she works a lot more and has her family fly in to help with the children.

When I asked if she ever feels guilty that simply being a stay-at-home wasn’t enough to keep her satisfied, her reply was an emphatic “no”. 

“During the busy tax season when my husband’s parents, or my parents come out to help with the children, and my kids want to play with me too, I just don’t have enough of me to go around. Only then I do feel a little bad” said Rau.

Creating her own business did not come out of a need to work and support the family financially but because of her self-employment, Rau is able to buy extra things for the kids that they want and funds family trips together.

Erin Wrightsman, Photographer, www.erinwrightsman.com

Local mompreneur Erin Wrightsman created her photography business to fulfill her passion for photography. It also funded her ability to devote herself to that passion in the way of providing money for classes, gear and daycare for her son while away on shoots.

“My passion for photography is something I’ve always had. My dad was a professional photographer. Growing up I spent a lot of time in the dark room with my dad. After I had my son, photography became therapeutic. If I was in a bad situation with my son, I would take a photograph of it instead of losing my cool,” says Erin.

Erin specializes in a little bit of everything, from weddings to children, but has recently been doing some birth photography. While in a competitive industry, Wrightsman believes that it isn’t just about work for her. It’s about being creative.

“It’s what I really love doing. It is a job and with any job the joy can get defused a little bit, but I’m trying to make choices to keep it enjoyable while still being a successful business. I have loved doing birth photography and have felt so honored to be able to witness what I witness with my camera. To be a part of all that is really special”. 

Abby Calvert, owner of Miss Abby’s Child Care

Unlike other mompreneurs I spoke with, not working was not an option for Abby. As a former employee in the mortgage industry, Abby now works hard to provide for her family with her in-home daycare program.

“I thought I was that career-minded woman who would juggle both career and family flawlessly. When it actually came down to doing both, I found it almost impossible. I would see my son an hour a day, 5 days a week because I worked so much.  It became agony to go in every day, and I knew I had to do something.”

Although Abby says she has a “love/hate” relationship with being self employed, she loves her job as a daycare provider. The instability of the economy and her line of work can be scary sometimes.

“There are the times when a child leaves care, there are no other in the wings, and we are literally struggling to eat.  That’s when I know I have to truly be the entrepreneur.  I have to make things happen, otherwise we go under,” Abby says.

Despite the struggles, “the fact that I get to support my family financially and still see their beautiful faces every day is a treasure I never want to relinquish!  They are amazing, and I truly do this for them."

Are you a mompreneur? Share your story with us.