Can you enjoy the freedom of self-employment while raising a family? Starting a business or going freelance isn't the conventional path many parents choose. After all, many believe that a permanent job offers greater security than being self-employed. But after 12 years of running my own business, I know this: starting my own company was the best decision I've ever made. In this blog, I'll share the challenges I've faced along the way and the tips that have made self-employment such a rewarding experience.
Self-employment with children: is it possible?
That's a big question, and my answer is an unequivocal yes! The greatest advantages of being self-employed are flexibility and autonomy. You can adapt your working hours and routines to fit around everyday life. Flexibility is a particularly valuable asset when you have children. I know this from experience.
The benefits
Being self-employed and raising a family can work wonderfully well. In fact, self-employment can help you become better at prioritising and managing your resources, even if you don't have a family. (You can read more about this in my blog on energy management.)
The secret to making self-employment work alongside family life lies in finding an individual balance between work and personal life. This is something that's often difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in traditional employment:
Flexibility: As a self-employed person and parent, you're not tied to an employer's fixed office hours or opening times. You can decide when to work and fit it around the time you have available. If your child falls ill, for example, you don't have to worry about using up sick days. Unexpected appointments are easier to fit into your schedule, and if necessary, you can always work in the evening or at weekends.
Efficiency: Self-employed people often work much more efficiently because they're investing their own time in their own business. The challenge, and also the advantage, is that you manage your own time. With motivation and good time management, self-employed mothers and fathers can often achieve just as much in less time as they would in a salaried position. I've also noticed that I've become much better at prioritising since becoming a mother. I've eliminated many unnecessary tasks and stopped attending events that don't add value.
Network: As a self-employed person, you can choose your colleagues and clients. You can shape your professional environment around your needs and surround yourself with people who are a good fit, both professionally and personally. Networking is particularly important when you're a solopreneur. Networking groups offer mutual professional support, but members can also share advice on balancing family and work.
The challenges
Being self-employed while raising a family can offer many advantages, but it also comes with a few downsides that are worth considering before taking the leap.
Self-management: Juggling your own needs, your business and your family can be challenging, particularly in the early stages. Having a structured daily routine is therefore important. You also need to set the right priorities and make sure you factor in time for your family and yourself. I've personally become much better at this over the years, largely because I've learned to trust myself through particularly demanding periods. First, I know I can handle them. Second, I know they will pass. That may sound obvious, but it's essential to remember.
Workspace and childcare: Everyone has different needs when it comes to their ideal working environment. It's important to find out where you work best. That might be at home, in your own office or at a desk in the living room. For others, a co-working space is the perfect solution. Some cities now even offer dedicated spaces for self-employed parents, with an on-site nursery. Extending your working hours at the expense of your sleep is not sustainable in the long run. That's why reliable childcare you feel comfortable with is essential.
The double burden: Despite all the flexibility, the combined demands of running a business and raising children should not be underestimated. After all, you want to do justice to both areas of your life, without giving either your business or your family less attention. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance under these circumstances can be challenging.
Through sickness and health: If your child falls ill, you may have to reduce your working hours or stop working altogether, which can mean little or no income. After all, self-employed people generally only earn money when they complete paid work. And if you fall ill yourself, you may not be able to do much for your business either. It's worth looking into the right insurance cover. But even more importantly, take care of your own health and energy levels.
Support is essential when you're self-employed
Given all these challenges, having a strong support system is even more important. If you're planning to become self-employed and want to rely on your own income from the outset, you'll need support, especially if you have a family and children.
Self-employment offers greater flexibility and more opportunities to look after your children while shaping your own working hours. But particularly when children are young, they don't necessarily take your projects into account. Putting in a twelve-hour day after a sleepless night isn't always easy. That's why you need a backup plan and a safety net, both financially and within your family.
What does your family support system look like?
If you're self-employed and have a family, it's important that your partner and, ideally, your wider family are behind you. You need the support of the people in your life, in everyday situations and through both good times and difficult ones. There will always be periods when you need to work more. So build a social support network alongside your professional one. This will help you stay resilient and able to meet the demands of your business. Grandparents, friends and other parents can all play a part.
What does your financial safety net look like?
There are several ways to protect yourself and your family financially when you're self-employed. This becomes particularly important if your family support system is temporarily unavailable or you can't work because you or your child is ill. As a self-employed person, no work generally means no income.
So build up savings that can cover your ongoing costs for a certain period. These might include payments to suppliers, marketing expenses, insurance premiums and taxes. A useful approach is to treat your entire income as gross income and set aside around 20% for taxes and another 10–20% for savings and reserves.
My tips and tricks: being self-employed with children
Self-employed parents often face very different challenges from entrepreneurs without children. The secret lies in thoughtful self-organisation. Good planning and practical support make it possible to manage both business and family life without, ideally, neglecting either.
So how can you make it work? Here are a few tips:
Vision: Set goals you want to achieve
Set yourself ambitious goals for the next five years. Even though a lot can change during that time, having a clear direction helps you stay focused and gives you a sense of purpose. Visualise your goals, for example with a vision board or by writing them down. This also gives your brain an important neurophysiological advantage: it unconsciously filters information that aligns with your vision. I'm constantly amazed by how quickly I achieve goals that seemed so far out of reach just six months earlier. That's the power of having a clear direction.
Focus: Invest your resources in what matters
Set clear priorities and focus on what really matters. Going the extra mile for a strategically important client may be worthwhile, while a networking event can wait. The real power of prioritisation lies in deciding what to leave out. The more focused I become, the more often I say no: to events, lunches and projects that don't align with my strategy. I say yes far less often, but when I do, my commitment is much clearer and more deliberate. How much of what you do are you genuinely committed to?
Delegate: Outsource what you can
This might sound contradictory at first, because when I started my business 13 years ago, I did everything myself: building websites, managing accounts, marketing and much more. At the time, that wasn't a bad thing. I needed to develop a basic understanding of the most important processes. But there comes a point when it no longer makes sense to do everything yourself, particularly when others have greater expertise and you could be spending that time with your clients. Today, for example, I have a business partner whose financial expertise complements mine perfectly and who has helped us automate much of our accounting. I also work with an SEO agency and collaborate with fantastic people I can learn from. This allows me to focus on where I can create the greatest value.
You can also make the transition into self-employment with a family feel much more manageable by working with a coach. As a coach and founder of Upskilled, I'm always happy to share what I've learned. After all, I'm an entrepreneur and a mother myself. I know just how challenging, but also how fulfilling, it can be to run your own business while raising a family.
Through Life & Business Coaching in Zurich, I can help you find a way to combine self-employment with family life. Together, we'll challenge old thought patterns, explore new perspectives and strengthen your inner compass, helping you realign it with what matters to you. I'll support you in navigating a professional transition or taking the next step in your development. Let's work towards your life goals together, so you can live the life you've always dreamed of, with or without children!
