Ultimate Guide to Starting an Online Business:

What's the Best Online Business for a Busy Mom?

One of the questions I'm asked most often as a business coach is:

Q: What’s the best online business for a busy mom?

A: The best online business for busy moms is often a digital product business. It offers flexibility, low overhead, and the ability to grow sustainably without sacrificing time with your family.

Here are 3 reasons why a digital product business works so well for moms:

1. Flexibility Like You've Never had in a Career Before
   
   Imagine this: You’re working at your kitchen table, coffee in hand, sun streaming through the window. Your little one is at school. You’re deep in work you actually enjoy.
   
   Then the school calls: fever. Normally, this would derail your day.
   
   But not today.
   
   You shut your laptop and go pick them up. Grab a blanket. And spend the afternoon watching movies together, without guilt, because your business doesn’t fall apart and no one is irritated if you take a break to care for your family.
   
   A digital product business gives you:

   • Flexible hours that easily shift with your real life

   • The ability to work from home, or anywhere, without the pressure to come into an office so many times a week

   • Total freedom from other people’s timelines

   Yes, it takes time to set up your own business. But the roots you grow now will sustain you long-term.

   ---

   You don’t need a ladder. You need roots.
   Real flexibility isn’t just a dream. It’s a decision to build differently from the start.

   ---

    
2. Control Over Your Own Time
   

   You’ve spent years following everyone else’s timelines and schedules.
   
   What would it be like if that changed?

   Being your own boss means you get to:

   • Align your work with your priorities and values, not just your to-do list

   • Choose when and how you show up

   • Say yes to what matters to you and no to what doesn’t

   But here’s the part most people miss:

   You need to choose the right business model, or you’ll accidentally recreate the same pressure you have now, in a new outfit.

   That’s exactly why I created From Idea to Income, to help moms avoid the burnout loop and build something smarter from the start.
   
   

   ---

   Real life is the strategy.
   If your business doesn’t work for you as a mom, it doesn’t work. Period.
   

   ---

    
3. Financial Independence, Your Way
   
   Let’s talk money.
   
   Not hustle-your-face-off money. But quiet, meaningful, make-a-difference income.
   
   A well-structured online business gives you:

   • Income from something you create once that you can sell again and again

   • Space to grow slowly, sustainably

   • The ability to grow your business without stretching yourself too thin

   One of my clients, a full-time 2nd grade teacher and mom of three created templates for educators. In only a few months, she earns $1,600 a month without adding more to her plate. That’s a mortgage payment. The ability to pay off some debt. Or just breathing room.

   Because she created something that she can sell over and over again, most of her time is now spent making more things that her customers as for and sharing them with people. Which means, she can continue to grow that monthly income as much as she'd like.
   
   

   ---

   You don’t have to start big.
   You just have to start well-informed about how to create the life you want.
   
   

   ---

   
   If you set it up right, an online business gives you limitless earning potential. Whether you're looking to supplement your current income or eventually replace it, the possibilities are endless.
   
   And the best part? You can do it as fast or as slow and steady as you'd like. We all have seasons of life where we need more time and others where we need more money. You'll have control over both - take it easy when you want and speed it up when you have the time and energy. 

Anti-hustle: Making it Work for YOU

Let’s be honest:

When you’re already stretched thin, the idea of starting something new can feel impossible.

Most of the moms I work with whisper the same question:

How the heck am I supposed to add a business to my already full plate?

Not with hustle.
Not with burnout.
Not with someone else’s timeline or 40-hour-a-week blueprint.

With strategy. With support. And at a pace that fits your life.

Burnout is No Joke!

There was a season in my life where I tried everything to make work “work” for my family:

• ✅ Flexible hours

• ✅ Remote jobs

• ✅ Starting a service-based business (twice!)

But the more I pushed, the more I bought into the lie that hustle was the only way forward.

I told myself:

Just work harder. Keep going. You’ll get there.

I was succeeding on paper, but I wasn’t getting anywhere that mattered to me. I felt guilty for missing out on my girls' lives. I had a headache every single day for months. My anxiety was terrible. I was making money, but at the expense of my family, which is all that mattered to me!

The truth?
I was miserable.

The Turning Point

One day, when I just couldn't take anymore, I told my team that I needed a break. I packed my girls up and drove from DC to Tampa.

I needed space to feel my own life again.

That long, soul-searching road trip led to the hardest and best, decision I’ve ever made.

I came home and said two words: 

I’m done!

• Done chasing someone else’s definition of success.
• Done building a business that drained me.
• Done sacrificing my real life for a career that just didn’t fit anymore.

I've never regretted it!

I didn’t give up. I stopped doing things that weren't working for me. And I planted something new.

What That Experience Taught Me

Here’s what I believe from the bottom of my heart:

• You don't need to hustle to be successful.

• You don’t need more hours in your week. You need to lower your expectations and commit to only what's sustainable. 

• You don’t have to choose between motherhood and career. You can do both, but not if someone else is setting expectations.

• You need a plan that fits your life and a way to follow it that honors your energy and priorities.

I'm on a mission to help other working moms who want to stop rushing, stop missing out, stop trying to achieve your own (or someone else's) unachievable expectations.

You can have both a great career and a life you get to be present in and really live.

I'm here to show you how.

That's why I created From Idea to Income, a step-by-step business building framework that combines strategy + support to help you in a doable, sustainable way.

Not just another course.
Not more content to consume.

A real plan, built with:

• Focused, bite-sized actions that you can accomplish in 1-2 hours a day

• Mindset support when doubt creeps in

• Space to build slowly and sustainably

It’s everything I wish I’d had when I started over, and everything I needed to finally just get out of my own head so I could make progress.

What's so Special About Digital Product Businesses? 

If you’ve ever thought,

I want a business that doesn’t take over my life…
You’re not alone.

For busy moms who need freedom, structure, and sustainability, a digital product business is the best-kept secret in online entrepreneurship.

Let’s walk through why, with real stats, real stories, and the truth no one else is telling you.

Digital Products Are Booming (And the Data Backs It Up)

• The global e-learning market was valued at $250 billion in 2021, with growth projected to hit $370 billion by 2026 (Econsultancy).

• Digital products already make up 27% of all online retail sales, and that number is climbing fast.

• According to Deloitte, 75% of businesses plan to increase digital product investment in the next two years.

These trends indicate that the world is rapidly embracing digital solutions, with online courses, eBooks, templates, digital subscriptions, and memberships playing a significant role in shaping the future of learning, entertainment, and business. 

The potential is huge… and growing.

Why This Model Works So Well for Moms

You create something once, like a template, course, eBook, or printable product, and sell that one thing you created over and over again.

No meetings.
No inventory.
No working around someone else’s timeline.

Here’s what makes this model so powerful:

• Scalability: Since your product is digital, it can be created once and sold many times, which gives you time to focus on growing your business.
• Flexibility: You create on your own time and no one sets a deadline or schedule for you. You work from anywhere, set your own hours, and adapt your schedule according to your priorities.
• Minimal Overhead: With so many different choices to create and host your products, you get to decide how much you spend to run your business. The choice really comes down to: Are comfortable piecing it together yourself (that’s the free or low-cost option) or do you want an integrated, automated solution (which costs around $100-$150/mo)?
• Control over Your Growth: You get to decide how much you charge for each product and adjust as demand increases. 
• Automation & AI:
  

  With automation:

  • Your step-by-step customer path runs on autopilot

  • Emails are scheduled and sent while you’re sleeping or working on other things

  • AI tools help you create content faster and better

  But here's the secret: most people use AI the wrong way, churning out generic content that feels robotic.

  I’ll show you how to use it with clarity, personality, and personalization, so your business always sounds and feels like you.

• No inventory, shipping, physical storage, or logistics.  
• Minimal Reliance on Others: No need to worry about invoicing (they pay when they purchase), managing other people’s information, or waiting for others to give you what you need to do your job.

What If Digital Products Aren’t Right for You?

I believe in clarity over one-size-fits-all strategy. So let’s be honest about other paths too:

A digital product business is a great choice for busy moms. It provides the perfect balance between work and family life. It’s low-cost to run, allows for sustainable growth. That’s exactly why I use it and why I teach others how to use it to save time and create a flexible life and career too. 

But, I don’t believe in “my way or it’s wrong.”

If you’re passionate about offering services or selling a physical product that you create, then follow your heart and do that.

Framework for Starting an Online Business  

This adventure is your chance to create something uniquely yours and make a difference in the world. Here's my complete 3 part, step-by-step framework for starting your online business, specifically tailored to digital products.

1. Create Your Business Blueprint
2. Build Your Business Foundation
3. Design & Automate Your First Income Stream

Let's take a closer look...

Before you do anything else in your business, you need a strategy and a plan to implement it. The best way to do that is to create a plan or a blueprint to follow. Figure out what you want to do, who needs that, and how you can help. 

• Create Your Blueprint:
  
  In my Start an Online Business 5-Day Challenge, I walk you through creating your Business Blueprint, so you're ready to build your Business Foundation in only 5 days. This is what we do:

1. Create your niche
2. Choose your ideal customers, and
3. Get to know what's in their head and their heart so you can make decisions that impact your business growth. 

These are the first three steps you need to complete to create your business plan (and I don’t mean a piece of paper kind of plan… I mean a real plan of action - a blueprint or compass guiding you through your entrepreneurial journey), as you turn your ideas into a profitable business.

Once you've pinpointed a winning niche, and you’ve chosen and gotten to know your ideal customers, next it's time to build your business foundation. Read this part right to left, as you continue along the path...

I do the challenge first so you can see if you like my teaching style and the results of your efforts. Then, in From Plan to Profit, we build your Business Foundation and Design and Automate Your First Income Stream, a digital product. When you're finished, you have a growing audience and you've launched your online business. Here's exactly what we do in From Plan to Profit: 

• Create Your Brand: Make your brand unforgettable with impactful messaging that focuses on your ideal customer’s desires, as it relates to your niche. Your brand identity should resonate with your audience and make them feel understood. For your visuals, Canva can help you effortlessly design a brand that captures attention with a professional look and feel. Although it can be fun, don't start with your brand. Start by focusing on your ideal customers and getting to know them, so everything you create will resonate with them. 

• Design Your Customer Journey: Create a clear roadmap for your customers. Think about their desires, pain points, fears, and objections and how your product can solve their problems. Map out the entire experience your customers will have with your brand, from the moment they discover you to the point of purchase and beyond. Consider the touchpoints, communication channels, tools, and support systems that will guide them through their journey. Map out the stages of awareness, interest, decision, and action, and design your content, emails, and promotional strategies to align with each stage. This ensures a seamless, enjoyable, repeatable customer experience for them, and a reliable income for you.

• Get Visible & Establish Credibility: Even before your digital product business is up and running, get the word out about what you do and who you work with. Create an engaging and exciting content marketing strategy that propels your online business to new heights:

  • Decide which format you want to produce content: Do you like to write? Create videos? Or do you prefer audio?
  • How will people see your content? Search, social, collaborations, partnerships? You can choose one primary and repurpose your content.
  • How will you build relationships and keep in touch? Running a business on a platform that someone else controls isn't a good idea. Look how fast Twitter went down the tubes or the constant threat of banning TikTok. You have to go where your ideal audience is, but then quickly get them onto your email list or however you'd like to communicate. 
  • Teach, inspire, and/or entertain through your content. Teach your ideal customer how to solve their problem. Show the process, the behind-the-scenes, and ask what they need.

  By embracing these marketing strategies, you'll not only grow your digital product business but also create a loyal community of customers who can't wait to see what you come up with next. Dive into the thrilling world of marketing and let your passion and expertise shine, as you guide and inspire to build your audience.

Now that you have a solid foundation, it's time to build your first income stream. 

• Validate Your Digital Product Idea: Before investing time and resources into creating your product, test the waters and validate your idea with your ideal customers. You can validate your idea by conducting market research, creating a minimum viable product (MVP), or even pre-selling your product before it's fully developed. This step will help you refine your idea, make improvements, and increase the likelihood that your audience will buy.

• Create Your Digital Product: Once you've done your market research and validated your idea, it's time to decide what digital product to create. In From Plan to Profit, we discuss strategies as well as things like the pros and cons of a one-time income vs. recurring income. Whether it's an e-book, online course, templates, membership, or subscription, ensure that your product is high-quality, informative, and offers real value to your customers. Break the project into manageable tasks, and consider collaborating with professionals like graphic designers, writers, or videographers to bring your vision to life. Remember to incorporate your unique selling proposition (USP) to differentiate your product from competitors.

• Launch Your Website and Host Your Product: Set up a professional website that showcases your brand and hosts your digital product. Choose a reliable hosting provider, and invest in a user-friendly no-code website and digital product builder like Kajabi (the best and most feature-rich all-in-one tool for solopreneurs). If you'd rather connect everything yourself, check out ShowIt, Squarespace, or WordPress to create a visually appealing site. Make sure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-responsive, SEO-friendly, and optimized for conversions and user experience. A secure and seamless payment system like Stripe (which is already integrated into some all-in-one platforms) will offer a smooth checkout process for your customers.

• Automate Your Sales and Marketing: Leverage technology to automate repetitive tasks and streamline your sales and marketing processes. Utilize email marketing automation tools built into Kajabi, or if you choose another solution, you can use Mailchimp (free to get started) or ConvertKit to send targeted emails and nurture leads. Automate your social media posts. Set up automated sales funnels to guide prospects through your customer journey, and use other tools to manage customer inquiries and support. Automation saves time and ensures a consistent experience for your customers… which equals consistent income for you. Not everything can or should be automated, so focus on automating what needs to happen to get traffic to your website and get consistent sales, even (especially) when you're busy. 

• Optimize: Continuously monitor and analyze your business performance using tools like Google Analytics and social media analytics. Identify areas for improvement, and optimize your website, content, and marketing campaigns to improve your conversion rates and grow your business. Regularly ask for customer feedback and make data-driven decisions to refine your product offerings and enhance the overall customer experience. Use data and analytics to track your progress and make informed decisions. Test different approaches and tactics to see what works best for your business. Embrace a mindset of continuous learning and growth to stay ahead of the competition and ensure long-term success.

With these steps in place, you're well on your way to launching a spectacular digital product business. Remember, you're not just building a business, you're creating a legacy that enriches lives and inspires others. Embrace this exciting journey with open arms, and let your passion and expertise shine through every aspect of your brand.

 I show you how to get to know your ideal customer really well, and learn about what you want to do. Then you create your brand and customer journey… and then use these tools to help you implement your strategy and plan so much faster, never losing sight of your personality or the personalization your customers want. That’s the magic combination you need to create a successful business without spending dozens of hours a week to do it. Stick with me... that’s exactly what I show you how to do.

But, What If... ?

Let’s name the quiet fears that hold so many of us back.

They don’t mean you’re not ready. They mean you care, deeply.

You care about doing this well.
About protecting your time.
About keeping your family at the center of everything you do.

Here are the questions I hear most often from women just like you:

• What if I put in all this effort and it doesn’t work? Fear of failure
• What if it actually works… and I can’t keep up? Fear of success
• Is this taking something away from my family? Mom guilt
• What if this makes my life harder, not better? Fear of overwhelm
• What will people think? Fear of judgment
• I don’t know enough to help anyone yet. Self-doubt
• I barely have time to shower! How could I build a business? Fear of inadequacy
• Who am I to do this? Imposter syndrome
   

Here’s what I want you to know:

Fear is not a red flag.
It’s a sign that something matters.
It shows up when you're stepping into something meaningful.

You can feel fear and move forward at the same time.
You don’t have to hustle through it. You can walk with it, gently, one small step at a time.

You don’t need to be fearless.
You just need to feel supported.

So when the fear bubbles up (and it will), pause and ask yourself:

Do I want to let fear decide for me?
Or do I want to build something aligned ith my purpose, passion, and values... with intention, space, and care?

You’re not selfish for wanting more.

You’re someone who’s tending something real, even if it's still under the surface.

And if you ask yourself about the fear, and it turns out that now’s just not the right time?
That’s okay too.

Just make sure it’s you deciding, not fear.

You may never feel ready before you start. 
Clarity actually comes with action, not from waiting until you're ready. 

That's why I built From Idea to Income. It's the calm, strategic, supportive step forward that will help you start where you are, make intentional decisions, bounce ideas off of like-minded people, and make progress without any guesswork or trial and error.

Master the Art of Integrating Your Business & Your Life

Striking the perfect balance between work and family life can feel daunting. But with the right approach, you can excel in both areas. As part of my business accelerator, we dive deep into any setbacks you encounter along your journey, including fear, limiting beliefs, and self-doubt. If you struggle with any of those things (you're not alone - we all do) and you want some help, that's what I'm here for. When your mindset and strategy work together, that's when you can create the business you're dreaming of.

Here's how to integrate your business and life, so you can get started while making the most of every moment with your family. Whether you want to create a second income stream, pivot your career completely, or start something new, this can work for you. 

Let's assume "work" means your new business. I know you probably also have a traditional job, so you'll need to factor that in as well, but since I don't know the details, we'll say that "work" is your new business... 

• Establish Clear Priorities and Boundaries: Decide and commit to your #1 priority - if you’re anything like me, that’s your family time. Protect your priority by setting boundaries that allow you to quickly and easily make decisions. Carve out a space for your work life and family life, ensuring they integrate the way you'd like.
  
  Define specific work hours, communicate them to your loved ones and customers, and stick to them. Then everyone knows when you're "at work" and when you're "at home." And “at work” doesn’t mean 8 hours a day. This isn’t like a traditional job and you have no one to answer to. So, set realistic expectations and a timeline for when you want to launch your business, work at your own pace, in a way that's authentically you, and it'll feel a lot more doable. 
• Maximize Productivity with Tools: Harness the power of productivity tools like Notion and Google Drive, so when you have time to work on your business, everything is organized and you're ready to work. Notion is free and it's my favorite tool ever! Tip: Find templates you like when you start using Notion. These platforms help you get organized, work through your to-do list, and visualize your progress, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
• Ask for Help or Delegate: I want to live in a world where asking for help is a sign of strength and intelligence! Who told us not to ask for help, anyway? You can’t be supermom all the time - maybe once in a while for short periods of time - but no one can sustain that level of pressure for long. It quickly leads to resentment and overwhelm. It's okay to ask for help. Ask for help with the chores or with the kids so you can work on your business a few hours a week, or just delegate a few tasks at home to make time. Asking for help allows you to focus on high-priority tasks and enjoy quality time with your family.
• Revitalize with Breaks and Self-Care: Prioritizing self-care is crucial for both your personal and professional success. Schedule regular breaks and take time for activities that recharge you. There's a lot of talk about what it means to prioritize self-care. I'm not necessarily talking about spa days and weekends away, though if you can do that...do it! No shame in that. But, I'm talking about eating lunch sitting down, while listening to music. Take a break to close your eyes and relax, and then take another 15 minutes to read a chapter of a book. Take a longer shower than usual. If it's something you'd like to do and allows you to slow down a bit, do it without feeling guilty. These little things make a huge difference when we intentionally slow down, put down the devices, and allow ourselves to recharge a few times a day.

A healthy, happy mom is the cornerstone of a thriving family and business.

By mastering these techniques and making self-care a priority, you'll be able to juggle your digital product business and family life with ease. Remember, the key is to be intentional with your time, so you can enjoy a fulfilling and successful work-life balance.

Embarking on the journey of starting an online business may seem overwhelming, but you are more than capable. With determination, passion, consistency, and the right strategies, you'll transform your dreams into reality and achieve the work-life balance you've been craving. You've got this! 

As you explore the world of digital products, remember that you're not alone. Dive into the treasure trove of supporting blog posts below to discover even more insights, myths, mistakes, tips, and answers to your most pressing questions (like how much does it cost to start and run an online business) to help you thrive in your new venture.

When you're ready, reach out to me. I'm here to support and guide you as you navigate this new world of entrepreneurship: [email protected]

So go ahead, take a deep breath, and embrace this exciting new chapter in your life. You have the power to make your vision come to life and create a lasting impact in the lives of others. Together, we'll conquer goals, create a fulfilling balance between work and family, and show the world that moms can do it all!

Now, let's get started on this incredible journey!

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