Having children is a life-changing experience for most. Tackling the challenges of parenthood leads us on a journey to figure out a whole new bunch of stuff: how to change nappies without unmentionables going everywhere, succeed in getting more food into a baby's mouth than on their clothes or soothe
Small Business: Parent entrepreneurs
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Caitlin Sykes talks to parent entrepreneurs about working with children. Photo / Thinkstock
But the rewards, either anticipated or realised, can also be great for family life. Ruthie's goals include becoming a work-from-home dad, able to spend quality time with his family, within the next five years.
Bianca Richardson, who set up Houdini in 2008 after inventing a device to prevent her young daughter escaping out of her car seat, reckons the business has allowed her to achieve a "beautiful, balanced lifestyle", where she works 16 to 20 hours a week and has the flexibility to attend her children's sports and school events.
And it seems, especially as they get older, the kids themselves can be keen to get involved in the family business. Joanne Edwards, of startup Kiwigarden, which makes healthy snacks for kids, says her children are the company's official taste testers and have been involved in everything from product development to coming up with the jokes on the backs of the packets.
Coming up in Small Business: From Facebook to Twitter, Instagram to Pinterest, everyone's trying to raise their social media profile. But is it translating to sales? If you've got a cool story about how you've used social media buzz to market your business (that's had a tangible effect on the bottom line) drop me a line.