Starting your at home business

125x125 At Moms To Work, some of our favorite stories are from Moms who are starting their own businesses from home.

Today, We’re featuring Caitlin (Cait) Zieroth, mom to two beautiful little girls living in the San Diego area who turned her passion for knitting into a business, Little Hands and Little Feet. Customers can buy hand made, organic socks and mittens for their little ones. To see Cait’s entire store, visit, www.hyenacart.com/littlehandslittlefeet.

Below, Cait answers important questions of why she started her own business, how she did it and what it means to her.

She walks us through a “typical” day in her life, minus the knitting.

What made you decide to start your own business?

There were a lot of factors that went into my decision to start my own business, but my major decision started here…

After my oldest child was born my husband deployed, she was 5 weeks old. I was so bored and confused about what to do with a newborn, I did a ton of research. After two weeks of that, I went ‘crunchy’. I got rid of our microwave, donated most of the processed food in my house to a food bank, and indulged myself in cloth diapers, organic food and clothing, and an overall greener way of living. I even got rid of my SUV and bought an equally safe car. *runs and catches toddler as she jumps off the couch like a little monkey* We now only have one car shared between my husband and myself. The toughest thing about living greener and cleaner is finding clothing for my kids. Even though some clothing is ‘Organic’ it only applies to how it’s grown, not how it is manufactured.

I came up with a business plan. Organic clothes for kids that is not chemically manufactured. *feeds screaming baby* Wool is a wonderful base. It is natural, cool in the summer and warm in the winter. (Yes, my kids wear wool in the summer, it sounds funny and I get A LOT of looks but it really does keep them cooler) It is easy to find organic wool that goes through an agreeable manufacturing and dying process. I try to use the softest wool I can find that works for whatever I am knitting. No more scratchy wool.

My husband is in the military so working outside of my home is not an option for me (although he would support whatever I wanted to do). I decided to take the thing I love to do, knitting kids stuff and turn it into a business. Of course I still have to chase my kids around… *takes break to fish rubber ducky from the toilet*.

What were the steps you took to get things set up?

To get things set up:
I needed a cart. I had a couple of options but I ended up choosing Hyenacart.com. It is a great BIG site of Work at Home Mom’s most of whom make natural things for kids. To be successful I think this my best option. The site is easy to use (I’m a Mac user, anything more complicated than that, I’m toast). It is also easy for customers’ to use. I’ve been purchasing diapers from a fellow WAHM for quite some time and have never had an issue navigating the cart. Then, I needed to find a designer. I chose Andrea from WANTED. She is a fellow WAHM and after reviewing some of her designs I felt she would be the best for the job. *Sends toddler to time out for ‘knighting’ her sister with a rain stick* She was awesome! She blew me away with the design she created for me. It’s an adorable idea and every time I look at it I chuckle. It is sooo…me.

Things I’m still working on getting set up are, business cards and stocking my cart. It’s a work in progress and will be completed by July 31st. I’ve promised *pulls toddler out of the refrigerator* myself to get it done.

Oh yeah, I had to get a business license. This was confusing, but if you’re a resident of the state you are residing in, it’s obvious where you would need to get your business license. I live in San Diego, however, I am a Washington State resident (I’ve never lived there, but I’m a resident, haha). I couldn’t figure out where I was supposed to get my license since I’m operating my business from my home, but could technically do so anywhere on the planet. After speaking with someone from the State of California, I have a business license for Washington State. Confused? I am too, but oh well. I don’t need a Federal license because I doubt I’ll make more than $12,000 a year. If I do, my fingers will probably have blisters all over them. *Gives the toddler cheese so she’ll stop bugging me for ‘Peas’*

Did I mention I did all of this while in the middle of a major ‘overseas’ military move? There are boxes everywhere in my house waiting for the movers to come retrieve them. Somehow I have managed to stay semi organized. In fact this morning, I just stumbled upon the brain cells I lost before my youngest was born. Those had been missing for about five months, glad to have them back.

What did you learn most?

What I learned most is:

a. Saying ‘no’. You’d think having a toddler I’d have this down, but really I try to make everyone in the happy. I’ve had so many requests for custom hats and mittens this year that I am up to my eyeballs in yarn. Sadly, I have had to say no to all of them, but one. I started this business to do something for me, I need to keep that in mind. I still need to take care of my kids and run my household while my husband is at work. I’ll probably still knit stuff for people, but not as much as I was last year. I want everyone to have a chance at some cute kids’ knits and the only way that is possible is if I limit my custom work.

b. E-commerce and marketing. How to get the word out there when my cart is actually on a site full of other people who are doing kind of the same thing. Thank goodness for friends, that’s all I can say. I have great friends who have spread around the word of mouth. *Turns Wubzy on for toddler* There are also various ways of spreading my banner around the web, I’m currently working on research with that.

c. I learned how to knit in ‘Magic Loop’. I know it’s not imperative for most businesses but it helps me knit socks must faster, which equals double output! haha!

I’m sure I’ve learned more, but those learnings are hiding in a box or something. (I haven’t slept what feels like days)

What types of outside sources did you require (funding, web set up, etc)?

a. I required the help of my husbands funding. haha. He’s a great supporter and would pretty much give me anything I needed to start things up and going. Great yarn costs approximately $20/ 3.5 oz. It’s really not cheap, but it does knit up beautifully. I needed some new needles too. My old ones were getting dull and driving me up the wall.

b. A web designer. There is no way I could have done it without her.

c. A cart to sell items through.

d. Support from friends and family. Couldn’t do it without them.

e. State licenses.

f. Yarn dyers that are willing to take my ideas and turn it into a beautiful colorway. I can dye my own yarn, but not while I’m living amongst the boxes.

I’m sure there is more and I’m sure there are more things I’ll need, to come later.

*Sighs and puts toddler in the bathtub. She looks like a Jackson Pollock painting…*

For more information on starting your own home based business, visit http://www.allbusiness.com/specialty-businesses/home-based-business/3318-1.html.

Filed Under: Featured • For Stay At Home Moms • Moms Returning to Work