Business mums

"I first got the idea of becoming a freelance online web designer when I was pregnant with Callista, but it didn't come to fruition until after Aiden was born. In between times, I'd been at university, studying business IT, as well as working part-time as a web designer for an outside company, where I developed my skills.

"Every business needs a website, so I knew the client base was out there; my success depended on whether I could get a decent portfolio together. To begin with I posted notices on the 'forums' sections of websites for working mums. Eventually I set up as a sole trader, which was relatively straightforward as I had a basic knowledge of the legal side from my university course. I already knew how to register domain names because I'd set them up for my children, and I'd taught myself how to design a website while I was temping. There are also lots of online tutorials, most of which are free of charge.

"Running my own business is much more lucrative than working for someone else because I don't have any childcare or travelling costs. The main chunk of my income comes from large corporate companies. I tailor the charge for my service depending on the complexity of what's required, and I have a special package for work-at-home (WAH) mums, with a standard charge of £60. Recently I bought a dedicated server and invested in new software, which has eaten into my earnings, but I'm working towards getting into profit, and I should have broken even by the end of this tax year.

"For the most part, my job means I can work around the children. They both go to a nursery a couple of days a week because we believe it's important for their social development, so that gives me a bit more time to work solidly. I'm glad I've made the decision to work for myself - I wouldn't change that now."

Check out Sadie's web design business at www.glassraven.co.uk

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