Moms Inc. - Taking Care of Business

January 2005

Local Moms Take Care of Business, Family and Each Other with Moms, Inc.
By Alex Hursky

Mothers need all the support that they can get, and there is no one who understands this better other mothers.
Moms, Inc. is an organization tailored toward answering a particular need that more and more women are experiencing—bringing together mothers with at-home businesses and allowing them to tap into the rich resources and knowledge base of other women who are making the same lifestyle choice.
“It's an important group because it sends a message” says Anita Marchesani, who has recently moved to York, Penn. “You don't necessarily need to make a choice between working and staying at home. You can do both.”
Stay-at-home moms trying to run home-based businesses face unique obstacles. They are striving to succeed in two unrelated and frequently conflicting endeavors, and they crave a place where they can go for support and guidance.
“I found it isolating,” says Maureen Cogan, of Columbia. “You don't have people that you see on a regular basis.”
“It is easy to feel very isolated,” agrees Marchesani. “The meetings form a supportive atmosphere because everybody there is making the same choices.”
Nancy Daniel, the founder of Moms, Inc., knows first-hand how difficult trying to do everything alone can be. While working full-time as a designer for a florist shop, this Columbia mom longed to open her own floral business so that she could be in charge of her own schedule and spend more time with her two daughters.
Daniel started searching the Internet in hopes of finding other people who were in the same situation. She came across a website for a group named bizymoms that intrigued her.
“I wanted to start a chapter here,” Daniel says, “and then they decided not to sponsor it. But we already had a core group, and we wanted to stay together.”
Thus began Moms, Inc.
Meeting Moms
The members of Moms, Inc. get together once a month at the Linden Linthicum United Methodist Church hall in Clarksville. Daniel describes the meetings as “very informal, casual—not stuffy and business-like.”
The meetings begin with a presentation made by an invited speaker. Some of the presentations focus on solid business practices, while others help with personal pursuits such as a demonstration given by a Tai' Chi practitioner. Because the group is primarily made up of mothers with young children, kids are also welcome at the meetings. Membership within the organization has grown from a mere handful three years ago to approximately 50 today.
Gathering together for mutual support helps lighten each individual member's load somewhat.
“We talk about the challenges of trying to juggle it all, and we meet with other mothers who have the same challenges,” Daniel explains.
“What really excites me is seeing all the variety and the creativity,” adds Marchesani. “I find it to be very energizing to be around people who are following their hearts.”
Marchesani, who has a Ph.D. in clinical psychology, found that by working full-time she missed being with her children. She says the events of September 11, 2001, really made her think about the choices that she had been making. Marchesani finally left the therapy practice she had been a part of and started a personal coaching business.
“It takes creativity and some courage to start a home-based business, but it definitely can be done,” contends Marchesani.
The members of Moms, Inc. help to make that process less daunting.
“It's really rewarding to have this network of people to communicate with and be supported by as well,” says Daniel. “People constantly tell me how grateful they are that I started this group.”
Cogan, who is a photographer specializing in portraiture, looks forward to the meetings every month.
“It's fun.” she says. “I get to dress like an adult and talk to other adults.”
She also appreciates the emotional support she receives from the other members, but networking among the members can help with specific business problems as well. For example, Cogan says she can email other members when she needs to order supplies for her home-based business.
“I need some bags, but I don't need a box of 500,” she explains. “So I'll email and ask, does anyone want to split it?”
She adds that being a member of the group has helped her make new friends and sites the monthly mom's night out dinner as an added bonus.
And there’s a distinct feeling of being on the forefront of something new and growing. “It's a very exciting trend,” states Marchesani. “A lot more people are making this choice.” BC

For more information about Moms, Inc., visit the website www.momsinc.org.