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readysetorg's avatar
readysetorg
Contributor 3
5 days ago

Parents: How do you run a home service business while on parental leave?

I'm about 3 weeks out from giving birth to my second child.

As the CEO of my business with 9 employees, I don't really have the luxury of taking time off.

In some ways, I feel prepared because I've:

  • done this once before (and survived)
  • will have more help around the house this time (read: full-time nanny splitting time between the new baby and toddler)
  • more willing to accept help this time around
  • have hired an administrative person in my business (who helps with sending quotes and invoices, some marketing and other things I ask of her)

The biggest thing that I handle that keeps the business going is the sales. I don't want to to give this up just yet because I feel like I have the most bandwidth for answering the phone, the questions, and so forth.

But I'm also realistic in knowing that 2 has to be harder than 1.

Other parent CEOs, I'm curious-- what would you have done differently? Any advice for going into the sleepless newborn phase while running a business?

Thanks in advance!

1 Reply

  • MendenhallCtrg's avatar
    MendenhallCtrg
    Contributor 2
    1 day ago

    First off, congrats. That’s exciting and a lot to carry at the same time.

    I’m on the other side of this now, and honestly, part of it came down to luck and timing. When my daughter was born, we were in the middle of plowing season during an absolutely record-breaking winter, but somehow we didn’t have any plowable events for the first several weeks after she was born. That gave us breathing room that I wouldn’t want to pretend was just good planning.

    That said, I did use the weird schedule where I could. If I was already awake, I’d try to knock out low-pressure punch-list items: admin cleanup, quote work, follow-ups, system cleanup, and the stuff that usually gets pushed aside during normal hours. I wouldn’t build the whole plan around being productive while sleep deprived, but those windows did help.

    With a nanny and admin already in place, I think those are going to be huge. Since sales is still the thing you want to keep close, I wouldn’t necessarily give it up. I’d just have your admin take as much of the front-end and back-end noise off your plate as possible: intake, photos, basic questions, scheduling, reminders, quote prep, and follow-ups. Then you can stay involved where your judgment matters most.

    With 9 employees, I’m guessing the interruptions may be the bigger issue than the actual workload. I’d try to decide ahead of time what truly needs you and what someone else can own.

    I don’t think you have to disappear from the business. I’d just try to protect the few parts that really need you and let your people and systems absorb as much of the rest as possible.