13 Careers Ideas for SAHMs (Stay-at-Home Moms) Aspiring Homemakers and WFH (work from home) Moms.
- New Mommy Life
- Sep 2, 2023
- 16 min read
Updated: May 16, 2024
13 careers that don't require you to sacrifice your time, personal passions/ hobbies while allowing you to have the flexibility to take much needed time away to start ( or grow ) your family.
It's no secret that many women have found themselves on the fence when it comes to pursuing a high income career ( and the things that come along with that - both good and perhaps not so good contingent upon how you look at things and what your goals are in life. )
The most visceral I would say, in terms of content, the questions and DMs I receive online, is that of the hot topic of "Femininity" and the pursuit of being a more feminine woman ( this topic being very nuanced, of course, as a slew of content creators have entered the chat ) and have amassed entire libraries on content on YouTube or FaceBook groups -- some even creating private memberships, courses and digital products around and on the topic of femininity.
Three of my favorite women to follow and learn more from are Rebecca Lynn Pope, Keli C-L Pitts
("The Femininity Doctor" ) and Pastor Sara Conner (my pastor from Dallas, TX).
As a mom and online content creator who is also purpose driven and knows that I have a calling on my life, one of the most common question(s) I'm asked are a combination of:
"What kind of careers or jobs should I pursue if I also desire to be a SAHM (stay at home mom/wife) a homemaker or if I want to WFH (work from home) be it part time or full time?"
The main thing I always advise other young women to know is first and foremost – to know themselves, before answering this very important (life altering, if you will) question.
If this is something that you have found yourself considering, as most women are not becoming a mom and homemaker straight after your high school or even college graduation, (nor would I advise a young woman take such a route so early in life either) however, that is not to be confused with “YOLO” and being reckless and having no standards for your life.
Be mindful that every decision we make leads us to the outcome(s) we have to face and deal with later on in life.
I always advise women to be and remain a value-add to their lives regardless of the career path you may choose and by this I mean, deciding what your lifestyle standards are and only seeking out opportunities for work and employment that fully support you.
Now, unless you come from a background or family that is in a position to provide you with career / entrepreneurship guidance, most young women will probably not have a high income skill right out of high school ( or even college, contingent upon your degree ) and if you’re already a mom and have decided to re-enter the workforce ( be it part time or full time ) and are looking for some lucrative ways to increase your family’s income, this list I put together will be helpful for you too.
Why I Couldn't Care Less if You Went To College by Cathy Brown | Student Loan Debt Crisis (New Mommy Life YouTube)
One point I would like to drive home here is, in whatever career avenue you decide to pursue, find ways to obtain your education with as little as personal debt as possible - avoid taking out large student loans at all costs. This one thing alone can and will have a huge impact on your life, especially if you do desire to be married, you don’t want your future spouse and family to have the burden of a large amount of student debt that can greatly affect your ability to do things in life (such as purchasing a car or a home).
Side note: Here’s one of my favorite feel good songs, whenever I think about me paying off all of my college and student loan debt. Music Video “Sallie Mae Back” by Rapper Dee-1, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqbXQa05Z6c
I choose occupations and career opportunities for a wide variety of skill set, interests, and natural gifts and talents while all maintaining one or more of the following criteria:
1. Careers with minimal to none / no multi-year educational requirements (i.e. 4-year degree that lead to student loan debt.)
2. Careers that teach you useful skills regarding home management and homemaking.
3. Careers that will be flexible and family-friendly in the long run.
I chose this criteria as a guide for the list I put together because homemaking and being a SAHM requires a few things: the income to stay home, a husband/partner who supports you, and the necessary skills to make the most of it while being in a position to be open for other ways to make things work as changes occur, we all know that life will “life”.
These suggestions only apply to people who know that they want to stay home after marriage or children, and are looking for something suitable and compatible with those goals.
Beauty Industry
Careers in the beauty industry are perfect opportunities for those of you who already have a love for beauty in general, perhaps you used to sit patiently by your mom as she was readying herself at her vanity in the morning, or you love gathering samples from your favorite designers and/or MUAs to see how they work and look on you.
(my daughter wiped some of my lipstick from my tea cup in the morning and applied some to her lips, lol, she’s definitely a beauty guru in the making.
Beauty industry careers are very family-friendly and offer a lot of flexibility due to the nature of the business primarily being “by appointment”. You’ll have the ability to set your schedule and make your work “work for you”. Oftentimes you’ll be able to block off entire days during the week where you may be “slower” and not have as many bookings and can dedicate that time to being more present at home with your family. Also, you can work by only scheduling your clients during the times your children are in school ( if they attend traditional school ) or if your husband or partner works outside of the home, you can custom tailor your schedule so that you don’t miss out on spending time together.
There is usually minimal or inexpensive education required, and a lot of wiggle room when it comes to hours, wage, and even specific services you want to involve yourself with. A few of my friends offer hair styling services on the side and they have a certification in nails, waxing, threading or other beautician/cosmetology services.
It is also great for working part-time after kids if you don't want to stay home full time. I've seen a lot of girls become lash techs too, and with the rise of beauty treatments and body services, it's an industry I feel is only going to grow.
One of the BEST in the beauty business, and she now offers private and small group training, is Maura Beauty of “Enhanced Beauty”
Maura's Online Classes:
2. Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is another great option for young women who also plan to be a SAHM and Stay at home wife and homemaker after marriage and children, as this it offers a very minimal education entry point ( not required to get in ton of debt to pursue ) and once you have your massage license, you’ll be able to lease a small studio ( with shared space, like the many businesses are offering to save on rent and overhead ) so you can accept clients on the days and times that work for you. You can also decide to work in day spas, gyms, health clinics, for chiropractors, and even be apart of corporate wellness programs and events as well as spa parties for bridal showers and birthday celebrations. If you prefer to keep your clientele circle small ( yet mighty ) you can market yourself as the “couples massage guru” and network with your friends who are married or coupled and offer couple massage services to them on the weekends or whenever you have time on your calendar.
Since massage therapy is always in high demand, you’ll have the ability to grow your business as much (or as little) as you desire.
Reflexology is a specialty that does not require any *formal education, just taking a short certification class and you have to offer your services at health marts, farmers markets and community wellness events. *be sure to check the laws within your city/state/
When you’re ready to get started, I highly recommend https://blissfultouchreflexology.com/ as a resource (for services or when you’re looking for your first or next professional massage therapist opportunity).
3. Hospitality Industry
These would be great careers for the ladies who have a been bitten by the travel bug and who enjoy meeting new people daily and from all walks of life.
A few options you'll have are:
1. Flight attendant,
2. Hotel management,
3. Concierge,
4. Travel agent
5. Cruise ship staff
6. ( photography and videography ) -- ^more info. below.
You could even find work at a bed and breakfast and learn how one operates and perhaps invest into owning one of your own in the future. It would be so cute to create theme bed and breakfasts where each property has it's own unique theme and enchantment that would make it super appealing for solo trips, couples or family vacations who are looking for a unique experience.
A travel agent would be perfect as you could be completely remote and create videos to share how you can help families plan their dream vacations etc.
^I'm adding in photography and videography here because in my opinion, photography/videography is a fit for those who enjoy curating, creating and capturing unique perspectives and experiences -- photographers and videographers do just that.
Especially if your current position requires you to travel often, you could create an additional stream of income by creating beautiful pictures and images of yourself and the countries you're travelling to.
Women are naturally communal and nurturing and I feel make the perfect candidates for ensuring their guests are taken care of during their stay and travels. The educational requirements and courses that are required are very minimal and make this an appealing opportunity for aspiring homemakers, SAHMs and women who eventually plan to transition into WFH positions.
4. Personal / Small / Neighborhood Baker
I see soooo many posts online ( via Facebook and Nextdoor primarily ) where people are always asking for help to find someone who is good in the kitchen ( specifically baking ) and offers baked goods, desserts and specialty cakes for upcoming parties and celebrations. Baby showers and weddings are always happening year round, and even if you only bake during the peak times of these types of events and celebrations – you’ll be booked out for weeks.
You can easily rent a local commercial kitchen ( pro tip: you can connect with local restaurants ) and shared spaces where farmer markets vendors also use to prepare their products and goodies.
Having a simple website and menu offering available and begin filming yourself every time you bake ( even if it’s just for yourself or your family ) showcase your style and the types of desserts you love to make and share a link to hire you for your services.
This is a win-win-win as you’ll network with some amazing people during the events, grow a following from your clients and can always make a “bakers dozen” to have a few extra goodies to make for home (in moderation of course, as you you know - or will come to know that i’m all about health and finding balance with our nutrition).
5. Home Services
Many women have made a lot of money offering cleaning service on the side ( especially while in college or high school). I cleaned part time while I was trying to figure out my next move and I was able to do very well. I was able to get jobs mostly through Indeed.com, and Angi.com (formerly known as Angie's List ) word of mouth and via Facebook groups ( mom groups are ALWAYS posting hiring and help wanted type posts).
You can design some flyers in Canva and post them to advertise your home cleaning opportunities. This type of work was easy ( if you are detail oriented and enjoy cleaning of course ) as it fit within my regular social and work life and I wad able to listen to music or an audio book while I worked since you don't have to worry about interacting with anyone while you work.
This is a very useful skill in working toward homemaking because I already had all the required knowledge for cleaning my home by the time I came to manage my home. If you're thinking about getting started today, I would suggest cleaning local vacation rentals ( AirBnbs etc. ) as they always need to hire more cleaning professionals.
6. Childcare
Babysitting (both part time and full time) as well as a nannying opportunities are great ways to bring in a decent amount of consistent cash flow. There are also opportunities for working as an Au Pair, a live-in nanny, or even a governess or babysitter are all wonderful work for single childless women. Bonus: if you’re a wiz in the kitchen, you can also find very lucrative opportunities as a personal or private chef.
Working within the childcare industry (prior to having children of your own, if you desire ) gives you a lot of time to learn about children and child development while also learning more about different parenting styles. You also get to meet many different people from all walks of life ( as oftentimes having your passport will be highly requested, as you’ll be able to travel often with your host family).
A few places to look into these types of opportunities
Care.com
https://www.elizabethroseagency.com/ (The Elizabeth Rose Agency -- affluent families seeking full time help, passport HIGHLY recommended for this site if you’re also a travel bug).
7. Child Education
If you have a heart for pursuing your care of children, yet more so on the educational side, you can offer private and small group tutoring (both virtual and in-person ), local child play group meetups and family events and even a small educational homeschool co-op.
You could easily get your start by finding the local community gatherings and events that service families with children (and specifically within the age ranges your specialty provides services).
2020 taught many parents and caregivers a lesson as the school closures and openings were delayed more and more, many parents and students had no idea how to approach distance and online learning. However, many families looked for other educational offerings beyond their traditional education.
There will always be a massive demand for online tutoring and small group child education programs and services as parents are always on the lookout for ways to provide their children with the best educational opportunities so they can succeed in life.
Adorable Instagram Reel about a teacher who did just that! (The easiest thing I ever did was resigned from public school and started my own school) https://www.instagram.com/reel/CuQE8SyIWx8/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
And if you're on the lookout for a fun, interactive and whole-brain based supplemental curriculum and/or extra curricular activity, check out our program Storytelling With Stop Motion. It offers unique edu-tainment that is designed to build and nurture young minds with creative inspiration.
8. Personal Assisting / VA ( Virtual Assistant ) / CSR for Home Service Professionals / Admin Assistance
These jobs can be a great option for people looking to do something relaxed and indoors. I answered phones and managed the front desk for a physician during my college summers, and it was a fun way to make some extra cash. It can be a little slow at times, however, I found other ways to entertain myself by always having a good book with me and my journal to write an idea down whenever I was struck with inspiration ( being a screenwriter, I was always getting ideas about new stories, concepts and characters ) but in general, it's a pretty laid back way make some money without being outside or doing something too labor intensive.
Another bonus was all the free gourmet lunches that would be catered almost everyday as many of the pharmaceutical reps would try to warm up to me in order to find out when the doctor would be back in office ( hee hee ).
Some admin positions require some formal education but others just require on-the-job training, especially if you are to answer phones or data input for small businesses like insurance agencies, wealth management, or other professional home service businesses. Data input is a great thing to consider as well because companies are ALWAYS needing more help in this area. I've worked as personal assistant and have a really good friend who is now an assistant for a high profile celebrity, so this line of work can blossom into something very lucrative if you desire that.
9. Retail
Retail is a great option if you want absolutely ZERO higher education to be required. I personally have never had a retail job, yet it always looked like a lot of fun and part of me wonders why I never applied for these types of positions. Even when I go to my local Chanel boutique to purchase my make-up and perfume, it looks so beautiful and relaxed inside and I can tell that you can have some pretty great conversations with the customers while working in a place like that.
I would recommend you aim high here and only apply for luxury or designer brands. You may need to get some working experience at a retail store at the local mall to build up you resume, yet I would highly recommend you keep your eye on the prize of getting hired at one of the high end retail stores.
If you're in a larger city ( or not too far from one ) I would recommend you work at the mall that services the most affluent of the population in your city/town. People with money are super warm and welcoming and LOVE impeccable service and are great for networking opportunities as well -- you never know where you'll meet your next lucrative connection, that could also double as great socializing and even dating options for those of you who are single and desire to be married.
10. Social Media Influencing ( aka Modeling or Product Reviews )
Contrary to popular belief, you do NOT have to have a million and one followers in order to attract brand sponsorship opportunities. In fact, studies have shown that both brand’s and audience’s ( the brand’s customers ) are more receptive and view smaller influencers as more trustworthy. These are known as micro and nano influencers vs. macro and mega influencers.
Here is another great blog via our creative agency KNui Creative (that includes a list of recommended paid influencer platforms for smaller influencers)
10 Steps for Successfully Turning Your Social Media Influencer Brand Sponsorships into HIGHER Paid Collaborations that also amplify and expand your personal brand.
11. Modeling | Commercial Acting
Felicia ( of The Feminine Fancy ) has a fabulous video on her YouTube channel that provides a lot of great information about how to get started as a professional commercial actress.
The Feminine Fancy | How I Became A Commercial Actress (and how you can too!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV1-kRyMLDk ( since I first published this blog post, the original creator, The Feminine Fancy has set it to private, I will leave the original link here in case she decides to changer her mind in the future)
However, I found another great video for you to enjoy!
How to Become an Actor with NO EXPERIENCE! (Auditions, Agents, Castings & Acting Career Tips)
via Makayla Lysiak
In Makayla's video she shares how to become an #actor with zero experience? and teaches you how to start a successful #acting career in the film and television industry. Learn how to get an agent, talent manager, acting auditions, casting calls, and headshots, from an industry professional.
Subscribe to her channel for for career advice, #actingtips, and film industry content! 🎥 🌴 😊
Growing up in Southern California, I am no stranger to casting and model calls and talent scouts and agents on the lookout for the next “star”, and spending enough time in Hollywood, it’s definitely an element of “dreams come true” in this city that you cannot help but feel if you’ve spent any amount of time in Los Angeles, CA specifically.
A few things about this industry:
NEVER and I mean NEVER pay someone claiming to “make you a star” or “make you famous” - period. Any reputable agency makes money when YOU make money from a booked job.
Invest into professional headshots with a reputable photographer ( ask for referrals and look at local professionals via their websites and social media accounts )
Consider professional acting and theater classes, they’re great for networking and getting in front of (legit) casting directors, who are known to sit in and watch talent from the seats.
12. Fitness Trainer, Instructor, or Health Coach
Fitness will always be a necessary thing for many people from all walks of life. As more health information is uncovered, discovered and revealed everyone, and I do mean everyone, is looking for ways to looks and feel their very best.
If you are naturally drawn to fitness this would be a very easy thing to do. It could start as simple as you filming yourself do ing 10-min home workouts inn your living room or backyard/patio area and uploading them to YouTube.
You could market your services to the local places where your community gets together.
and depending upon your target audience, you could even offer ways for moms and kids to work out together - so moms don't need to worry about day care or having their children napping in order for them to workout.
You cold become a certified Yoga, Pilates or Zumba instructor and teach part time at a wellness studio or gym in your neighborhood. You could even host a meet-up group or publish events on eventbrite and share your workouts that can take place in outdoor areas that are workout friendly.
Becoming a health coach is also aa great option for anyone interested in working more on the nutritional side of things without going to become a dietitian and getting a 4-year degree. You could even help with meal planning for your clients who have any food aversions or preferences.
13. Social Media Management and Marketing Services
Social media is definitely here to stay. Many businesses ( small, mid and corporate level ) will always have a need for marketing, as marketing is hand in hand with the direct lifeline of all businesses -- sales.
If you have a knack for creativity, and also love stats and data, social media management and marketing may just be the perfect career path for you.
I offer small group classes for ladies looking to get started.
Learn how to land a LUCRATIVE and Secure Career in Digital + Social Media
Marketing with No Previous Experience.
Watch 4-part Video Series to Learn More
>>> <<<
Are Moms a Good Candidate for a Career in Social Media and Digital Marketing?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vs5ZHeqSXl8 ( watch YouTube Video )
**If you need some career coaching, learn more here
BONUS: Online Paid Surveys
This is more for side “starbucks cash”, if you will, as this is not by any means a way to make enough to pay your rent, mortgage or food bill. Although I have heard of a few ladies using multiple sites like this one and making a pretty decent amount over time. So who knows? – the sky is really the limit!
AttaPoll App: https://attapoll.app/join/izqmt
I hope this post got those brain waves in motion and have you looking at different ways to increase your income, while also providing you with the opportunity to have flexibility when you do decide to get married, start a family and stay home ( even if you plan to work from home ).
I know you’re a highly intelligent young woman and have innate gifts, talents and skills, I encourage you to take some time and get clear with your standards for your life and decide the best route for you to get there.
I’m rooting for you! :)
Mentioned in today’s article:
Connect with Pastor Sara: https://www.pastorsara.com/
Connect with Rebecca Lynn Pope: https://linktr.ee/rebeccalynnpope
Connect with Keli C-L Pitts ( The Femininity Doctor ): https://linktr.ee/Thefemininitydoctor.com
Connect with Maura Beauty: https://www.youtube.com/@MauraBeautyCo
Connect with Dee-1: https://missionvisionlifestyle.com/ and http://instagram.com/dee1music
Connect with Social Media Career Coaching and Game On! Careers for Women: https://www.instagram.com/gameoncareersforwomen/ || (Get Your Social Media Career Guide)
Also, if you would like to support our work, Order your copy of our Children's Picture Book:
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