Las Vegas NowMore Moms Turn to Home-Based Businesses

More Moms Turn to Home-Based Businesses

The recession appears to be spurring a growth in home-based businesses, including some in the Las Vegas valley. According to Money Magazine, stay-at-home moms now command the largest percentage of paid home-based workers.

According to the Department of Labor, almost one out of every 10 stay-at-home moms with kids under the age of six work from home or have their own home business. By some estimates, one out of every three Americans will work from home one day.

Just six months ago, Traci Marx decided to dabble in jewelry sales after attending her first Lia Sophia party at a friend's home. She says the idea was to supplement the dwindling income from their family-owned construction business without sacrificing the family's quality of life.

"I have four kids, so I look at everyone's schedule and I pick out days that don't conflict with their activities and then I book jewelry shows on those days," she said.

Working just 20 to 25 hours a week, mostly in the evenings, Traci now pulls in an average of $3,000 a month doing something she really enjoys. "It has made a huge difference in our lives," she said.

Mindy Durham is a sales director with Mary Kay Cosmetics. She says the company usually sees a boost in both product sales and in the number of recruited sales consultants during economic downturns. "I have quite a few new women who are stay-at-home moms who want the flexibility offered by Mary Kay," she said.

Mindy says even newly hired Mary Kay consultants can make anywhere from $20 to $50 an hour. "I can make money in my jimmies, and I love that," she said.

The success, flexibility, and independence these women have found without sacrificing family may explain why female-owned businesses are growing at twice the rate of male-owned businesses. These moms say there's no going back now. "This is my own business, I can depend on myself, I can't depend on the corporate world, or a boss, or the economy, but with this, I know that if I work hard I can depend on myself," said Marx.

But direct sales and home-based businesses aren't for everyone. Without a boss telling you when to work and what to do, Marx and Durham say only the self-disciplined and self-motivated will succeed.