7 Mistakes Moms Make When Starting an Online Business (And How to Avoid Them)

Do you keep feeling that everyone else is building six-figure businesses from their bedrooms? While you’re stuck with annoying chores and half-finished ideas?

I mean, you’ve spent hours Googling “best online business for moms”…

Or signed up for yet another free webinar that left you more confused than before?

One minute, you’re excited and pumped with ideas and strategies. You dream of flexible hours and the possibility of financial freedom at last.

And the next? You feel overwhelmed and second-guessing everything.

You’re not alone, Mama.

You see, starting an online business “as a mom” is different.

The internet is full of flashy success stories. But only a few people talk about the “hidden traps” that keep most moms stuck.

Making them spin in circles instead of truly making money with their online business.

But that’s about to change…

Because in this post, I’m going to talk about the 7 mistakes moms make when starting an online business.

By the end, you’ll see the biggest business mistakes that can stress and slow you down in your mompreneur journey. You’ll also discover how to avoid these traps before you even get started.

Are you ready?

Let’s begin!

Mistake 1: Selling Your Passion Instead of Expertise

Okay… I’m sure you’ve heard it a thousand times: “Follow your passion, and the money will follow.”

Yet, this is not always the case (at least not immediately).

Passion ALONE, doesn’t always pay the bills…

I agree; it can be a wildly popular motivator, but that doesn’t mean it’ll lead to profits.

Too many moms mistakenly jump into business fuelled by “what they love” instead of “what they know”.

For example, if you’ve been a teacher for 10 years, why sell handmade crafts just because you love doing it? 

The truth is, your skill can fasten the success of your online business.

Therefore, instead of starting from scratch and trying so hard to earn money, use what you already know.

So, how do I start selling my expertise?

Think about the skills you’ve developed – both in and out of the workplace…

• Are you the one people ask for help with schedules, meal plans, or party decorations?
• Do your friends often seek your advice on budgeting, homeschooling, or running a busy home?
• Have you mastered a system that makes mom life easier – something other moms would gladly pay to learn?

Now, make a list of everything you’re talented at, both from past jobs and your daily life as a mom.

Next is to identify the top 2-3 skills that people already ask you for help with.

Check out how others are making money from those skills. They could be doing this through courses, coaching, digital products, or services.

Then, choose a starting point and take massive action.

Don’t even overthink it.

Because the FASTEST path to profit isn’t a brand-new hobby, it’s leveraging what you already do so well.

With your skills, you’ll feel less frustrated. You’ll avoid dead ends and gain confidence as you grow your online business.

Moving on to the next…

Mistake 2: Buying Every Shiny Course without Taking Action

You see it all the time…

Those irresistible “N9,999 secret formula” courses that promise overnight success in 30 days.

Sounds too good to be true? That’s because it definitely is!

I know this first-hand out of experience…

I should have started putting myself out there as soon as I got my first virtual assistant certification a few years back.

But I didn’t.

Instead, I kept on buying more and more courses, convinced that I wasn’t ready.

And before I knew it, I was stuck in learning mode, making no money while my bills piled up. Until a productivity coach I follow on LinkedIn shared how she broke free from this exact struggle.

Her story inspired me to CONFIDENTLY start showing up and applying for roles I qualified for.

Unfortunately, many moms also believe this mistake: “If I just learn a little more, I’ll be ready.” They keep buying course after course and chasing more training. But they never actually use what they’ve already learnt.

So, instead of running a THRIVING business, they’re stuck in a cycle of constantly consuming information.

Can I tell you the reality?

No magic course will build your online business for you.

How to get UNSTUCK from learning mode:

1. Set a 90-day rule: Pick one business model or strategy and commit to it for 90 days
2. Start with free resources: YouTube videos, podcasts, and blog articles provide a wealth of knowledge. Use them to learn or upskill before investing in paid (or expensive) courses
3. Buy courses wisely: Get one only when you know what you need help with, not just to “fix” your random business confusion
4. Practice before learning more: For every 1 hr you learn, take action for 2 hrs. This tested and proven method helps you keep what you’ve learnt

The result? You’d save money, stop feeling overwhelmed, and actually finish what you start.

Mistake 3: Letting Your Schedule Control Your Business

You think:

“I’ll work when the kids nap…”

“I’ll finish tasks after bedtime…”

“I’ll squeeze in some work during quiet moments…”

But you and I know that:

• Nap time is unpredictable
• Bedtime gets pushed back
• And those “quiet moments”?… Well, they only last about 90 seconds

Well, here’s the hard truth: successful businesses need consistent time and focus.

This means setting actual work hours. Just like a real job.

How to control your schedule and stay consistent:

1. Schedule work blocks: Try waking up 1hr earlier or getting a babysitter for 4hrs every week. The goal is to create a dedicated time just for work. In my case, I adjusted to working mostly at night. I also carved out 2-3hrs in the morning, after the kids have gone to school. This way, I was able to set aside 4-5hrs in a day to attend my business
2. Cut distractions: Swap an hour of Netflix or social media scrolling for focused work time
3. Have a backup plan. If things don’t go as planned, use a different time slot. Early mornings or weekends can be excellent times for catching up

I encourage you to try these and see the astonishing progress you’d make. Remember that when you show up for your business like it matters, it will start to matter to you, your family, and of course, to your bank account.

And this brings us to the next common startup mistakes moms make…

Mistake 4: Underpricing Your Work Because of “Mom Guilt”

Do you often feel guilt when charging for something that comes naturally to you?

Or worry that “pricing too high” will scare people off?

That’s definitely “mom guilt” messing with your money.

Many moms (especially newbie entrepreneurs) set their prices based on what they think people can pay, not on the true value of their work.

And so they:

• Work too hard for too little
• Feel resentful instead of empowered
•  Attract bargain-hunters instead of high-quality clients

Listen, underpricing doesn’t attract more clients. It repels them, instead.

When you charge too little, people assume:

• You’re inexperienced
• Your offer isn’t valuable
• They can find something better elsewhere

Taylor Wells, a global pricing and advisory firm, warns that underpricing can harm your brand.

And if people view your brand in a certain way, it will be hard to change your price positioning.

Here’s how to stop underpricing:

1. Find three competitors in your industry that charge premium rates. Compare your offer to theirs, and then adjust the price based on that comparison
2. Don’t assume what your clients want. People pay well for confidence, expertise, and real transformation. They aren’t buying just a product or service
3. Charge for value, not fear. Instead of asking, “Will they pay this?”, think, “Does this price match the results I deliver?” Got it?

As a mom-owned business, charge like you believe in yourself. Because when you do, others will too.

Mistake 5: Obsessing Over Perfect Branding

You’ve got the perfect website layout…

The prettiest logo… 

A colour scheme that screams aesthetic goals…

But… no sales.

Why? Because business success isn’t about looking ready – it’s about BEING ready.

Too many mom entrepreneurs take months or even years to perfect their branding, websites, and social media. But they forget to test their idea in the market first. Wrong move.

It feels productive, yeah, but that’s procrastination in disguise.

Here’s how to start selling your skill FASTER:

1. Test your idea first: Before you spend money and time on branding, see if people will pay for what you offer
2. Focus on money-making activities first: Networking and selling yourself are more important than a perfect logo. Focus on these instead
3. Use the 80/20 rule: Prioritize what actually moves the needle for your business. 80% of results actually come from 20% of all your efforts

Your website can evolve. Your systems can improve.

But your business can’t grow if you’re not making money. So, sell first and perfect later.

Alright, let’s move on to the next mistake… over 80% of digital mompreneurs are guilty of this…

Mistake 6: Hiding Your Motherhood 

Have you worried that mentioning your kids will make you look “less professional”…

And because of it, you keep them out of your branding, your content, and your messaging?

You try to separate “mom life” from “business life”…

When I newly started freelancing, I stumbled into this trap. In my mind, I thought I was being professional.

But little did I know that I was losing out on a tremendous opportunity to show up more authentically.

Here’s the truth: Your motherhood is not a liability. It’s an unmatched asset.

Moms bring UNIQUE skills to the table:

• Patience. (because negotiating with toddlers is basically high-level SALES TRAINING)
• Resilience (hmmm, surviving sleepless nights makes you fiercely UNSTOPPABLE)
• Problem-solving (figuring out how to get a picky 4-year-old to eat vegetables) is next-level CREATIVITY… Don’t you agree?

So, when starting an online business:

1. Share your story: Let people see the real you. Moms connect easily with moms
2. Use your experience: Build a brand that embraces your journey instead of hiding it
3. Attract the right clients: Be genuine. This attracts people who connect with you and share your values

Mistake 7: Treating Your Business Like a “Side Hustle” 

CONSTANTLY calling your online business a “side hustle” sounds quite harmless.

But here’s the problem – it subtly tells your brain that it’s not a real business.

That it’s just something you do on the side. That’s fine…

But this begs the question, “Can you make GOOD money from this business?”…Good enough to help you CREATE and live your best life as a mom?

Yes? Then you should start treating it as a real business. Give it the 100% attention it deserves.

Think about it: if YOU – the business owner – don’t take your business seriously, why would anyone else?

Or you don’t know that your online business can be a legacy, worthy of continuity?

Simply put, if you treat your business like a side project, it stays as one.

Seeing your business as more than just extra income makes it MORE meaningful. This shift changes everything.

How to shift your business from “side hustle” to “legacy”:

1. Change your mindset: Don’t call it a side thing. See it as a Legacy Project (…sounds really cool, by the way!)
2. Set boundaries: Protect your work time like you would for a traditional job
3. Lead by example: Show your kids what’s possible when you commit wholeheartedly to your dreams

Your Dream Is Closer Than You Think

Right now, you might be thinking:

“Wow, I’ve been making some of these mistakes and didn’t even realize it.”

Or maybe a little voice in your head is whispering, “What if I fail? What if I’m not cut out for this whole mom entrepreneur stuff?”

Silence that voice for good. Because here’s the truth:

Every mompreneur you admire has been in the same spot you are in today.

The difference is that they didn’t let fear or past mistakes stop them. And neither will you.

The moment I got paid for my first writing gig, I realized SO late that I had been holding myself back all along.

But you’re lucky. You’ve just discovered “insider tips” on the biggest mistakes moms make when starting an online business. Most people figure these out the hard way.

Most importantly, this whole process isn’t just about building a business. It’s about taking control of your future.

So, shift your MINDSET, take intentional action, and give yourself permission to succeed.

That lifestyle you’ve dreamt of is waiting for you.

Now, go get it!