The New Mom and Pop Company

Not too long ago, it looked like the mom and pop company might be gone for good. The convenience and buying power of big box companies slowly pushed family-run businesses off the streets of big and small towns alike. Commercial mortgages are too high now for many new small businesses to even afford an office or storefront. This phenomenon was so noticeable that in some areas it became a matter of discussion during elections, as well as material for songs, books, and movies. In fact, the gradual disappearance of the mom and pop store drew several parallels to the extinction of the family-owned farm, and for many of the same reasons.

The main threat to the long term survival of mom and pop companies was that they simply did not have the monetary backing to compete with big chains. Big companies could bring in more inventory at lower costs, whether it's bathroom vanities or aquarium test kits, as well as afford the bells and whistles that so many people are attracted to today. However, the Internet age and a new spirit of entrepreneurship led to a revival of the idea of the mom and pop company, and the appearance of those companies as well.

Today, the new mom and pop company can't be found on the main street of your local town, or the side streets of a big city. You will still find these companies here and there, to be sure, but the vast majority of mom and pop businesses today are being run by people within their own homes. In particular, the idea of the home business tends to appeal and work for parents who stay at home with their kids, saving money on daycare or a nanny agency in London or elsewhere.

While the new mom and pop company definitely sounds like the perfect solution to a number of different domestic issues, nothing close to perfect comes without a lot of effort. Daycare costs might be avoided, but that means that the mom and pop home business has to worry about kids being around during work hours, and that can mean a lot of distractions. A company operated by a stay-at-home parent also needs to be well organized in order to be successful, and that means careful planning in all areas, as well as a timetable that does not leave a lot of room for emergency circumstances (sickness immediately comes to mind). Something like internet project management can really help the busy stay-at-home working parent.

The object of this section of our site is to help mom and pop companies succeed in part due to the information in the articles we post. Forewarned can be forearmed, and it can be very helpful to realize what kind of challenges you will face in this field before they actually come up. IF you're running after kids, you won't miss important information coming in from a parent company with the use of online project collaboration software, for example. From shopping for office supplies to keeping the communication lines open, we have tips and information that will come in handy for any business run by a stay at home parent.