Parents will do anything within their ability to provide for their families. Kaya naman nang dumating ang pandemya, we saw Filipino families find new ways to earn money amid lockdowns and restrictions. Marami ang pinasok ang online selling, but as every entrepreneur knows, starting a business is never easy.

To aid entrepreneurs and our madiskarteng parents, leading laundry brand Surf and mompreneur digital community Filipina Homebased Moms (FHMoms) collaborated and invited three #TeamWais moms, namely AdSerye PH CEO and HusKQueen Society founder Princess Cabrera, TV personality and entrepreneur Dianne Medina, and Belle Ame Essentials CEO and MOMprenuers Club PH founder Lei Ermitanio, in a virtual event where they shared some online business tips and, of course, their Kwentong Wais. Here are our takeaways for the wais and madiskarte parent entrepreneurs out there from the live event! 

Identify your whys

First, if you want to start a business and be your own boss, you have to identify your "WHY," and the three #TeamWais moms all agreed. Establishing with yourself why you want to will help you clearly see the direction you want your business to take. Also, knowing your reason will help when the going gets tough. It can serve as a reminder and motivation for you to keep moving forward and overcome various obstacles. Kaya naman take the time to ask yourself this: bakit nga ba gusto kong magtayo ng business? 

Be Resourceful

Not everyone has enough money to start a business, but sometimes, all you really need is what you already have.

The three #TeamWais moms shared how they started their respective businesses with limited resources. Mommy Diane maximized her already-solid following and popularity to resell items and support other local small businesses. Mommy Princess, meanwhile, took advantage of her wit and knowledge of the digital industry to open a digital marketing agency. And Mommy Lei managed to open Belle Ame Essentials, an awarded local personal care brand, with only P1,500 and her skills, which she enhanced over time.

Seeing how our three wais mompreneurs started, malinaw na mahirap mang magtayo ng business with limited resources, it can still be done. Find a way to start with whatever you have at the moment and don't hesitate to start small. Here's a list of low-investment small-business ideas from Shopify for beginners!

Determine if you can really manage a business

The idea of being your own boss sounds exciting, but it's not for everyone. Some people are not up for the pressure and stress of owning a business. So, don’t be carried away by the saying, “Hindi mo malalaman kung hindi mo susubukan.” Instead, before you make the leap and take the financial and career risk, take some time to find out whether entrepreneurship fits with your personality.

One way to do so is through SWOT analysis, which stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. It can help you realize your strengths and weaknesses, aww the opportunities you could seize, and understand the challenges that may affect your progress or success. This technique allows you to learn more about yourself, identify areas of your life that could use improvement, and help inform your business strategy.

Offer something unique

Since a lot of stay-at-home family members are now seizing opportunities online, it's not surprising that some online stores may have the same products and services. With this in mind, Mommy Dianne reminds us of the need to be different instead of blending in, "At some point, mga Mommies, marami po tayong magkakapareho ng ibinibenta, so, it's important [to identify] that one factor that you need to have to be able to stand out from the rest." According to her, you can do that by coming up with a unique selling proposition or USP, a statement that describes your product and sets your business apart from the competition. Karaniwang makikita o maririnig ang USP sa mga tagline ng mga brands, like Jollibee’s 'Bida ang saya,’ SM Supermalls’ ‘We've got it all for you,’ and M Lhuillier’s ‘Tulay ng PaMLyang Pilipino.’

To develop a compelling USP or tagline, you should consider what your target market or customers want and need and what your business can offer that the other guys don’t. Keep it short and catchy, but don't forget to keep it realistic and within your capabilities para siguradong you can deliver on your promise!

Invest in yourself

When we talk about investing in our own business, we usually think of financial investment. While that is important if you want your business to grow, learning to invest in yourself is just as important.

Starting a business comes with all kinds of pressure and responsibility, and that's why when you build your own, you'll have to be capable of taking on the weight of being an entrepreneur. After all, you are the fuel that will keep your business going. So, investing in yourself through books, online courses, workshops, conferences, and webinars is probably the most obvious way to prepare and equip yourself with enough energy, expertise, resilience, and wisdom to drive your business forward. There are many ways to expand your knowledge and skills online, at isa na diyan ang libreng entrepreneurial program na Wais University na hatid ng Surf at FHMoms.

And that’s it for now. Kaunti pa lamang ito, so stay tuned for more tips! You can also catch the livestream video on FHMom’s official Facebook page for the #TeamWais moms’ full discussion!