It takes a village to nurture a child and every woman knows that if she decides to embark on the entrepreneurial journey she will look for support from that village. Every woman in business, at one time or another, thinks about starting her own business. Many turn a hobby into a small business just to say to themselves that they have what it takes to make money on their own. But others, many others, make the choice to establish a business that, if carefully planned, can grow into a business enterprise employing many and answering the needs of consumers. It doesn't matter which entrepreneurial woman you are - if you are a woman in business, working for others, and want to start something on your own - I say, GO FOR IT and here's how!

First, DON'T GIVE UP YOUR DAY JOB no matter what your plan. In most cases, your day job is putting food on your table and a roof over your head. The women in business I work with have worked hard all of their lives for "the man" and their desire to try something on their own is new and exciting and, most often than not, part-time and will not turn into a full time gig. Of course, that is not to dissuade those of YOU who want to become entrepreneurs. It is doable and happens every day right from the position you are in RIGHT NOW!

But, being realistic about your next steps is important if you truly want to feel in control of your own destiny. I have friends and clients that have started online businesses that bring in anywhere from a few hundred dollars a month to a few thousand dollars a month. It all depends on your time, energy, diligence, and, most important, plan. Yes, even a small business on the side requires a little business plan.

Second, let's talk about some scenarios. Perhaps you have a desire to clean out your house and you'd like to earn some cash doing it. There is eBay, Craigslist (a little scary), and many local sites to sell stuff. This model works well for hobbyists also. It doesn't take much to put your stuff online and sell it and make a very nice profit - of course, as long as you know how to price it correctly. In other words, if you want to make money selling wares from a hobby make sure to cover the materials as well as your time making them into the price.

Third, the next business scenario I see often is the woman in business who wants to sell her service online. Now before you take this in the wrong way, I seriously mean a service that she is providing to an employer that she believes she can confidently present directly to a customer -- for example, accounting, marketing, PR, website development, etc. You get it!

Yes, the internet is a perfect place to try out your idea. But before every employer on the planet screams out at me "HOW DARE YOU TELL MY EMPLOYEE TO TRY AND START HER OWN BUSINESS WHILE WORKING ON MY DIME!" I say live and let live. You have a right to do what you want to do on your own time and if starting your own business is what you want to do no one NOT EVEN YOUR EMPLOYER has the right to stop you -- AS LONG AS YOU DON'T TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THE JOB (S)HE IS PAYING YOU TO DO! That last sentence is the most critical...you cannot take time out of the day from the time your employer is paying you...BUT you can take time out of your own life to see if entrepreneurship is right for you.

Women in business have all the choices that men in business have. They can start a business that fulfills them in a small way, start a hobby business that allows them to see just how much money they can generate in their part-time, or they can take their knowledge and their confidence and go all the way and build the business of their dreams. The sky is the limit as I like to say - just prepare and plan and make sure you have a Plan b to fall back on.

Go for it!