This Is What I Would Do If I Had Only 10 Hours a Week to Start My Business

Nov 21

If you’ve ever wondered if it’s even possible to launch a business while working full-time (and balancing the chaos of family life), I get it. It can feel impossible. You're trying to juggle everything, and 10 hours a week doesn’t seem like nearly enough time to get things off the ground. But here’s the thing: it’s totally possible if you use those hours wisely.

In today’s blog post, I’m going to break down exactly what I would do if I only had 10 hours a week to start my business—and how you can apply these strategies too. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t involve working 80-hour weeks or burning yourself out. Let’s dive in!

The Reality: 10 Hours Is More Than Enough—If You Use It Right

Let’s paint a picture of your reality: you're a full-time working mom (maybe with an 11-month-old baby like mine). You’re sleep-deprived, the house is never as clean as you'd like, and your to-do list is probably at least eight pages long. On top of all of that, you’re trying to build a business. Sound familiar?

Well, I’m here to tell you that 10 hours a week is absolutely enough to get your business off the ground—it’s all about being strategic with your time.

Step 1: Start With Your "Why"

The first thing I would do, if I only had 10 hours a week, is to get crystal clear on why I’m starting my business. What drives me? What’s my mission? Understanding your purpose is essential because it keeps you motivated when things get tough (which, let’s face it, they will). When you’re feeling exhausted or overwhelmed, knowing your "why" will help you push forward.

Action Steps:

Write down your mission and purpose. It doesn’t need to be fancy, but make it clear.
Post it somewhere you can see every day—whether it’s on a whiteboard, in your planner, or on your phone.
Whenever you’re feeling stuck, revisit your "why" and use it as a guide to make tough decisions.

Step 2: Time Block Like a Pro

You’re working with limited time, so we need to make every minute count. Time blocking is one of my favorite productivity hacks. It’s simple: dedicate specific blocks of time throughout the week to work on your business. And no, you don’t need to commit hours at a time—two hours here, an hour there, and you’ll have 10 hours before you know it.

Action Steps:

Schedule 2 hours on Monday evening, 2 hours on Wednesday evening, and 4 hours on the weekend (or whatever combination fits your life).
Treat this business time like a work meeting—don’t cancel unless absolutely necessary.
Use a digital calendar or even a paper planner to track your business hours and stay consistent.

Step 3: Prioritize Tasks That Move the Needle

Now that we’ve carved out time, we need to be strategic about how we spend it. Not all tasks are created equal when you’re starting a business. You should prioritize actions that directly contribute to growing your business, like creating your core offer or signing your first clients.

What NOT to do:

Don’t spend 30 minutes designing a perfect Instagram post or agonizing over your brand colors. These are not the revenue-generating tasks.

Action Steps:

Focus on high-return tasks like creating your offers, getting your first clients, and refining your sales process.
If you don’t know where to start, focus on building a simple, irresistible offer that you can sell right away.

Step 4: Delegate and Automate (Where You Can)

You’re working full-time, and you’re building a business—there’s no shame in asking for help. This is where you can save time by delegating tasks and automating processes. For example, maybe you can get your partner to take over some household chores, or you could outsource your content creation to tools like ChatGPT or even hire help for small tasks like admin or social media.

Action Steps:

Identify tasks you can delegate, whether to a partner, a virtual assistant, or even automation tools like Zapier.
Take advantage of low-cost resources like online scheduling tools, automatic billing systems, or grocery delivery services to free up your time.

Step 5: Keep Your Goals Small and Achievable

When you’re only working with 10 hours a week, it’s crucial to keep your goals small and achievable. You don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Instead, focus on setting small, bite-sized goals that lead you closer to launching your business. The key is making consistent progress, not perfection.

Action Steps:

Break your goals down into manageable chunks. For example, instead of "launch my business," try "outline my business strategy," or "create a simple website."
Celebrate small wins! Each small task completed is a step closer to launching your business.

Step 6: Stay Organized With the Right Tools

Organization is key when you only have limited hours. Whether it’s Trello, Asana, Google Sheets, or even just a notebook, find a system that works for you and stick with it. This will help you keep track of your tasks, deadlines, and progress without wasting time searching for things.

Action Steps:

Pick a tool to stay organized, and stick with it. No jumping between different tools.
Create a central place to track your ideas, tasks, and progress. This will save you time and mental energy.

Make Those 10 Hours Work for You

Starting a business while working full-time and managing family life is no easy feat. But with only 10 hours a week, you can absolutely make it happen. The key is staying focused on your why, prioritizing high-impact tasks, and being intentional with your time.

You've got this—one small step at a time. Let's turn that 10 hours a week into your dream business!