MARKET WATCH
The Unspoken Struggles of Mompreneurs
In terms of time and money, weighing the economic value of a stay-at-home mom would break the scale. Majority of research and statistical findings prove that women spend significantly more time on unpaid household chores and care work than men. In Asia, the number stands at 75%, indicating how deeply gendered such responsibilities remain.
Put into market terms, a stay-at-home mother often performs the combined work of a full household staff. This includes a nanny or childcare provider, a house helper, a home cook, and basic administrative tasks (similar to a part-time personal assistant). These roles total roughly ₱28,000 to ₱45,000+ per month per household, a conservative estimate of the labor many women perform daily without pay.
If this same woman were an entrepreneur, how tough could it be? Here are some of the unspoken challenges and experiences commonly shared by mom entrepreneurs.
DATEMAY 04, 2026
AUTHORANGELA CLARE AGPAWA
READ10 Min
Challenges Faced by Entrepreneurial Mothers
A 2022 bibliometric analysis on mompreneurship states that, “Mumpreneurship is considered a form of female entrepreneurship whose motivation, and the process of identifying opportunities, is influenced by maternity.‶ This is defined as the creation of a new business by a woman who identifies as both a mother and a businesswoman, with a primary goal of achieving work-life balance while managing both family and business, often with the home acting as the business hub.
However, despite the flexibility, these entrepreneurs often face significant challenges, such as working long, unconventional hours (early mornings or late nights) and coping with a lack of external financing and high-quality, flexible childcare. They also face the "stigma of motherhood," where feelings of guilt, anxiety, and self-doubt may frequently arise when balancing parenthood with career obligations.
Balancing Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
Knowing the struggle of fulfilling the duties of both a mother and an entrepreneur at the same time is most common even to those who are neither moms nor business owners. Even so, it’s rare for them to talk about it, especially on social media, where many share only inspiring stories of success and achievements, rarely of the difficult scenes behind the curtains.
Many mompreneurs set up a business to leave their 9-5 jobs and achieve a better work-life balance. Ironically, this motivation remains unfulfilled. An interviewee in a study on the mompreneurship phenomenon stated the difference between the two: in a regular job, there is a set routine. When you are on your own, you need more discipline and should know how to prioritize.
“Balancing the demands of motherhood and building a nonprofit from the ground up often leaves me feeling torn between two worlds. Despite achieving milestones in both worlds, the nagging sense of not doing enough for my son or my business remains a persistent thought. It’s a daily challenge to balance the demands of nurturing a growing organization and a growing family.” — Jessica Sikora, Founder and CEO of SUPERBANDS
The Identity Crisis
“I was surprised at the identity crisis I went through as I became a new mom. The transition involved reconciling my role as an ambitious entrepreneur with my new responsibilities as a mother.” —Loni Brown, Founder and CEO of Wholesome Nest
Kate Borsato, a mother and mental health therapist, refers to identity loss in motherhood as a common phenomenon. This typically has six causes: prioritizing others’ needs, acting in survival mode, lack of personal time, drifting apart from friendships, self-sacrificing tendencies, and, of course, matrescence. When a mother is an entrepreneur, she intertwines her self-worth entirely with business performance, causing them to lose their sense of self when facing volatility. Along the process, mothers can lose themselves trying to serve others and manage their business at the same time.
Identity can be a complicated topic for most mothers because they tend to feel like it shouldn’t take priority or that it’s not deserving of time and emotional energy. As a result, individuality shaped by hobbies, social life, food, goals, and entertainment is often neglected—leading to burnout or the feeling of grievance for the old self.
Dealing with Moments of Regret
“What has surprised me the most is how often I daydream about not being an entrepreneur. For years, all I wanted was to start a business in the travel space. I still look forward to growing my business every single day. I am immensely happy and fulfilled pursuing my dream. However, as my toddler grows and we expect our second this year, I find myself thinking that it would be nice to have the option to step away from work and just be a mama while my children are small. I wouldn’t walk away from my business in these early years, so all I can do is embrace the challenge and seek balance.” —Kalyn Salinas, Founder of The Citrine Compass
It’s common for flashes of thought like this to come once in a while. The so-called “Mom Guilt” where one may feel bad about doing anything else other than caring for her family, which in this case is achieving dreams of her own. It does not always mean wanting to turn back time to choose not to build the business; it simply means feeling reminiscent of the time when focusing on family matters and participating in leisurely activities did not feel like a luxury.
Another mompreneur stated, “It’s hard not being able to give 100% all the time. My kids are young right now, so I feel tremendous guilt when I’m working and ‘should’ be with them.’ On the flip side, when I’m with them, I feel guilty for not working. A big part of that guilt is I actually enjoy working and love what I do. I’ve realized that it’s okay to want to work and not feel guilty for being away from your kids.” —Kimberly Tara, Tax Strategist at The Tara CPA Firm, LLC
This is highly indicative of how crucial it is to juggle house and business duties as a mompreneur. There is almost no room for mistakes, as it poses a risk of compromising one or the other.
Facing Emotional Consequences
The joint role as both a mother and a businesswoman leaves an overwhelming feeling. It’s not only physically exhausting, but also mentally and financially, eventually taking an emotional toll on mompreneurs as well. For the most part, this stems from a lack of emotional support, especially for single mothers who may barely have anyone to turn to during stressful times.
In the same study on mompreneurship phenomenon, BIBA Apparels Founder, Meena Bindra, expressed thoughts about her entrepreneurial journey, “After the initial guilt trips, I realized that it is something that we, mothers, build up and it can be emotionally very challenging.”
Another cause of this emotional turmoil is the idea of being taken lightly. In environments where men predominate, prejudice and sexism will always be an issue. Mothers are frequently viewed as less ambitious, less focused, and less productive than men. Research conducted by a Ph.D. Full-Time Research Scholar Bhavani N. J. from Alagappa University affirms that mompreneurs often have to establish themselves as women and as parent-entrepreneurs before they are taken seriously. At the 4th Gawad Madiskarte, UN Women Philippines Country Programme Coordinator, Rosalyn Mesina, stated, “Women entrepreneurs must not only be supported, they must be seen, recognized, and protected within the system.”
Tips for Mom Entrepreneurs
Build a Support System
Having a reliable support system in the journey of motherhood and entrepreneurship is not to be underestimated. Studies show that family support increases the probability of being a successful mompreneur in the long run. Your husband or a close-knit member can offer support in taking care of the young children. They can also act as mentors and can provide both emotional and financial support to women. The journey is difficult to take alone.
Reading business stories that emerged during motherhood is a great source of inspiration and realistic advice when facing difficulties. There is no better counselor than one who shares the same experience as you do.
Read: Grace Parazo: The Mom-CEO That Built The Philippines’ First Online Learning Platform for Baking and Cooking
Delegate and Outsource
Many mompreneurs forget that options out there can make their entrepreneurial journey easier. They tend to try to do it all, not only because they feel the need to, but also because they’re afraid of what might happen if they don’t control every little detail. For better management, identify your most critical tasks and outsource or automate the rest (e.g., using virtual assistants) to reduce cognitive load. Find reliable help who can support you and bring in knowledge or experience that you don’t have.
Prioritize Self-Care
This often comes last for most moms. Ironically, having a little me-time can significantly improve your performance. You cannot take good care of either your children or your business if you don't take good care of yourself first. Be strict about taking breaks, doing skincare, and even journaling. Feeling good about yourself is an underrated source of motivation.
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