Last Monday I took the first steps to joining an inspiring group of people in the UK who are both raising a family and running their own business.

I am a week and a day into being a dad! Charles Fouracre was born at 6:56pm weighing 7 lbs 4 ounces on Monday 15th April 2013.

I’ve decided to take three weeks paternity leave and I’m toying with the idea of working a day from home for a while after. Running your own business affords you the luxury of choosing the time you take off but it’s a disadvantage in equal measure. The time you take off is the time you feel guilty that no one is leading your company. For sole traders and one man companies, it’s likely to be a time you are not earning any money.

I’m helped by having a great team around me and having shareholders who take a keen interest and are passionate about the company’s success.

In reality I am never far away from the business end. When mum and Charlie are asleep, daddy is always sneaking in a bit of work.

On our second night back from the hospital Charlie did not want to sleep. From 11pm we tried everything from feeding to cuddles to the rocking chair to frantically searching Spotify for white noise music. At 4am he finally fell asleep on me in bed. I didn’t dare move and as I couldn’t go to sleep with him on me, out came the iPhone for some early morning emails and work. The cloud is a brilliant enabler for small business owners.

P.S. tips to get newborn babies to sleep are very welcome!

Posted by Tim Fouracre

Tim founded Clear Books in 2008. Like many small business owners he worked from home for 15 months to get his startup off the ground. Today Tim enjoys helping Clear Books, its customers and its growing team innovate and achieve. Tim did his GCE O Levels in Ghana.

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4 Comments

  1. Tim Fouracre 7th May 2013 at 7:07 am

    Thanks Bharat- I’m thoroughly enjoying it although it’s my first day back to work today!

  2. Tim Fouracre 7th May 2013 at 10:18 am

    Thanks Alpha!

  3. CL Finance Associates LLP 9th May 2013 at 10:55 am

    Congratulations Tim. I am sure you will be a fantastic Dad. From my experience running your own business is a fantastic fit with being a parent. It is flexible as long as you are flexible too – my life is a mixture of my work, my family and my charity work. Nothing is in a box and I like it that way.

    1. Tim Fouracre 9th May 2013 at 1:14 pm

      Thanks Claire! Setting up the office near home has come in handy (well it’s always been handy) for popping home to see him at lunch 🙂

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