If you’d asked me a year ago whether I’d start a second income stream alongside my business, I would have said no.
Not because I wasn’t open to it.
But because I didn’t think I had the time.
And I didn’t think I needed to.
I already had a business I loved.
I’d built Investing in Women from the ground up.
I had a growing team, a strong community and real momentum.
From the outside, everything looked exactly as it should.
But behind the scenes?
It felt tighter than I expected.
The Reality of Running a Business (That People Don’t Talk About)
Last year was a big one for us as a family.
We:
– Completed a major house extension
– Invested heavily into the business
– Took on a new team member
– And saw our mortgage increase by £800 a month
At the same time, the market shifted.
After the Autumn 2024 budget changes, we noticed a slowdown in employers advertising roles – which, naturally, impacted revenue.
Nothing dramatic.
But enough to feel it.
And then there was the part I don’t think we talk about enough as female founders…
I wasn’t paying myself properly.
I was taking the bare minimum.
Not because the business couldn’t afford more, but because I felt I shouldn’t.
I told myself:
– “Reinvest it”
– “Keep it in the business”
– “You’ll take more later”
I know I’m not alone in that.
But it meant that personally, things felt tighter than they needed to.
The Dilemma: More Income… But At What Cost?
At that point, I had a decision to make.
If I wanted more income, my options were:
– Pay myself more (and feel like I was putting pressure on the business)
– Get another job (and lose flexibility)
– Work more hours (which just wasn’t realistic)
None of those felt like the right answer.
They all involved compromise.
And that’s the reality for so many women I speak to every day.
You want:
– Flexibility
– Purpose
– Time with your children
But also:
– Financial security
– Independence
– Options
And too often, it feels like you have to choose.
How It Started (As A Utility Warehouse Customer)
At the time, I was already a Utility Warehouse customer.
A friend had signed us up during the energy crisis, and we’d had a really positive experience:
– Good customer service
– Lower bills
– Simple to manage
It did what it said it would do.
But I hadn’t thought about it beyond that.
Until one moment stood out.
We’d built up credit on our account, and without us asking, they cancelled a bill and refunded us.
It was just after Christmas.
And I remember thinking:
That’s actually really impressive.
Still, I didn’t connect it to anything bigger.
“I Don’t Have Time”
Around that time, my now-mentor Sam Earnshaw got in touch.
She shared the business opportunity with me.
And my immediate response was:
“I don’t have time.”
Because that’s what I believed.
I was already juggling:
– A growing business
– A team
– Two children
– Everything else that comes with life
Adding something else felt unrealistic.
So instead, I did something simple.
I shared the opportunity with my community.
And the response was immediate.
People were interested.
People were joining.
People were earning.
And Sam kept saying:
“You could be doing this too.”
The Turning Point
Then January hit.
Our mortgage increased by £800 a month.
And suddenly, this wasn’t theoretical anymore.
We were feeling it.
We were:
– Watching spending more closely
– Stretching things to the end of the month
– Making more intentional choices
Not struggling.
But definitely more aware.
And I realised something important.
I didn’t want to:
– Take more from my business
– Or step away from it
But I did want more income.
That’s when I decided to give this a go.
What Happened Next
I joined in March 2025.
I didn’t go “all in”.
I fitted it around:
– School hours
– Evenings
– Small pockets of time
And in the first nine months, I earned just under £19,000.
That alone made a difference.
But it wasn’t just the amount.
It was what it represented.
More Than Just Extra Income
What surprised me most was how this income felt different.
It wasn’t about covering essentials.
It became what I’d describe as a “lifestyle pot,” but in my first year as a Utility Warehouse Partner I earned just under £25,000, part-time, from home.
It meant:
– Saying yes to experiences
– Treating the children without hesitation
– Choosing better seats, better days out, better options
It removed that low-level financial pressure that sits in the background.
And that changes how you show up – at work and at home.
The Added Value Most People Overlook
Alongside the income, there were also tangible benefits.
Things like:
– Free energy (worth around £150 a month)
– A five-star family holiday to Cyprus
– Incentive trips and experiences
– Shopping vouchers and seasonal rewards
When you add it up, it’s significant.
But more importantly, it reinforces something:
This isn’t just about earning.
It’s about improving your overall financial position.
The Unexpected Benefit: Community
One of the biggest surprises for me was the community.
Running your own business can be isolating.
Even when you have a team, it’s different from:
– Being part of something bigger
– Sharing wins in real time
– Learning alongside others
This gave me that.
But without:
– Office politics
– Rigid structures
– Fixed hours
It genuinely feels like the best parts of a corporate environment, with complete flexibility.
Why This Model Works
From a business perspective, what really appealed to me was the model itself.
It’s:
– Scalable
– Low risk
– Flexible
– Built around people
You’re not:
– Hiring employees
– Taking on overheads
– Increasing your risk exposure
But you are:
– Building something that grows over time
– Supporting others to do the same
– Creating income that isn’t limited by your hours
That combination is powerful.
Who This Actually Works For
One of the biggest misconceptions is that this only works for certain types of people.
In reality, we have people in our team who:
– Fit it around full-time jobs
– Fit it around children
– Do a few hours a week
– Do it alongside retirement
Some want:
– £200–£300 extra a month
Others want:
– £2,000+
And some go much further.
There’s no single version of success.
And that’s what makes it accessible.
What Success Looks Like Now
When I started, success was simple:
Cover the mortgage increase.
Now?
It’s about something much bigger.
It’s about:
– Building two businesses I genuinely love
– Creating long-term financial security
– Having flexibility built into everything I do
– Helping other women access the same opportunities
And importantly…
Doing it all around my family.
The Bigger Picture
This experience has shifted how I think about work.
For so many women, the challenge isn’t ambition.
It’s structure.
The traditional model doesn’t always fit:
– School hours
– Family life
– Personal priorities
And yet, the desire to earn, grow and contribute doesn’t go away.
That’s why alternative models matter.
Not as a replacement.
But as an addition.
Final Thoughts
Starting a second income stream wasn’t part of my original plan.
But it’s become one of the best decisions I’ve made.
Not just financially.
But in terms of:
– Confidence
– Flexibility
– Opportunity
If you’re in a position where:
– You want more income
– But don’t want to compromise what you’ve built
It’s worth exploring what else is possible.
Because sometimes…
The answer isn’t choosing between options.
It’s finding a way to create both
Curious?
If you’re reading this and thinking “I’d love something like this alongside what I’m already doing”…
I’ve put together a full breakdown of how it works, what’s involved and what you can realistically earn.
You can view the opportunity here.
It’s designed to fit around real life – whether that’s a few hours a week or something you want to grow over time.
No pressure.
Just information.