Latest on the blog
If you’re a mom in Madison, Alabama trying to juggle family life and entrepreneurship, you’re not alone. Many of us are building businesses in the small window of quiet between school drop-off and pick-up. The good news? With the right strategies, those school hours can be more than enough to grow a thriving business without sacrificing your role as a mom.
1. Protect School Hours Like Office Hours
When the kids head to James Clemens HS, Rainbow Elementary, Liberty Middle, or any one of our amazing Madison City Schools, it’s tempting to throw in a load of laundry or run errands around town. But your school hours are your prime business hours. Treat them like an official workday whether you’re at a coffee shop in downtown Madison, coworking with us at Madison Mompreneur, or working from your kitchen table.
2. Focus on What Really Grows Your Business
As busy mom entrepreneurs, we don’t have the luxury of endless time. Instead of tinkering with a logo or overthinking social media graphics, focus on the tasks that actually move your business forward: serving clients, reaching new customers, and building relationships in the Madison community. A simple filter to ask yourself: If I only accomplish one thing today, what will matter most for my business?
3. Use Tools and Systems to Save Time
Automation and batching can be game-changers. Schedule your Instagram posts ahead of time, set up online invoicing, and create templates for emails you send often. This frees up your limited work hours for creativity, connection, and client work. At Madison Mompreneur, we often share our favorite apps and systems during our pre- and post-coworking conversations to help each other work smarter.
4. Set Boundaries You Can Stick To
Once school is out and after-school activities begin, give yourself permission to step away from work. Communicate your availability clearly to clients so they know when you’re reachable and when you’re fully in “mom mode.” These boundaries keep you from feeling pulled in two directions.
5. Define Success Your Way
Success for a Madison, AL mom business owner doesn’t have to mean scaling at lightning speed. Maybe it’s creating part-time income that helps with private school tuition or family vacations, or maybe it’s building something steady you can grow once your kids are older. The beauty of being a mompreneur is that you get to set the rules.
Running a business during school hours takes intentionality, but it’s absolutely possible. With focus, systems, and community support (hello, Madison Mompreneur!), you can thrive as both a business owner and a mom here in Madison, Alabama.
August 20, 2025
Welcome to another edition of our Member Spotlight Series on the Madison Mompreneur blog! This series will help you get to know the members of Madison Mompreneur as we ask them questions about their personal and professional life as moms who own businesses in the Madison, Alabama area.
We are continuing this series with the spotlight on Lyssa Barrow, Owner of Lyssa Barrow Photography!
1. What’s your Name? Lyssa Barrow
2. What’s your Business Name? Lyssa Barrow Photography
3. How does your business help people? Capturing my clients’ memories of their loved ones and their life moments or showing them how to explore photography on their own thru my workshops
4. How long have you lived in Madison? 8 years
5. What inspired you to start your business? I love love love photography and friends and family wanted me to keep taking their photos so I felt it was time to do it professionally.
6. What sets your business apart from others in the industry? Light Vibes, Fun Sessions and photo packages for everyone.
7. What do you consider to be your biggest success so far? My Happy Clients
8. How does your business contribute to the local community? I use my time and talent for volunteer work with a local non-profit as their photographer
9. How do you see your business evolving in the next 5-10 years? I would like to double my bookings in 2025
10. Who are your typical customers and how do they find you? Parents of Seniors and Families (Moms and Grandmas) and they find me on social media or client referrals or thru my non-profit work
11. What do you enjoy most about running your business? The creativity
12. How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and changes? First with continuing education thru workshops and then when implementing new trends I do so very selectively, the trends and changes in photography can be fleeting and don’t usually fit with my target clients but am flexible and willing to accommodate requests for the newest trends in photography.
13. What advice would you give to someone interested in starting a business in your industry? Build your portfolio and have fun practicing with it. Make the investment in software and equipment which will help you achieve the look you want. Learn to balance your time especially when it comes to editing.
15. What product/service would you like for us to highlight at this time? My Portrait Photography Packages (Families, Seniors, Proms and Headshots)
16. Do you involve your kids in your business? If yes, how so? No except to have them take my photo! My son is a pretty good photographer!
17. What do you find is the most difficult part of balancing mommyhood and business life? Trying not to see yourself thru your kids eyes…I’m mostly done with hands on mommyhood as my youngest is close to Flown and Grown. But as I was slowly building my skills as they grew, it was easy to feel like an imposter as my children just saw me as mommy, not a professional in any way. You have to not let that feed into your imposter syndrome. They love you but you will always be mom to them and that’s okay.
18. What business in the Madison Area is your favorite? Willow boutique in Vintage 72
19. Anything else you would like for us to highlight? I also have private photography workshops where I teach others to use their DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras without relying on the Auto setting.
Where can people find you? www.lyssabarrowphotography.com
If Lyssa’s experience as a mom and business owner resonates with you, we want to hear from you in the comments! And if you are a mom and business owner in Madison, Alabama email us at madisonmompreneur@gmail.com to be featured in a future Member Highlight post!
Want to read more mompreneur-focused content? Check out these previous Member Highlight blog posts:
To support more mom-owned businesses serving Madison, Alabama, check out our Member Directory!
August 13, 2025
Owner: Jill Greenwald
About: Highbrow Beauty specializes in permanent makeup—brows and eyeliner. Owner Jill Greenwald helps busy women simplify their beauty routines. Whether it’s getting out the door faster or feeling more put together without the extra effort, Jill is all about creating low-maintenance looks that last.
Address: (Located inside of The Offices at Spenryn)
103 Spenryn Dr
Madison, AL 35758
Phone Number: (256) 990-4005
August 3, 2025
Owner: Hope Davis
About: Pour:30 LLC is a licensed and insured mobile bartending service that provides personalized bartending for special events. From weddings, to holiday parties, to corporate events…and more, they provide professional and friendly bartending services as well as bar setup.
Phone Number: (256) 325-1822
July 7, 2025
Owner: Lindsey Barron
About: Rocket City Mom connects Madison County and North Alabama families with trusted parenting resources, local events and community stories. Since 2010, we’ve helped parents find fun, support and everything they need to navigate family life in the Tennessee Valley.
May 29, 2025
Owner: Emily Willis
About: Womb Space Healing Center is a gynecology office focused on natural and holistic solutions for women and their concerns. Owner Emily Willis has 17 years of experience as a Women’s Healthcare Nurse Practitioner. Over the last few years Emily has learned from many different ancient healing modalities that approaching health in a holistic manner provides the best healing with the least side effects.
Address: 3315 Memorial Parkway SW, Suite 501, Huntsville, AL 35801
Phone Number: (704) 578-9311
May 6, 2025
Owner: Amy Mauldin
About: Market Mule is the online marketplace where customers can shop directly from Huntsville farmers markets and support local farmers & producers. Customers order online every week Wed-Sat from various vendors with one checkout. On Sunday we assemble their orders at the farmers market and have it ready for curbside pickup or doorstep delivery.
May 6, 2025
