"Mompreneurs will be the force that moves the economy forward," added Cobe, who trademarked the term with co-author Ellen H. Parlapiano. "The old corporate model doesn't get it done anymore."
Instead of using traditional market surveys, these businesswomen often go directly to the source, chatting with potential customers on Twitter, Facebook and Craigslist.
Stacia Linz of Westminster, who does block prints on shirts and other apparel, launched her business three years ago because she got tired of clothes that cost a fortune, yet figured, "anyone can buy something from Walmart." Today, her Happy Tomato company supplements family income in a big way.
"It pays for summer camp, for swimming lessons, for winter coats and school supplies," she said.
Handbag maker Jennifer Scanlon of Rockville has used social networking sites to make sales. Recently, the owner of Henjen handbags received a Twitter message from a woman in Texas saying that she would love to get one of the handbags for Mother's Day, but could not afford its $75 price tag.
"I said, 'Well, I can do e-mail hints. Send me your husband's e-mail ... ' " said Scanlon. "So I sent him an e-mail and told him that a little chick told me that his wife likes this bag. A couple of days later, I got the order."
These business owners say the term mompreneur is fitting.
"For most of the women ... I've met in doing this, they are a mom first and are very proud of that," said Scanlon, a mother of three. "They bring [motherhood] along with them in their business and it's great to know that those numbers are growing and women are feeling that they can put themselves out there and not choose one or the other."
As soon as her two toddlers are ready for school, Jody Morgan plans to vault her custom jewelry design company to the big time. Until then, the Hanover mother is pleased that Zarobi Designs not only pays for itself at a time when economic woes make every dollar count but has also garnered the family some unexpected perks.
"Because I use my home for business space, we were able to claim on our income taxes a portion of the electric bill and mortgage," said Morgan. "We got a hefty return back and we bought ourselves a nice TV."
Sometimes, though, the needs of business and home still conflict.
