Building a Business & a Legacy as a Homeschool Mom
May 13, 2025
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Homeschooling and Entrepreneurship: How to Build a Business Without Sacrificing Your Family
Have you ever felt like you had to choose between homeschooling your kids and pursuing your own dreams? Maybe you’ve had a creative idea or a business concept simmering in the back of your mind, but you’ve told yourself, “Now isn’t the right time.”
In this episode of The Feast Life, I sat down with Leah McHenry, a homeschool mom of five, entrepreneur, and musician who built multiple successful businesses—all while homeschooling. Her story is a powerful testament to the fact that you don’t have to wait for the “perfect” time to start something new. If you’ve ever wondered if it’s possible to homeschool and build a business, this episode is for you.
Leah’s Journey: From High School Dropout to CEO
Leah’s path to success wasn’t linear. She describes her teenage years as a “disaster” and admits she had no clear direction. She dropped out of high school before later earning her diploma and getting married at 20. With no formal college education or business experience, she started her journey as a mom first—but something inside her always longed for more.
It wasn’t until she was deep in the trenches of homeschooling and raising little ones that she decided to take a leap of faith. Instead of waiting for the “right time,” she created a career that fit around her family life, not the other way around. She recorded her first music album while pregnant and nursing, and later built a seven-figure business teaching other musicians how to market their work online. Eventually, she expanded into e-commerce with a wildly successful candle company—all while continuing to homeschool.
Her biggest takeaway? There’s never a perfect time. Just start.
5 Lessons for Homeschool Moms Who Want to Start a Business
If you’ve ever considered launching something new—whether it’s a creative pursuit, side hustle, or full-fledged business—here are five key lessons from Leah’s journey.
1. There’s Never a “Perfect” Time—Just Start Anyway
So many of us hesitate to begin something because we think we need to have everything figured out first. Leah challenges that mindset by encouraging moms to start where they are, with what they have.
“The reality is, there’s never a perfect time to get married, have kids, start homeschooling, or build a business. If you wait for the stars to align, you’ll never take action,” she says.
Instead of overthinking, Leah suggests jumping in and learning as you go.
2. Homeschool Moms Already Have CEO Skills
Think you don’t have what it takes to be a business owner? Think again. Leah argues that homeschooling moms are naturally equipped with CEO DNA.
Running a homeschool requires big-picture planning, problem-solving, adaptability, and time management—all essential skills for entrepreneurship.
“If you can manage multiple kids, create lesson plans, and adjust to daily surprises, you can absolutely run a business,” Leah explains.
Many homeschool moms already are business owners—they just don’t realize it. Whether you’re managing a household, coordinating extracurriculars, or organizing your homeschool year, you are using executive-level skills every single day.
3. Fear of Failure Will Hold You Back—Take Action Anyway
One of the biggest roadblocks for moms who want to start a business is the fear of failure.
Leah’s advice? Stop thinking, start testing.
“Your first idea might not be perfect, and that’s okay. The only way to find out what works is by putting it out there, seeing what happens, and adjusting along the way,” she says.
When she first launched an online course to help musicians, no one bought it. Instead of giving up, she refined her idea, created a full academy, and turned it into a seven-figure business.
“Failure isn’t final. It’s feedback,” she says. “Use it to refine your approach, not to quit.”
4. Integrate, Don’t Separate—Your Business and Homeschool Can Coexist
One of the biggest misconceptions moms have is that they must choose between homeschooling and running a business. Leah proves that it’s possible to integrate both.
Her children are actively involved in her businesses, and she’s helping them build entrepreneurial skills along the way. Her teens recently launched their own fantasy-themed book subscription box, where they research, budget, and market their products—all as part of their homeschool education.
“Learning by doing is the best education,” Leah says. “My kids are gaining real-world skills that will serve them for life.”
Instead of thinking of business and homeschooling as separate entities, she encourages moms to see them as complementary. Business can be part of your child’s education, just like history, science, or literature.
5. Build with Legacy in Mind
Leah is passionate about legacy—not just in business, but in family life. She encourages moms to think about the long-term impact of the work they are doing.
“Are we just going through the motions, or are we building something meaningful? Are we raising our children with intention? Are we thinking beyond just today?”
For Leah, business isn’t just about financial success—it’s about creating something that benefits her family for generations. She wants her children to understand why they’re learning, why they’re building, and why they’re being intentional about the life they create.
She challenges moms to ask themselves: Are the daily choices I’m making aligned with the legacy I want to leave?
How to Get Started Today
If you’ve been dreaming of starting a creative project, side hustle, or business but don’t know where to begin, Leah offers this advice:
Find your passion – What lights you up? What problem are you passionate about solving?
Think about your purpose – Does this align with your long-term vision for your family?
Validate your idea – Test it in a small way before going all in. (Leah’s kids sold their first 18 boxes without even having a website!)
Start messy – You don’t need a perfect plan. Take action and refine as you go.
Ask the right questions – Instead of stressing over minor details, ask yourself: Is this actually a problem? Do I need to solve it? Do I need to solve it right now?
Final Thoughts: You Can Do This
If you’ve ever felt like you had to put your dreams on hold because you’re homeschooling, let Leah’s story be an encouragement: You don’t have to choose. You can do both.
Homeschooling is about creating a rich, meaningful life for your family—and that includes modeling creativity, risk-taking, and perseverance. Whether you start a small side business or launch something big, you can build a life where both your homeschool and your dreams thrive.
Are you thinking about starting something new? Share in the comments below—I’d love to hear your ideas!
About Our Guest:
From high school dropout and lost teen with a broken past to married for 20 years, five kids, 18+ years of homeschooling, six studio albums, and four businesses that have generated multiple 6, 7, and 8 figures, Leah McHenry wants to show other moms what is possible and give them the tools to succeed in life and business.
Connect with Leah:
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