Faye Hatton was a stay-at-home parent for seven years before becoming a freelancer. Previously, she held corporate roles with major automotive brands. She set up her business in February 2020 (hello, lockdown), and her marriage ended in July 2020, so she only really knew freelance life as a single parent.
Faye cites divorce as the driving factor behind her ambition to become a successful self-employed individual. Where the divorce was an arduous process, involving multiple court visits, her business was a source of strength and stability – it’s her greatest achievement aside from the children.
How did your priorities shift when you became a single parent to three children?
My divorce took almost five years to finalise. During that time, I worked hard to grow the business, providing a level of financial security that is hard to find as a single parent to three who had been out of the workplace for so many years.
Very quickly, my priority became having the flexibility to work only when they were at school. My youngest was only two, so that was a challenge. When you’re a single parent, there isn’t another adult in the house to ‘watch the kids’, so you have to be ruthless with your working time and family time.
I also had to prioritise self-care. Everyone talks about the hustle and hard work of self-employment, but what about if your home life is also exhausting? I burnt out. The lesson I took from that time was that nobody is coming to save me. I needed to eat well, sleep well, and get some rest to be the parent the children needed, while also running a business. Looking after myself is the greatest lesson I learned in my 30s.
What assumptions about work-life balance did you have to abandon?
I had to reframe my ingrained goal that a ‘good’ job was one for a big company working on global campaigns and earning a substantial amount of money. It was less about living to work and more about working to live.
You turned down a global PR role – what made that choice clear?
It was to run the PR for a global motorsport team and attend every race. I would have been away for 14 weeks of the year. It’s similar to a role I had in my 20s, which was my favourite ever job. It physically hurt when I had to turn it down.
And it was clear I had to turn it down when I broached the subject with the children. The look of fear on their faces that I would be gone so much told me everything I needed to know. It was like they were talking directly to my heart, the part of me that knew I couldn’t make it work. And it silenced my head – the part that desperately wanted the role.
As a single parent, I didn’t have a partner to talk about the decision with. So I chatted with the children. After all, they would have been directly affected by it. I believe in involving them in business decisions, sharing the wins, and explaining the lows. If I acquire a new client, I let them know and we all celebrate.
I joke that they’re my most demanding clients and that they don’t pay well! Jokes aside, they are my business partners and the reason I work for myself.
How did you explain that decision to yourself at the time versus how you see it now?
Honestly, for about 48 hours, I resented the children. My heart ached and my shoulders were tense. It’s as if something had been taken away from me. I sulked!
And then something lifted. The bedtime cuddles. The snotty noses. Spellings. Times tables practice. I reframed it from “I have to do all this instead of a glamorous job” to “I get to do this as well as having my own business. The travel will come later.”
It was the right decision. Still stings a tiny bit though.
What would your pre-divorce self have done in that situation?
If my marriage had been happy, my ex-husband would have supported me, and I would have taken the role. But deep down, I know that wouldn’t have been the case – his work wasn’t flexible enough to make it happen. So, the outcome would have been the same – I would have turned it down – but I would have resented my husband and the children.
At least this way, it was a decision on my shoulders and one I fully accept. This is an example of why a life change like divorce can be a good thing. Your unhappy marriage will seep into all other areas of your life, including your parenting and work.
What business boundaries have you created that directly support your parenting?
I block out specific days in the calendar and don’t work on those days. As soon as the school releases the dates for sports days and other events, they are added to my diary, and I don’t work on those days. So simple! And love the fact that I don’t have to get manager approval to do this. I don’t travel unless it’s a project that pays well and I want to do it. They are UK events and I’m only away two nights at a time. I do a maximum of three a year.
How do you handle client expectations when school holidays or sick days disrupt your schedule?
Because I’m very open about my family life in my business marketing and social media, my clients know I’m a parent. Most of them are parents too. It’s as if there is a mutual respect and understanding. So, if sick days disrupt client work, I’m honest about it and we work around it together. I’ve never missed a deadline. I’d also say that because I have built my business around my family life, there are hardly ever any issues.
What’s your response when opportunities arise that don’t fit your new framework?
Great question! My first response to something that doesn’t fit my family framework is usually an adrenaline-fuelled high! It’s like the old me chasing the hit of something big and exciting and slightly unobtainable. Then I have to pause. My worst decisions come when I rush.
I let the ego boost subside, take a breath and get real. “Can I realistically do this with my parental commitments?” I ask. “Would the children suffer?” The answers to those questions determine what I decide. If it’s something I’m unable to take on, I explain why and suggest a suitable alternative freelancer. The client is always happy to know where they stand. Business is so much about integrity, isn’t it? So everyone wins when you’re honest.
In what ways has single parenthood made you a sharper businesswoman?
Profit isn’t a dirty word. Time is my most limited resource, so I want to make money in the time I have. I don’t engage in hour-long “chats” with prospects, nor do I respond to emails that are just “reaching out.” I can spot a time-waster a mile off.
Resilience. Things don’t always go well, in life or business. I am the most resilient person I know. I dust myself off, come up with a plan and go again. I never stay down for long, which is a tremendous asset when you’re self-employed.
I’m a good judge of character. There’s nothing like a five-year divorce and raising three children 80% of the time to heighten your instincts on people! I trust myself, and that feels wonderful.
How has your communication style with clients changed?
It hasn’t. I have built my business on my terms, and the way I communicate has always been warm, open and professional. I’d say that, as the company is now over five years old, I communicate with more confidence, but that’s a result of experience rather than the divorce.
What risks are you more willing to take now, and which ones do you avoid?
Saying no to red flag clients. When I started, I said yes to everything. I don’t regret it because it quickly taught me what types of clients and briefs I enjoy and which ones I don’t. Now, I say no to things, which is a risk because you’re turning money away. However, I know a better-matched client is just around the corner, and that’s worth waiting for.
Freelance life is feast or famine, so to avoid cash-flow issues, I set aside 10% of all my income into a buffer fund. If business is quiet or something is going on with life (such as my ex-husband being critically ill in 2024 or me recovering from surgery in 2024), I know I can still pay myself.
How do you structure your working day around three children?
I mainly work during school hours. It’s painful, as I am most productive early in the morning, but I can’t work then because I do 100% of the morning school runs. While they’re at school, I work hard. If it’s busy, I use after-school clubs. When they get home, I let them relax for a while as I wrap up my workday. Then it’s dinner, homework, bathtime, bedtime. I’m sure all parents can relate!
What systems have you put in place to maintain professionalism whilst managing family chaos?
Don’t answer the phone if it’s chaotic. I did that once and came across as unprofessional to a client because I was flustered. Now, I wait until I can give the call the attention it deserves. On the rare occasions when I work in the evenings, I schedule the emails to be sent the following morning.
I invoice via Xero software, and I have had an accountant and bookkeeper since day one of my business. It’s a non-negotiable for me because I simply wouldn’t be able to do it myself. The investment is well worth it!
How do you price your services to reflect the focused time you can offer?
I’ve recently gone from pricing my PR services on a day rate to a fixed product rate. For example, my award-writing package costs £1500. My coaching services are offered in packages too. The issue with charging for your time is that as you become more proficient, you can complete tasks faster, and therefore charge less. How is that good business?
I have never been, nor will I ever be, cheap. I’ve worked in PR my whole life. I’m talented and respected, and therefore I charge a good amount of money. That’s a bold thing to say, especially as a woman.
Being a single parent means I’m the sole breadwinner. I want to earn good money, so I price my services to reflect my talent and worth. Self-employed single parents need to recognise that they are the masters of their own earning potential. Family life can be gruelling, but work doesn’t have to be.
How comfortable are you now with sharing your personal story in business contexts?
VERY comfortable. I’m incredibly proud of my journey and being a single parent business owner. I am contacted every week by people going through divorce, asking for advice or telling me they find my story inspiring. Divorce is brutal. If I can help someone feel hope and strength by using myself as an example, I will.
What response have you had from clients who know about your circumstances?
There have been times when people have told me not to show vulnerability. I dispute that. When you’re self-employed, part of your personal brand is your story – it’s what people remember you for. I WANT people to remember me for my ability to be a single parent and run my own business. It attracts the type of clients I want, and builds a network of people with similar values. If someone wants to work with a traditional PR man in a suit with a wife at home, they won’t choose to work with me. I can live with that!
How do you use your experience to connect with other parent entrepreneurs?
I share openly. Whether it’s on LinkedIn, Instagram, or in conversation with a new client, I don’t hide the fact that I’m a single parent to three. It means I attract people who value honesty, resilience, and a family-first approach to ambition. When I talk about blocking out the school calendar or turning down work that doesn’t fit, it permits other parents to do the same. The reality is, many parents in business feel isolated because they think they’re the only ones juggling it all. By sharing my story, I show them they’re not alone, and that it’s possible to thrive in both business and parenthood.
What would you tell someone considering freelancing after a significant life change?
Do it. But go in with your eyes open. Freelancing after a divorce, redundancy, or bereavement can feel like a lifeline, but it’s also a rollercoaster. My advice would be to get really clear on your boundaries, financial basics, and support network. You don’t need to have it all figured out at once, but you do need a plan. Start small if you have to. Say yes to things to build confidence, but also learn to say no quickly. Most importantly, trust that the skills you gained through your life change – resilience, adaptability, perspective -are the exact skills that will help you succeed as a freelancer.
How can parents reframe guilt about choosing family over certain business opportunities?
By seeing it as a temporary shift in priorities. Just because you choose family over business, it doesn’t mean you ALWAYS will. Sometimes you will be able to say yes because childcare will be easy. A lot of the time it will be no.
However, I know I will be able to say yes when the children are older. My ambition is as burning as ever, but it’s on pause. I don’t feel guilty about choosing my family; I feel empowered. When they are all off travelling, at uni and starting their careers, I will say yes to everything again. And I will savour it all the more!
What’s your advice for owning your story rather than apologising for it?
There are two points I would like to make here:
- When communicating with people on a day-to-day basis, don’t apologise for your story. Literally don’t say sorry. Say, thank you for your patience. I appreciate you being flexible.
- Work with a coach, friend or someone who knows you to zoom out and reframe the negatives of your story into positives.
“I can’t work full-time.” = “I work very efficiently in the time I have.”
“Sorry, I can’t make that meeting because it’s sports day.” = “I have commitments that day. I’ll be back with a bang the following day.”
Your story is marketing gold. Show some ankle and stand out from the crowd!
How has your definition of business success evolved?
A successful life is one that you enjoy. I am enjoying being a present parent at all the school sports days, parents’ evenings, and other events. That’s a lot with three! Of course, I would like to earn more money, have a company car, paid holiday and sick leave, wouldn’t we all, but the cost to my family life would be too great. Business success is about finding a balance between work fulfilment, profit, and time with the children.
What goals matter most to you now compared to five years ago?
Five years ago, my only goal was survival: financial survival, emotional survival, keeping everything afloat for the children. I said yes to every client, every project, because I was scared not to. Now, my goals are more intentional. I want sustainability, not constant hustle. I want scalability, so the business supports my life rather than consumes it. And I want to have an impact, not just for my clients, but for other parents who need to see that you can build a business and still be a present parent. The difference now is that I’m building from a place of strength, not fear.
What do you want your children to learn from watching you build this business?
As children, I want them to know they matter. They matter to me more than work. As adults, I want them to look back and understand that they can achieve great things on their own. If they choose a corporate life, I’d respect that. However, I hope I have shown them that they can carve their own path and run a business that fulfils them.
