The Heart & Hustle Podcast, Episode 452: How to Prepare for a Profitable Maternity Leave as a Female Entrepreneur
Date: September 30, 2025
Hosts: Evie McLeod & Lindsey Roman

Episode Overview

In this episode, Evie and Lindsey offer an in-depth guide for female entrepreneurs—particularly service-based business owners—on how to take a profitable, sustainable, and restorative maternity leave. While much of the advice is tailored to those whose income depends on their presence (like photographers, coaches, or artists), the episode includes strategic planning, financial tips, actionable systems, and mindset shifts for any business owner anticipating a leave of absence.

The ladies paint a real-life, practical, and empowering path to not only cover time away but to potentially grow your business structure so it supports your life, not the other way around.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Mindset Before Planning (03:30–05:10)

• Big Picture: The goal is to build a business that supports your dream life—including the ability to step away for significant life events.
• Sustainability and Flexibility: Prepare a business that can flex with life’s ups and downs, not only for babies, but sabbaticals or unexpected life events.
• Quote:
  "A sustainable business is one that can flex with your life. Like, that's the real legacy here." – Evie (04:15)

2. Timeline & Capacity Planning (05:10–09:52)

• Start with the "Due Range" instead of a fixed due date; births are unpredictable.
• Questions to Ask:
  • When is your last day for new projects?
  • How long do you want (realistically and ideally) for leave?
  • What does your return plan look like—soft return vs. all at once?
• Build in Buffer: Include time before and after due date.
• Ideal Time Off: Aim for at least two months post-birth, plus buffer.
• Soft Return Encouraged: Gradually increase workdays and responsibilities.
• Quote:
  “I would encourage a soft return, especially like having taken sabbaticals…” – Evie (07:47)
• Memorable Analogy: Describing a "soft return": “Not pedal to the metal the minute the leave ends.” – Evie (09:00)

3. Knowing Your Numbers (09:54–13:29)

• Treat it like a self-funded sabbatical:
  "Your maternity leave is essentially a self-funded sabbatical." – Lindsey (10:11)
• Calculate Monthly Expenses: Include both business costs and what you pay yourself.
• Include Household Numbers: Understand what your family absolutely needs during leave.
• “Knowledge is power, especially in this situation.” – Evie (13:00)

4. Designing a Profitable Maternity Plan (13:29–25:34)

A. Evergreen & Passive Income

• If you already have a digital shop or product, batch content to sell it while away.
• “If you don’t have an already established brand ... just creating an ebook off the cuff right before maternity leave isn’t gonna do much.” (14:21)
• Advice: Start building passive streams now for a future leave.

B. Service Providers & Custom Work

• Option 1: Book More Upfront
  • Take on extra work pre-leave (e.g., mini sessions for photographers, flash sales, condensed offers) and save the income.
  • “You’re almost saving up extra and working extra so that you can afford to not really be making a ton of money for three months…” – Lindsey (21:46)
• Option 2: Book Future Work (with Payments)
  • For projects with longer timelines (like wedding photography), push bookings ahead of leave so scheduled payments continue during your break.
• Option 3: Keep Marketing and Booking Rolling
  • Systematize marketing and booking funnels so new deposits or leads are coming in during leave, with delivery set for after.

5. Batching & Automating: Setting Up Your Business to Run Without You (25:34–35:42)

• Why: Not just for maternity leave, but for any unexpected absence.

• What to Automate:

  • Marketing: Batch blogs (for SEO), emails, YouTube videos, podcasts, all social platforms. Prep content and schedule far ahead.
  • Outsource: If possible, consider running ads with ongoing oversight, or outsource to someone trustworthy.
  • Email: Always use an autoresponder, clearly communicating response expectations. Customize auto-replies for new inquiries vs. existing clients using your CRM.
  • Inbox Delegation: If you have a VA or assistant, they can monitor and triage important emails, alerting you only to pressing items.
  • CRM & Workflows: Set up or update client automations, templates, and guides. This reduces your mental load when returning.
  • Waitlists: For coaches, web designers, etc., use an automated system to gather leads while away.

• Quote:
  “I’m such a believer in having systems and automation set up regardless of where you’re at. But especially ... I want to have everything set up, prepared, systematized, automated, ready." – Evie (33:09)

6. Outsourcing & Delegation (35:42–36:55)

• Enlist help: Temporary VA, a friend, or even your spouse, to manage emails or leads.
• "Getting stuff off your plate ... will lead to a restful but also profitable maternity leave." – Lindsey (36:52)

7. Planning Your Return (36:55–43:10)

• Create Your Reentry Plan Before You Leave:
  • List out the truly important needle-movers you should focus on first when back (content, waitlists, client check-ins).
  • Avoid overwhelm: “Do your future self a favor and think about what you will tackle, what those big items will be...” – Lindsey (39:00)
• Re-engagement Strategy:
  • How will you announce your return?
  • If you batched content, how will you transition back to real-time engagement?
  • Recognize seasonality—plan projects or product launches accordingly.
• Quote:
  "It’s not just like, oh, the day I come back, I suddenly have to plan my whole strategy for the next season…” – Evie (39:08)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A sustainable business is one that can flex with your life. Like, that's the real legacy here.” – Evie (04:15)
• “I think what our opinion is is I would encourage a soft return, especially like having taken sabbaticals, even where it’s, you know, simply a month off ... there is an element that there is a lot of adjustment, especially when you add into the mix a newborn.” – Evie (07:47)
• “Your maternity leave is essentially a self-funded sabbatical.” – Lindsey (10:11)
• “Knowledge is power, especially in this situation.” – Evie (13:00)
• “If you don’t have an already established brand ... just creating an ebook off the cuff right before maternity leave isn’t gonna do much.” – Lindsey (14:21)
• “Work smarter, not harder. Have your systems set up because you’re gonna have even less time coming back from maternity leave.” – Evie (34:05)
• “Getting stuff off your plate ... will lead to a restful but also profitable maternity leave for you.” – Lindsey (36:52)
• “Do your future self a favor and think about what you will tackle, what those big items will be when you first step back into office.” – Lindsey (39:00)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Mindset & Purpose: 03:30–05:10
• Timeline & Capacity Planning: 05:10–09:52
• Know Your Numbers: 09:54–13:29
• Structuring Your Profitable Leave (Options): 13:29–25:34
• Batching & Automations: 25:34–35:42
• Outsourcing & Delegation: 35:42–36:55
• Planning Your Return: 36:55–43:10

Conclusion

Evie and Lindsey wrap up with high encouragement, celebrating entrepreneurial moms at all stages—whether a leave is imminent or years away. They reinforce that with intentional planning, strategic saving, clear systems, and the right mindset, entrepreneurs can enjoy a profitable and restorative maternity leave without sacrificing their business—or their family.
"We just hope that this was insightful and helpful and we’re cheering you on always." – Lindsey (43:13)

For further resources:
Check out The Heart Shop at theheartuniversity.com/shop for business templates, course info, and more tools mentioned in the episode.