WITH four young children to care for and a business to run, it’s fair to say life is busy for Michelle Stewart.

But according to the 37-year-old, who has a beauty salon in the south side of Glasgow, flexibility is one of the best things about being your own boss.

“I’m probably not employable at all,” laughs Ms Stewart. “It’s just as well that I run my own business. But working for myself means I can fit my family responsibilities around work without having to worry about upsetting a boss.

“My daughter is an elite gymnast and her big championships come round in December – there’s no way any salon would let me take time off in the lead up to Christmas, but I can make that choice.”

Ms Stewart set up Love Yourself beauty five years ago in a tiny shop that could hardly fit a treatment bed. But last year she expanded to bigger premises near Cathcart railway station offering both hair and beauty services, and since then the business has gone from strength to strength.

“Our space is quiet and homely,” explains the businesswoman. “It’s a very social and relaxing place where our clients sit and chat, drink cups of tea and get away from their busy lives. We purposely don’t have a clock in the salon – we want people to lose track of time.”

The Glaswegian originally started out as a sports coach and worked in a variety of jobs before re-training as a beauty therapist when the urge to run her own business took over. Growing the client-base has been challenging, especially since Ms Stewart runs both family life and the salon single-handedly, but the hard work is starting to pay off.

“I opened my first shop when my youngest child was just six months old,” she explains. "I’ve had to be very independent and determined, and there have been times when I’ve felt like giving up.

“But I kept going and I’m still here. I’ve ploughed everything I’ve made straight back into the business and I’m confident I’ll start to see the rewards within the next year.

“What I love most about this job, however, is how therapeutic it is for both me and my clients. I enjoy seeing the smile on someone’s face after you’ve given them a massage, knowing you’ve made a difference to their well-being.”

She already has an eye on another expansion in the medium-term, and is keen to ensure she has the additional skills required.

Ms Stewart says: “We've been using social media to help grow the brand and I’m looking to build the business in terms of staff numbers. My ultimate goal is to move into teaching, alongside having a salon, so I’ve just started back at college to help make that happen.”

Ms Stewart speaks highly of the support she received from Glasgow Clyde College while completing her initial beauty studies.

“I was having a really tough time because my daughter had to have a life-saving operation right in the middle of my course,” she remembers. “The lecturers were so patient and understanding, and had such belief in me even when I didn't feel confident. If that hadn’t have been the case, I wouldn’t have been able to get through it all.”

And she says there is no reason why any young mother shouldn’t consider starting their own business.

“If you want it badly enough you really can achieve anything,” says Ms Stewart. “There is more help out there with childcare than you think. Sometimes people put obstacles in their own way because they doubt their own abilities.

“Self-doubt is part life, but it is something you can get over. Running a business isn’t easy and there are a lot of things to think about in terms of administration and costs. But if you’ve got an idea, have done your homework and you are determined to succeed, there’s only one thing left to do: go for it.”