It can be tough for families to make ends meet on one income, yet many parents need to be home for their young children. That has created an industry of home-based businesses, many run by women.

“I stay home and then I bartend here in Council Bluffs,” says Lauren Ruby, who wants to help her family financially while caring for her two young boys. It's hard to find work that fits her schedule.

"I need something that's going to be flexible, but something that's really going to truly create that extra income so that I am being a provider and helping at home."

Rhonda Smith of Council Bluffs faces the same dilemma. "Being able to stay at home with my kids, doing things on my own time and not having to punch a time clock, get up at four o'clock in the morning to get to work."

The Home-Based Business Expo at Mall of the Bluffs could make that dream come true. Samantha Prier's had trouble finding work as an engineer so she started her own business last year and now sells Pampered Chef products.

"I am hoping to be a stay-at-home mom within the next year so this works out really well. I can get this started and then have a good business base for when I'm ready to start a family."

Deb Zimmerman of Treynor, Iowa took a chance six years ago. With six children she wanted extra income and some adult conversation. Owning her own business also helped her grow personally.

"It's helped me come out of my shell. I consider myself a very shy person and just getting in front of a group and talking a little about cooking and recipes and just over the years it's helped me be a more outgoing person."

Ruby unsuccessfully tried once. "I guess in some aspects I was unmotivated.” But that changes with the pressures of juggling work and family. “In this economy, it's hard to have just the one income, but I feel it's important for my children to be with me and learning with me and me being a part of their everyday life."

Smith says it's worth taking a chance. “Could work at midnight, I could work when they're sleeping and I can work around them and not them having to work around me."

The Home-Based Business Expo continues at Mall of the Bluffs until 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The show will make its way to Omaha at the Oak View and Westroads malls over the next two weeks.