I started my business in 2013!

• Name: Cordelia Blake, 42
• Company: Oh Goody! Party Favors, Atlanta
• Why now: More time and energy now that baby is sleeping

I started my company, Oh Goody! Party Favors, in March, and I launched the website in April. We sell affordable, quality party favors -- about $3 to $8 each -- for kids' birthday parties.

I have an 11-year-old and was surprised at the money parents spend on goody bags for guests, and they're just filled with junk. For one of my older son's birthday parties a few years ago, I went online and bought a bunch of unique Beanie Babies from eBay to give out as party favors, and parents just raved about it. That got the wheels turning.

After I had my second son two years ago, I started looking for a career change. I'd had a Web design company before, but that business is so much about building relationships, and I don't have that much time anymore.

I kept coming back to this idea of party favors. I spent the last couple of years writing the business plan and doing the market research, and then I realized that at some point you just have to go for it. My son was sleeping through the night and I had more time and energy to devote to a new business.

I bought my initial inventory and built the website. My startup costs totaled about $3,000. It's been a very slow start, but I'm hopeful that will change after I invest some time and money into marketing.

NEXT: Bootstrapping a big idea