This article is Wise Bread's contribution to Life Scoop, where ordinary people learn how to make surprising things happen with technology.

Raising kids and building a business don’t instinctively go hand-in-hand. It takes a certain amount of savvy, perseverance, and a unique amount of creativity to mesh your personal life with your professional life. While Moms have moved beyond the days of working in their pajamas and scheduling important calls only during naps, the struggles still exist. These three tech solutions can help a Mompreneur expand her working potential, without sacrificing her precious role as Mommy.

Don’t Slack, Track!

Ask any Work-at-Home Mom what her biggest challenge is, and she’ll almost always answer, “I need more time!” While there will always only be 24 hours in any given day, understanding where it all goes to is step #1 in creating efficiency and improving profitability. Today’s best tools for tracking time are free.  My favorite is the popular Toggl.com. Toggl is as simple as it gets, giving users a free basic membership and an entirely web-based solution. (Working between a PC, laptop, and an iPhone? No problem. Just log in from anywhere to start tracking those minutes!) Since tracking time is as simple as pushing a red button, you can make sure you get credit for every second that you are engaged in your business, making billing clients an easy task again.

Moms who check their client emails from the waiting room of their child’s dentist have no reason not to get credit for their time. (And you can finally explain to your kids that you have NOT been working all day, but rather 5 hours, 30 minutes, and 27 seconds.) Conversely, time tracking tools can help with Moms who have boundary problems, giving them the satisfaction they need when putting in a hard day’s work, and giving them the freedom to leave work at the end of a day to cuddle with kiddos and spend precious time with their spouse.

Communication Can Be a One-Way Street

I pride myself on being accessible to my clients but understand that sometimes, communication should not go both ways. With several young children in the home, it becomes necessary to control communication to present the message you really want to send, and technology is the key to making it all happen. While Moms have traditionally limited themselves to “shooshing” kids during important calls and hiding in the laundry room for new client interviews, there are better ways to get the job done.

For the mom who never seems to have a good time to chat, email is indispensable. Not only can you have a few moments to proofread your responses, you can be sure that your conversations will not carry a hint of whatever kind of day your kids are having. With clever tools like GoToMeeting.com, you can attend presentations via the web, and not have to utter a word during the exchange. Chat functions allow you to raise your hand, ask questions, and provide valuable feedback during the event, regardless of how many you have sitting on your lap at the time. GreenYourDecor.com’s Jennae Peterson adores this particular one-way communication tool. “Being able to attend a web seminar while I'm cooking or combing my daughter's hair is invaluable and it allows me to get more out of my time.”

Skype is another precious tool for letting your voice (and your voice, alone) be heard. With many useful options for keeping communication clear from any room in your home, it’s possible to take your laptop with you and out of the range of blaring TV’s and Tonka Trucks. In instances where advanced planning will serve you best, you can always record a quick video presentation via a Flip Video Camera and send it to your client at their convenience. (This lets the client really get to know you, and it can help display your willingness to work with different kinds of media.)

Always Take Your Business With You

While I can’t argue with the need for keeping business and personal separate, there are certain definite benefits to keeping your most precious business tools with you at all times. In addition to having an ample supply of custom-made business cards stashed in your diaper bag or purse, Moms with an online business should consider a mobile device equipped to help them complete daily tasks from anywhere. “My phone has saved my business tremendously. It's like I can be in several different places at one time,” insists Melissa Garcia of the popular ConsumerQueen.com. “I never have to worry about missing important messages from important clients. I also don't have to worry about turning down awesome opportunities due to being unavailable.” Melissa also admits that it has helped her keep her family life in check, “It has helped me stay connected to friends, organize my kids’ busy schedule and allow me to post hotel deals to my community in real time! I don't know what I would do without my phone now!”