Successful companies often begin life in people's homes. Women's Editor FIONA TARRANT talks to two entrepreneurs who are moving on to greater things - and juggling family life as well...

Sally-Ann Thomas used to break out in a cold sweat when business clients wanted to visit her office.

"How could I tell them that my office was in my bedroom at home? I could hardly invite them in!" she laughed.

Mother-of-two Lindsey Twiston Davies, of Appleton, had an equally embarrassing problem when clients rang her.

"When I first started working for myself, I used the kitchen table. My poor husband had to practically gag the children every time the phone rang in case it was a client."

Both women laugh loudly as they recount these tales. They can afford to laugh because they're now business partners, with a beautiful office and four part-time staff. And they're doing very well for themselves.

They set up Dandelion Ltd, a design and marketing company earlier this year after meeting when Sally-Ann approached Lindsey to design a logo for the company she was setting up for herself. They struck up a friendship and realised they each had talents which complemented the other.

The women themselves are like chalk and cheese. Lindsey is laid back, Sally is more hyper and it's a combination that works well.

As working mums, both Sally-Ann, who is a marketing consultant, and Lindsey, a designer, found it hard to work from home but in different ways.

"I loved it," explained Lindsey, 40, who's mum to seven-year-old Iona and Morgan, five.

"Once I'd set up in the shed in the garden - which we then called a 'studio' - it was fine. My husband Rupert used to have to come and get me because I'd spend hours in there.

"I used to see the children when they came home, for a kiss and a cuddle, and then go off to do their bathtimes and bedtime stories.

"Then go back to work. My main problem was knowing when to stop."

Lindsey is lucky, though, because she and her husband took the decision years ago that she would be the main breadwinner and he would take on the role of househusband.

It suits them both well and Lindsey is relieved that she doesn't have to cook when she gets home.

Sally-Ann, who's 32, is mum to Jordan, six, and Darcy, four. She and her husbandies at the same time and are both working long hours.

Sally-Ann, who lives in Rokemarsh, said: "I couldn't bear working from home.

"I hated being able to see the children but not being able to go off to play with them. Also, I found it quite lonely." When they first set up Dandelion Ltd, the pair were working from a small office in Abingdon but they then heard about their current location - a farm which rents out old stables, beautifully converted for business use, in Steventon.

With open beams, high ceilings and the warmth of wood, it's a perfect business setting and business is thriving.

In just a short space of time, Lindsey and Sally-Ann have designed marketing campaigns or logos for a variety of clients, including restaurants, cafes, Internet businesses, accountants, fashion labels - even Rolls-Royce. The list goes on.

And they've seen their designs appearing in national and international publications, from the Internet to Hello! magazine.

The business has been successful enough to bring in work for four other people, part-time, who can fit in their work around their own family lives, too.

"Being your own boss is fantastic," said Sally-Ann. "I love the freedom of controlling my own work and the way I approach it.

"If I have a good idea, I can go for it without someone holding me back or knocking an idea down. When it then works, it's a great feeling."

Lindsey agreed. "I've always worked long hours, so that doesn't bother me, but being able to control my hours and fitting in with the kids is terrific.

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