Olivia Dexter holds her daughter Eva inside the massage pod, which she runs as a business from her home in Avondale.

A business-minded mother has found a way to empower parents wanting to work from home.

Avondale resident Olivia Dexter has built an online network to connect parents who work from home, or are interested by the prospect.

The idea has proved so popular in West Auckland that parents from the North Shore and South Auckland are wondering when the group will expand their way.

The group is called Stay At Home Working Mums (SAHWM) NZ.

While the title directly speaks to mothers, Dexter says it is for all who are interested in home-based businesses.

The mother of two formed the group through Facebook after noticing parents had few options to advertise their services, share working tips and build community.

Dexter, a former special needs teacher, became a baby sleep consultant and massage therapist to allow flexibility in her parenting schedule.

But stay-at-home parents face difficulties in working around their children's hours and being isolated from the community, she says.

"I was finding it quite difficult to advertise myself, without going around to cafes, which is actually really hard when you've got two children.

"I thought – there must be other people in similar situations who are trying to run businesses from home and trying to be a stay-at-home mum."

What started as an online conversation has now grown into a one-day expo.

Parents will set up stalls to sell their goods, showcase their services, and share advice.

"Stalls are anything from people just earning an extra bit of cash so they can take their kids swimming, right up to people like me who want to be able to work full-time from home once my kids are a bit more independent," Dexter says.

There will be recruitment options for those interested in work but are unsure where to start.

For Dexter, working from home keeps her brain active, involved in the community and interacting with other people.

"The money is a bonus," she says.

The expo is at Avondale Community Centre, 99 Rosebank Rd on December 5 from 10am-2pm.

Search Stay At Home Working Mums (SAHWM) NZ on Facebook for more information.