subject: Essentials to Remember When Working From Home [print this page] Essentials to Remember When Working From Home
It seems that most people are either dreaming about working from home, seriously considering doing it or are actually doing it already. The current economy has also led many people to think about home working particularly those who have been made redundant and cannot find another job.
But while working from home can be the perfect solution, it is also important to ensure you get started properly. There are lots of things you need to think about in order to create a home office space that will allow you to run your business in a professional manner.
Perhaps the most important thing to think about is where to base your business. Some people have started up their home businesses on their kitchen table, but this isn't necessarily the ideal situation to be in. Try, if you can, to find a space you can shut the door on at the end of the day. You may be lucky enough to have a spare room you can use. Perhaps you can convert an attic space or even a utility room if it is suitable.
The next best thing is to kit out a corner of another room. The space under the stairs could be suitable, but ideally it should be somewhere where you can work undisturbed if need be. This is more important if you live with other people who could be a distraction.
Once you have a space allocated you can think about the equipment you will need to run your business. Obviously if you have an online business a computer will be essential, but it may also be ideal for many other types of business too. Do some research into your business niche and you should be able to get an idea of what you will need. This will also tell you how much cash you might have to invest to get started.
Generally speaking you won't have clients or customers visiting you if you work from home. But this doesn't mean you cannot contact them in other ways. Make sure you are available to speak to and have contact with them however you can. An email address is a good idea, and you may also benefit from setting up an instant messaging account to use online. The more ways you have to get in touch with people and for them to get in touch with you the better it will be.
Do consider your telephone requirements as well. You may be tempted to use your existing line for business calls, but it won't look good if your kids pick up the phone. A dedicated business phone line is the best way around this, and you can also add in a phone message for when you are unavailable.
As you can see, some simple planning can make all the difference to the success of your home business.
