Running A Company From Home
As a new entrepreneur, you can save a great deal of money by setting up your business at home rather than renting or buying office space. Unless you’re running a retail-type business, most entrepreneurs can feasibly start from home. Then as you grow and your needs change, you’ll be in a better position to secure off-site space.
Structure is essential. Yes, not having to don a suit every day, be in the office by 8 a.m. and be chained to your desk until 5 p.m. or 6 p.m. is liberating and possibly why you started your own business in the first place. But structuring your day in a way that works for you is imperative, especially with all the potential home based distractions like spouses, children, housework, personal phone calls and more.
Get help if you need it. You can’t do it all. It’s hard to run a company professionally, while simultaneously taking care of children or maintaining the brunt of the housework. If you need a mother’s or father’s helper while you’re working, it may be worth the investment.
Create your own work zone. Even if space is limited in your home, a designated work area that is yours alone can help you focus. This may be the garage, a spare bedroom or even a desk in the corner of the kitchen.
Know when to leave the office. It can be tempting for zealous entrepreneurs to do business 24/7. And while it’s an advantage to have instant access, it’s also a challenge if you have other obligations or responsibilities.
Keep one calendar. Part of the beauty of running your own business is the flexibility to dash off to your kids’ afternoon recitals without asking the boss, or take a last-minute afternoon for golf on that first perfect spring day. But keeping track and balancing all your many “to-dos” can be daunting unless you merge your business and personal life.
Photo by davdibiase.
Barry Smith on April 25th, 2008 12:17 pm
I never thought it’s possible to really work from home. I see a lot of homebased job postings nowadays, most of them are likely to be scams so i never paid much attention.
But after reading this post? Well, if it’s really gonna save me a lot of money then i might consider working from home maybe two to three years from now.
Do you guys know any homebased company that i can probably check?
Andrew Wolf on April 25th, 2008 12:54 pm
It will save you a lot of money but if you’re the person who are so concerned about having a life outside your home then i guess running a company from home may not be a good idea.
Antoinette on April 26th, 2008 12:25 am
Great post! I certainly need to work on structring my hours. Working from home is great because I can work when my children nap during the day and in the evenings after they go to bed. However, I need to end the day earlier and set a reasonable bedtime for myself. I find that I tend to work too late and regret it the next day.
Reese Young on April 27th, 2008 12:22 am
This blog is just amazing because it informs people- both ordinary and important- about the current breakthrough in the businessworld.
I wonder if our ancestors knew that someday it would be possible to run a company from home.
I hope this blog can feature different business innovations around the globe.
curt on April 27th, 2008 11:29 am
I simply cannot imagine my house/flat without an office. It could be a very small room, but it needs to have a door, office table, phone, PC, multifunction printer (printer/scanner/fax/copier) and the most important part: a comfortable chair.
Just entering this place and closing the door simply switches your domestic world to more serious business duties.
Melissa Klum on April 28th, 2008 4:49 am
My decision to just work from home is the best decision so far. Not only do i spend quality time with my kids, i also discover new things about myself each day. Things i never thought i could do.
Annalaura Brown on April 28th, 2008 5:25 am
I love working from home and I could not agree more, you must follow these tips in order to experience maximum success. I also think some area as an office is essential. I also think you need either a separate phone line or train your kids not to answer the phone.
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