Entrepreneur.com
Written by Tamara Monosoff of Entrepreneur.com
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.
It may seem like the perfect situation to set up shop at home. After all you have a non-existent commute; updating your wardrobe isn't an issue; and you have convenient 24/7 access to the office. Of course the cons may be the same: You're at home -- a lot; you wear the same jeans five days in a row; and your office has 24/7 access to you.
For that reason, here are the realities of running a home-based business, and how you can -- if you so desire -- keep your home and work lives separate.
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.
Establishing structure will not only help you be disciplined and get your work done, it will also help the people around you know when you're available -- and when you're not. If you're running a business from home, communicate which hours are for work, and which areas of your home are work zones.
I know one entrepreneur who was a previous stay-at-home mom, but started doing accounting work for a small group of clients when her son entered preschool. Her friends and other moms in the neighborhood, who always knew her to be available, would drop by and ask her to watch the kids while they did a few errands, or call and expect her to chat on the phone. The entrepreneur felt uncomfortable saying "no" to their requests, so she often got behind on her work.
What she hadn't done is explain her new business responsibilities clearly or say "no" when she should have. Establishing a structure -- and reasonable boundaries -- is essential to running a successful home based business. This advice applies to the people who live under your roof as well. That means creating a work schedule that's relatively predictable on a day-to-day basis, and communicating to family and friends that work time is work time.
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. The best part is that your children can still be nearby, accessible and entertained without distraction. If a messy house is driving you mad because there aren't enough hours in the day, consider hiring a cleaning person as part of the cost of doing business.
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. If you have family -- especially older children -- consider a separate computer, fax machine and phone line so there are no conflicts arising on a daily basis. Also remember that you may need additional space to store your products and inventory.
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