Tweet

Setting up a home office

Guest post by: Rene Truter

Article Overview: Having a home office may be an attractive option if you're running a small "one-man show" or starting out small with a view to expand once the business is off the ground. There are, however, some practical issues to consider before you start setting up your office.

Setting up a home office

When starting/running a business from home, you need to have a plan of action with regards to the where, what, why and how of setting up your work-space. Knowing what your needs are and having a strategy for the office set-up will help things run more smoothly over the short and long term.

Whatdo you need?

Make alist of exactly what you need in order to establish and run your business. Your needs will depend on what type of business you are running, but the most important questions include:

• Do you have a desk big enough to do office work? Will you need two separate areas for different types of work or do you need a separate space where you can meet with clients?
• Is there enough privacy for you to work or make a call without distraction?
• Do you have enough storage space and equipment, such as a file cabinet, bookcase, credenza, etc.?
• What office supplies will you need?
• Where are the electrical sockets located? Will you need additional power sources?
• Will you need to buy acomputeror will you needa software upgrade? Where will you store backup disks? Is the storage area safe from fire, flooding, etc.?
• Do you need separate fax, internet and business lines (which is recommended)? Do you have voice mail or an answering machine?
• Do you have a smoke detector in your home office ora fire extinguisher nearby?
• Can you lock the door and windows? Will you need to upgrade your home's security in order to protect the business's property and assets?
• Do you need separate insurancesfor your office equipment and assets?

Where will your office be?

Now that you know exactly what your needs are, you'll have a good idea of the best area in the house to set up shop. If you have children or other family members living at home, you'll need to be away from distraction and have a space that is out of bounds for the rest of the household.

Aim to create an organised office area that meets your needs and allows you to be efficient and productive. You may have to get creative with the space you have available, such asstoring files in another room, but keepsupplies and files you use often close at hand.

Separate the professional from the personal



When working from home, be sure tokeep your personal life from spilling over into your business life (and vice versa). Not only does this mean stopping the kids from playing in your office, but it goes a little further. Set up a business bank account to avoid mixing personal expenses with your business expenses.

To further reduce confusion, try to store personal cheques, records and even post in a room separate from your office. Fully segmenting these two parts of your life may also help at tax time.

Use formal processes in your home office While you'll be more relaxed than the average work environment, it's important to have a formal system of operations for your home office. This includes everything from standardising record-keeping and paying invoices, to logging time with customers and mileage for business trips.

Keeping a few formal procedures in place for standard business functions will ensure your office stays organised, and that information is available where and when you need it most.

Organise your time

Flexibility is a key benefit of working from home. Yet, it still requires that you put in a fair amount of time. Setting a typical schedule for working in your office will help you stay focused, whilekeeping standard office hourshelps your clients know when you are available.

Once your office hours are set, don't forget to hang a clock where it is clearly visible. While this may seem obvious, the truth is that when working from home, it's easy to forget about time. Even though your work is at home, there still comes a time when you have it to call it a day and shut your door to the office.

Having a home office may be easier than finding an office space to rent or buy, but as you can see, it still costs money, time and creativity to set up. Doing it strategically will help you set the tone to strike a balance for doing good business on your own terms.

Copyright© 2010 Business Partners Ltd. All rights reserved.

Related Articles
  Home Office Organization and Design Resources
  Advantages of a Virtual Office for Entrepreneurs
  How To Run An Online Business At Home
  Online Home Based Business: Essential Steps To Take
  Home-based Business Opportunity: Book-keeping Service
  Home-based Business Opportunity: Interior Designer
  Save Money On Your Taxes By Working From Home
  Working from Home
  The Home Office - Is it for You?
  Remote Workers & Telecommuters: How to Increase Productivity When Working from Home
  What Is Required For An Online Business
  Creating A Work From Home Office...Tips To Getting It Right
  Helpful Tips on Managing Home Based Business and Children
  Taking Back Your Life
  How much Home Office Tax Dedcution can I Take?
  Useful Tips for Setting Up You Home Office
  Organizational Tips For Your Home Office
  Legitimate Home Based Business - -Use These Tips to Organize Your Home Office
  Do you Qualify for Home Office Tax Deduction for Small Business Owners and Professionals?
  Useful ideas for Setting Up Your Work From Home Office Space

Article Tags: oneman, setting up a home office, small business



Related Forum Posts
Home Office vs Rented Office - Another advantage to having a home office is the low overhead expenses. My monthly office costs would be increased by 300-400% if I had to rent an office. THis allows me to pass those savings on to my clients and also decreases the financial stress of being in business. I appreciate the savings that a home office gives me and none of my clients mind. Its not for everyone and I understand that. I have friends who work from home and they have lots of distractions. I get far more work done since I work from home, although I do work much longer hours, but that's my choice at this point. I wouldn't want to work until 10 or 11 pm and then have to travel home, but this arrangement makes it work for me. Shri
Office vs Home office - [quote:jmbfd61m]You should not make your home place also an office place. [/quote:jmbfd61m] I have to disagree. It all comes down to a couple of things. If you have the type of business that can be run out of your home, and a large enough home to accommodate a properly-set up office... there's no reason not to do it! For Moms with kids there might be some boundary/daycare issues, but other than that... If yours is the type of business where you have to have clients in your office, then yes, I think you should have an office in a building - you don't really want clients to know your home address - but for all those businesses that don't require that... go for it!
Thanks so much for the link Evan!! - Thanks so much for the link, Evan!! It's a really cool post. I tend to be more... manly, though, with everything but the home office -- my husband and I live in a fairly small apartment, and if I had a home office area he wouldn't have his tv/games area, as everything would be shoved in the corner/closet to make room, and I would never do that to him. However, a woman I know who also has her own internet business has a home office fully equiped with inspirational quotes on the walls and pictures her daughter took to keep her spirits on those long working days.
What’s your opinion about working form home - In my opinion doing a full time job from your home sounds pretty cool but does not have a good credibility. I feel that doing a job in an office or working in a specific office place is the real thing. You should not make your home place also an office place. You may share your thought of view on the above mentioned topic.
Re: Balancing Marketing and Holidays - Hi GT, I think you have hit the nail on the head there. I have a friend who decided for financial reasons to close his small office and transfer all his business to home. He then proceeded to change his spare bedroom into an office and disciplined himself to ‘work’. The problem then was and in some ways still is that because he is at home he is deemed to be ‘available’ for pick ups and drop offs or doing messages because he can be contacted easily. This is where we get this continual work/life conflict because friends and family sometimes need to understand that even though you are physically at home; you are at work and therefore not available unless it is urgent. regards, Mal.


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Sales is a Flawed Model

Why Your Own Internet Marketing Website Is A Must

Secrets of Successful Business Partnering

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.