Setting up a home office is one of the most important tasks you
will face when you make the decision to work from your own home.
Your home office can be a corner of your kitchen or living room
or, if space permits, a former spare bedroom.
Size is less important that functionality. When deciding on
where to set up the nerve center of your business, there are
some factors you need to consider.
Is the area well lit?
Proper lighting is extremely important. Spending hours at a time
in a dimly lit work space can create eyestrain which, after long
periods of time, could lead to more serious problems with your
vision.
Are there plenty of electrical outlets?
Take into consideration what appliances you will have in your
work space. Your computer system will require an outlet for your
cpu, monitor, scanner, printer, speakers (sometimes) and other
ancillary equipment you may have.
Is the area well ventilated and dust free?
All of that computer equipment needs to breath to remain cool
and functioning properly. If you have ever fried a computer
you know how important it is to keep the fan clean and dust
free.
Do you have telephone access?
In addition to having a telephone handy for business purposes,
you will also require telephone access for your modem. You may
also consider a separate telephone line for your business. It is
much easier to track telephone business expenses for tax
purposes if you have a separate phone line. Its also important
that your clients can reach you. If your clients have to compete
with your teenagers telephone habits, chances are they will call
someone else. Make certain that this separate line is set up to
receive phone calls while you are online. Most major telephone
companies now offer that service. You may pay a few extra
dollars a month for it, but it will pay for itself over the long
haul.
How much foot traffic is there liable to be?
Set up your office to be as isolated as possible. Can you
imagine trying to speak with a client or figure out html code
with kids screaming in the background? Not a very professional
picture. If you have no choice but to have your office in a high
traffic area, adjust your work schedule to coincide with family
activities. Sit your family down and explain the importance of
your work and why you need their cooperation. It wont always
work out that way but at least its a step in the right
direction.
It goes without saying that you need to have normal office
supplies. Even if your work is online you still need the pens,
pencils, note pads and so on.
One of the stickiest challenges you may encounter comes from
your friends. People who do not work from home seem to think
that if you do, you have all the time in the world to visit.
This can become a major problem if you do not set the
parameters. Setting out the ground rules is important to the
overall health and well being of your business. Let your friends
and extended family know your business hours and explain to them
that you are not available during those periods of time. The
sooner you do this the better.
Conduct your business in a professional manner. Just because you
work at home does not mean that you should throw out the rule
book. Maybe you have read the humorous comment about working in
your pajamas. It sounds good in sales messages, but the truth is
you are much better off if you awaken in the morning and prepare
yourself for your work day as if you were still trekking off to
the office, because you are.
You will be much better prepared to focus and get down to
business if you dress the part. That doesnt mean that you need
to squeeze into the normal office attire. It does mean that
you set the standards for your business and much of that has to
do with mindset and self-image. Dressing comfortably is a one
of the serendipities of working at home, but you will be much
better prepared for business if you dress the part.
I have one final word of advice for the new work at home
entrepreneur. Having your office right down the hall can be a
blessing, but it can also be a curse. Remember to take time out
for yourself. Most people believe that working at home comes
with certain privileges, and it does. However, it can also
become all-consuming and take total control of your life.
Dont allow that to happen. Create your schedule and live by it.
Make sure you turn off the lights, shut down the computer and
go home at the end of your work day.
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