Setting up a work from home business
operation requires some careful thought and preparation to ensure success. In
this article we will review some of the less traditional considerations that
may apply to you for your business.
Whether you are working from home for your employer or you are working from home and starting your own business, the topics discussed in this short article will almost certainly apply. Many people dream of being able to work from home for the flexibility that it provides and the decreased stress. One of the myths that we should dispel immediately is that people working at home work less hours. In fact it could not be further from the truth. The reality is that the majority of people spend more hours working from their homes simply because the tools they need are available within a few short steps.
Having covered this basic myth, what are some of the considerations you want to take into account regarding setting up and running a work from home business? Your business type will dictate which issues that affect you, however we will list as many as possible in the following paragraphs for you to think about.
The obvious items are work space, power, communications both data and voice, tools that you may need and space to store raw materials, finished goods as well as your equipment that you may need. This includes of course even your computers if you are involved in some form of online Internet business.
Additionally, you will want to ensure that you routinely back up all of your computer data, which includes customer data as well as product designs etc. Storing this information off site is a good idea to avoid loss due to theft or fire. It is easy to replace damage or stolen equipment, however your data is a totally different matter.
Many cities and towns have local bylaws that manage what type of businesses can be operated out of your home. Everything from parking for customers and employees, to noise management are a consideration. If you are running an online internet business, you may not be concerned about bylaws, however having sufficient bandwidth to handle the data transfer rates can be a limiting factor.
Family is another consideration. Temporarily taking over the living room for a week or two is often ok, however permanent residence of your business in space that your family considers part of the normal living area is eventually going to cause strife and stress for any business owner. These considerations are just a few of the issues business owners need to consider in addition to the more traditional items such as business plans, funding, production and customer support.
Whether you are working from home for your employer or you are working from home and starting your own business, the topics discussed in this short article will almost certainly apply. Many people dream of being able to work from home for the flexibility that it provides and the decreased stress. One of the myths that we should dispel immediately is that people working at home work less hours. In fact it could not be further from the truth. The reality is that the majority of people spend more hours working from their homes simply because the tools they need are available within a few short steps.
Having covered this basic myth, what are some of the considerations you want to take into account regarding setting up and running a work from home business? Your business type will dictate which issues that affect you, however we will list as many as possible in the following paragraphs for you to think about.
The obvious items are work space, power, communications both data and voice, tools that you may need and space to store raw materials, finished goods as well as your equipment that you may need. This includes of course even your computers if you are involved in some form of online Internet business.
Additionally, you will want to ensure that you routinely back up all of your computer data, which includes customer data as well as product designs etc. Storing this information off site is a good idea to avoid loss due to theft or fire. It is easy to replace damage or stolen equipment, however your data is a totally different matter.
Many cities and towns have local bylaws that manage what type of businesses can be operated out of your home. Everything from parking for customers and employees, to noise management are a consideration. If you are running an online internet business, you may not be concerned about bylaws, however having sufficient bandwidth to handle the data transfer rates can be a limiting factor.
Family is another consideration. Temporarily taking over the living room for a week or two is often ok, however permanent residence of your business in space that your family considers part of the normal living area is eventually going to cause strife and stress for any business owner. These considerations are just a few of the issues business owners need to consider in addition to the more traditional items such as business plans, funding, production and customer support.
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