Four tips for setting up a home-based business
There are a few reasons why people decide to quit their 9-5 jobs and work from home instead.
But, whether you want to avoid the morning commute, to stay home with the kids, or just to avoid that dreary 9-5 commitment, you can’t usually leave your job without some plan or preparation. After all, you still have bills to pay and commitments to keep.
There are many career opportunities available today for people who want to work from home. And thousands of Americans are switching to freelancing every year.
If you’re planning to set up a home-based business here are four tips that may help.
1) Find your own space
Finding space for your office and making it feel like home is the key to success when you first start your home business.
The biggest mistake people working from home make is thinking that they can work anywhere in the house. While that may be true in theory, in practice it doesn’t lead to good work habits, concentration and productivity.
Setting up shop at the kitchen table surrounded by dirty breakfast dishes or on the couch while binge-watching Netflix is not a good idea. The last thing you want is to start blurring the line between your home life and business at this point.
2) Set up your space
Once you’ve chosen your space, it’s time to make it your own by setting it up the way you want it. You’ll need a comfy desk chair – not one that will put you to sleep, but one that makes it possible to work the number of hours you need to work in a day in comfort.
You’ll also need some sort of filing system for your paperwork, and somewhere to store it. You may also need brainstorming equipment for idea generation – from pen and paper to a dry erase board and markers.
3) Set your budget
Before you begin splurging on equipment and other things for your home office, you need to set a budget. Setting up your home office could cost quite a bit of money. If you need significant equipment, such as a new laptop, printer and desk, you can go to companies such as Escondido Credit Union to get a loan.
But make sure your budget allows for the payments you’ll have to make. Your budget should include everything from overhead expenses to marketing and more if you hope to succeed in your newfound business.
4) Get connected
It doesn’t matter what type of home business you are starting, you’re going to need to be connected to the outside world at some point. Here are some of the things you need to get connected:
- A good laptop or desktop computer. You don’t want one that is on its last legs when starting a business.
- A landline phone. Even though you have a cell phone, you want a landline for important phone calls with clients.
- You also need a multi-function printer. The last thing you want is to be running here or there to print documents, send faxes, or upload stuff that needs to go to a client.
- Reliable high-speed internet is essential when running your own business. While you probably already have an internet provider, you might want to look into increasing your uploading and downloading speeds.
- If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to invest in Microsoft Word and other software that will make working easier for you. Technology is there for a reason. Use it to make your job easier!
These are just a few tips for helping you set up your home office when you’re starting a home business. Remember, organization is important, but so is being patient and determined to succeed!
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