5 Things to Know About Running a Business from Home (Before You Take the Plunge)

After mulling over a business idea for years, you’re finally ready to start your first business and you’ve picked out the perfect office space: your home. Working from home is a great way to save money and maximize profits when starting a business. However, while building a business from home can be a smart move, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Here are four things you should know before starting a home-based business.
Staying on task is harder. There are lots of advantages to working from home: low overhead costs, flexible hours, and a short commute, to name a few. However, new entrepreneurs shouldn’t view working from home through rose-colored glasses. Running a business from home also makes it harder to focus and maintain work-life balance, especially if you have a family at home.
 
If there’s any hope of running a productive business from home, entrepreneurs have to be prepared to set boundaries with children and spouses. This is easier when you have a workspace away from the areas where your family spends time and scheduled business hours. Creating consistency in your workday will also help you stay accountable. Click Here
You’ll need more than your laptopIt’s also tough to stay productive if you don’t have the right tools for the job. While a laptop might be acceptable for short stints of telecommuting, it lacks the computing power you need to run a business from home.
 
In addition to a fully-equipped desktop computer, equip your home office with a high-speed internet connection, an all-in-one printer, and a standing desk converter for improved ergonomics. A webcam is also key for virtual meetings with clients and employees. For professional-quality video conferencing, buy a webcam with full 1080p video quality and a microphone that reduces background noise.
The right business help is invaluableEmailing, invoicing, ordering supplies — these tasks don’t make money, but they do take a lot of time. Entrepreneurs who get bogged down with unprofitable tasks like these can quickly find themselves without time to grow their business.
 
While you may be tempted to scrimp when starting your business, going without basic business tools is penny wise and pound foolish. You’ll get more for your money if you invest in tools and services that maximize your business’s efficiency. This includes both business apps and help from firms like Hayford Marketing. With someone else to handle office management, social media, web design, and other essential business services, you can focus your energy on growing profits.
Be ready to engage customersObviously the key to profitability is drawing clientele, but just having a great idea, the right equipment, and the right people won’t bring customers knocking on your door. Ideally, you’ll start with your own network. Think in terms of those who will benefit from your unique niche, and connect with the people you know who fit the bill.
 
Not sure who that would be? Consider reaching into your social media connections to identify your target audience. The demographics you see reflected there, such as the ages, locations and interests, will help you hone in on messaging that matters to them.
You’re running a real business — so treat it like one. The biggest mistake home-based entrepreneurs take? Not treating their work like a real business. If you dive into running a home-based business without a plan for how you’ll reach your market, distribute your product or service, and keep your business afloat financially, your business may fail before it ever has a shot.
 
This includes registering as a legal business entity rather than operating as a sole proprietor. While sole proprietorship are convenient, they don’t offer the protection of a limited liability company. As an LLC, your personal assets aren’t at risk if your business goes under. Forming an LLC is also cheap and easy in most states, so there’s little reason not to do it.
 
There’s a lot that goes into running a business — even when you’re doing it from home. Instead of letting these tips scare you away from starting a home-based business, use them to build your business the right way. With a productive workspace, tech-savvy tools, and the right help by your side, you can build a home-based business that’s destined to succeed.