Running a home based business – Work from home 2

In an article “Running Your Business From Home – Working From Home 1” we explored the advantages that can be gained from running a business from home. As with most things in life, of course there can be downsides, but don’t let that discourage you. What one person may view as a reason against working from home, another will see in a more positive light. Remember, no two people are the same and therefore every business will be run in a slightly different way.

So what might be the first serious consideration that might discourage someone from running their business from home? Depending on where you live, there may be a number of legal restrictions or challenges to overcome. You may need to check for planning restrictions, insurance restrictions, and whether the business you run will attract the interest of local safety or environmental departments. If you do your research before you start, you’ll often find that officials from city or state departments will help you overcome any potential barriers to getting off to a good start. You can then use this to your advantage and include “Recognized by…” or “Approved by…” in your marketing.

Will you be attracting customers to your home? Will your business activities generate a lot of noise or, worse yet, strong odors? Think about your neighbors. An increase in road traffic or noise and air pollution may not be a way to improve your good reputation in the locality. But you can consider ways to get them on your side before you start. If you provide a service to the general public, consider offering discounts to your immediate neighbors. Even better, offer them a discount for referring customers to you. This will not only increase your customer base, but your neighbors will be actively involved in and benefit from your business, thus reducing the chances of any negative sentiment towards you.

Make sure you have the full support of your family. Your life is going to be interrupted one way or another. Although you will probably be very happy to have such a large number of clients visiting you, to your family they are all strangers. Your living space may be reduced to make way for your business; they may have to be quiet when you are serving your customers. Separating work time from family time should be an important consideration, and you may need to identify specific times for both activities.

If you are used to working in a busy office or factory and mixing with colleagues not only professionally but also socially outside of the workplace, then you may find that working at home creates a sense of isolation. You may feel cut off from the outside world and miss interacting with other people face to face. If your work is done largely via computer and there’s no real need to meet with your clients, make a special effort to visit one of them at least once a week. Know their business, their needs and allow them to put your face to your name and business. Clients feel special knowing that you have taken time out of your busy schedule to meet with them. It doesn’t have to be a sales meeting, just “know your customer.” You are given the opportunity to get out there while also developing that important long-term relationship with your clients.

Everyone who starts a business for the first time faces challenges, and running a home-based business is no exception. If you’ve clearly identified the pros and cons of working from home before you get started, then that’s one of the first hurdles you’ve cleared. Take advantage of the advantages, but don’t let the disadvantages stop you. In fact, with a little creative thinking, you may be able to change them so that they become your unique selling point.