Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no cost to you. Please read our disclosure for more info.
Last Updated on April 22, 2019 by Work In My Pajamas
Home entrepreneurs are subject to frequent advice and have usually heard it all. Develop a business plan, set a schedule, and know your value are a few of the most common words of advice. But what about the unexpected advice that no one tells you that will actually help you manage your home business?
In This Post:
Create an Actual Office
Image via Flickr by nkeppol
One of the perks of a home-based business is that you can work from anywhere. This does not necessarily mean that you should. Working from bed in your pajamas is not the most productive work environment. Creating a workspace in the middle of the dining room with children bombarding you with questions is also not very productive.
Create an actual office space that is designed with productivity and comfort in mind. Invest in a good office desk and chair. Consider household things that could affect your comfort levels including dry or humid air within the household. If you work from home, you will spend the majority of your week there. It might be worth it to upgrade your heating and cooling system.
Know When to Outsource
Just because you run a business from home does not mean that you have to do it all alone. Consider the parts of your business that take up the most amount of time and provide you with the least amount of return. These might also be the tasks that you enjoy the least.
Consider outsourcing these dreaded tasks to a virtual assistant or to a contracted employee. You might be surprised at how much stress it alleviates while also freeing up time for more important of tasks.
Keep Record of Everything
You might not have a boss that requires you to submit receipts and work orders, but it is still important to keep a record of everything. Not only will this help with tracking your income versus expenses, but it can also be very helpful come tax season.
Failing to plan for taxes can leave you in a difficult financial situation. Fortunately, small businesses with home offices are eligible for many tax incentives. Knowing these benefits and having the records to document them can end up saving you a lot of money.
Networking Is Important
Many introverted business professionals choose a home office because it is what they are most comfortable in. However, some amount of networking is still important. Networking gets the word out about your business and can alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Sometimes, simply choosing to work outside of the house for a few hours can give you a sense of community. Other options include networking groups, commerce events, and joining business marketing groups. You can even rent out an office space for the day to get the feel of an office setting.
A lot of planning and consideration goes into designing a productive workspace. The same considerations of productivity and efficiency should be a part of your home office design. Running a home business has its own advantages, but it also has its challenges. These tips can help you manage a great home office.
Great post! Especially the know when to outsource. I found my way was to outsource the tasks I least enjoyed first, and grew from there.
Having a home office blog, I have to agree with your point on keeping work and home separate, even in the same house so to speak.