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Last Updated on January 21, 2020 by Work In My Pajamas
Thinking about starting your own home-based business? It is understandable why many people are making the switch. It can bring so many advantages to your life, but it is also important to be aware of the challenges because there are a few difficult ones which will mean that this is not a way to earn a living for some people.
With a few helpful pieces of advice, you should be able to overcome the challenges and enjoy the benefits that come with working from home and the great work-life balance that this can bring. Read on for a few helpful pointers.
In This Post:
Separate Your Personal & Professional Life
One of the biggest challenges that people find when working from home is separating their personal and professional life, and this is important so that neither side is negatively impacted by the other. A few ways in which you can do this include:
- Working set hours
- Having an area of the home dedicated to work
- Avoid distractions while working
- Keeping a routine
- Marking the start and end of the day (such as with a walk around the block)
Keep Accurate Books
As a business owner, you must keep accurate books so that you can get a clear overview of your business’s financial health and to file your taxes accurately. This means that you should use accounting software to track all of the income and expenses, but you also need to separate your business and personal finances by setting up a separate account.
Lease Equipment
You will likely need some equipment to get your home-based business up and running, but this can be a huge cost. It is a smart idea to rent a laptop instead of purchasing because this can be much more affordable, plus you are easily able to upgrade when a better version becomes available.
Prepare for Rainy Days
You may find that work is inconsistent when you start a home business, especially at the beginning. Therefore, it is an intelligent idea to prepare financially for rainy days whether this is having a few months’ worth of savings to cover you or by having another stream of income with a part-time job or another online job.
Avoid Cabin Fever
Another area of working from home, which many people struggle with is feeling isolated, especially if you are working home alone. Therefore, you need to make getting out of the home a priority and have planned this throughout the week. A few ways to avoid cabin fever include:
- Walks
- Meeting clients for coffee
- Meeting friends for lunch
- Going to the gym
- Working somewhere else one day a week
- Social plans in the evening
Hopefully, these points will help anyone thinking of starting a home-based business to take the plunge and find success. There are many advantages to working from the comfort of your own home, but it can also be challenging, and you must know how to overcome common issues to succeed and enjoy this way of working.
