Help you run your home based office efficiently and make working from home a pleasure.
You can't beat the commute when working at home
Q: I have decided to move my office into my home to
save on overhead. We have a guest bedroom and a large storage
room that I could use, but I have never worked at home. Do you
have any suggestions?
-- Bryan N., Kingman, KS
A:: Working at home can be both a blessing and a curse. On the up side, it's an easy commute, it does save money, and you get to see your family more. On the downside, you get to see your family more.
So the first rule when working at home then is: Keep you work and home life separate. Everyone needs to understand that when dad is in his office, he's working, even though his office used to be the guest bedroom. Set down some ground rules and enforce them.
Second, pick the right room. Some people have no choice, there is but one room available and that's it. That is fine, but if you do have a choice, the important thing to remember is that you cannot have too much space. In fact, one of the major complaints for the home-based businessperson is not having enough space. Ideally, you should have space for:
1.Working. At a minimum, you need room for a desk, chair, computer, calculator, phone, etc.
2.Storage. You will also likely need a file cabinet and room for boxes and other storage goods.
3.Books and supplies.
4.Grunge work. You will also likely need space for assembly of products, stuffing envelopes, that sort of thing.
5.Conference space. If you will be meeting with clients, you will need room for chairs or a couch, and a table.
6.Other. Do you need space for employees? What about for specialized goods, a waiting area for clients, or production facilities?
Similarly, be sure to wire the room fully. Get either cable or DSL for your Internet access. Also, even though most building codes require that electrical outlets be placed every 12 feet, it's worth the money to install more outlets. I recommend installing them above desk level so you do not have to crawl around on the floor when you want to plug something in. If your office is going to be equipment-heavy, place all those electrical outlets on a separate circuit breaker.
Be sure too to have at least two phone lines installed: One for your dedicated business phone and one for faxes.
And what about the décor? Color can really give a room some personality. Those to avoid in large doses include white (it can cause severe eye fatigue, and can cause boredom), and bright shades like red. Experts say that in offices, bright colors are usually best used as accents. I would also recommend using as much natural light as possible. Add in a mix of ambient lighting (ceiling fixtures) and task lighting (a desk lamp).
Be sure to buy a comfortable chair, and spend extra for it if necessary. You will be glad you did.
Finally, you need to plan to get out of the office. A common complaint for many a home-based entrepreneur is loneliness. Without the ready camaraderie of an office place and the social life that comes with that, working at home means that finding coffee break and lunch partners takes proactive effort on your part. Making that effort makes working at home much better. Good luck!
Today's Tip: No one needs to know that you work from home if you don't want him or her to. Between cell phones, e-mail, faxes, voice mail, and laser printing, today's home-based entrepreneur can look just as professional as the Big Boys. And if you meet clients at a conference room at an executive suite, no one will know (or care, probably) where you do the actual work.
