Questions to Consider before Starting a Successful Home Business
A Home Business Article Contributed by Jenni Mckinney
Where Will Your Successful Home Business be Located?
Obviously, you will run your successful home business from your home! But which room in your home will you make the primary seat of your operations? Remember that the IRS prefers home businesses to be located in a dedicated space, meaning that if you operate your business from the guest room, that guests never sleep there and children don't use your business computer to send emails to their classmates.
If you do not have a room in the house with a closing door in which to conduct your business, the best thing to do is to create additional space. Add a room to the rear of the den or at the back of the garage, and do nothing in that room that does not pertain to your business. Also make sure that your business area look professional enough to allow business clients and vendors to get the right image of your company when they visit you.
What Demands Will Your Successful Home Business Place on Your Family?
Many times the family of an entrepreneur believes that since Mom or Dad will be working from home, they will be constantly available for whatever activities or needs may arise in the children's schedules. Unfortunately, this is not always a realistic expectation. It is always best to have a family meeting or two before starting your successful home business, so that clear boundaries and expectations can be voiced and laid out prior to anyone's feelings getting hurt.
Let the family know what type of hours you will set and when and how you can be appropriately interrupted. In addition, let the family know when you will be regularly available, and then spend that time with the family as much as possible. After all, that's one of the biggest benefits of running a successful home business!
What Types of Overhead Will Your Successful Home Business Require?
When you have chosen a room to make the seat of operations for your successful home business, and you have spoken with your family about expectations, you will next need to determine how to furnish your office. Obviously, the type of industry you are in will dictate a lot of the types of equipment you'll need to purchase, but all businesses share some similarities in overhead. You will need a computer, a printer, a fax machine, and at least a 2-line phone at a minimum.
In addition, you may want to purchase your telephone company's business voice mail plan, or purchase a beeper or cell phone for times when you are in other parts of the house or out doing errands.
In addition, you will have to have basic office furniture, including a desk, a very comfortable chair for yourself and another for any clients or vendors that may come to your office, a lamp or two, a calendar, and numerous paper supplies including reams for the printer, letterhead, Post-It notes, etc. Be sure to have every business amenity you need before starting so that you can feel comfortable with the business image you decide to project.
