Setting up the Office before Starting Home Business
A Home Business Article Contributed by Charan Singh
Importance of Office for Starting Home Business
When you, unlike those who have started their home business, are in the state employment or in the employment of others, you are not the master, and the master gives you working conditions including physical space. But when you are starting your home based business, you should have full clarity of thought about the work area and its utility pattern before starting your home business, so that it does not hinder the execution of your home business plan once you get started.
Choice of Location for Starting Your Home Business
The portion of house that you choose as your office should be one which does not cause inconvenience to your family members, there should always be a physical and mental-level distance between your work space and your home affairs, otherwise there will be conflict between you as entrepreneur and you as a family man, leading to slackening of your vigour and vitality for the business.
The area of office and work place should be sufficient to house, your staff and business partner, if any, who may demand separate space. Depending on the nature of the business you intend to start, your work may continue after traditional office hours - consider thoughtfully that it will not adversely impact your leisure hours or your family life. Till you find such a place in your house (which could be in the main building, an annexe, garage, out-house), it would always be better and advisable not to open the door of your home business.
Equipment and Devices Required for Starting Home Business
Computers, telephones, fax machines and internet are generally the common minimum devices required for starting a home based business. Always keep in mind that your business will grow at a pace, necessitating the up-gradation of your office equipment and devices. Rather than to bear the brunt of replacing them at a cost, it is better to buy and install the latest model multi-functional devices, such as phone with voice mail, computer with latest hardware/software, high speed internet.
Furniture for Home Based Business Office
As there is usually small spaces for starting home business, the furniture for office should fit in your space, it need not big in size, but should be neat and tidy. All your seating, and filling and record keeping requirements should be fulfilled. In case there are partitions inside your office and you require more space, you can do away with walls, enclosures and private places thus maximizing your work space in the home office. One way to save your capital costs is to take furniture items on rent.
Other Considerations for Setting Home Business Office
An efficient security alarm system would create confidence in your mind as to the security of work force and your assets. There should be sufficient and quality lightening of the business premises. Office space is to be free of health hazards, it should not be dingy and prone to pollutants, affecting the health and productivity of employees. Your office should be well organized so that there is no wastage of precious and scarce space. If possible, a little space, if any, should have displays that depict the ideology and philosophy of your home based business.
