Home-based Businesses

Is Teleworking for You?

Working at home sounds attractive, but requires equipment, dedication, organization, and the right working environment.  To find out if teleworking would work for you, take the Telework Self-Assessment Survey !

Home-based Business Regulations for Foreign Service Spouses

6 FAM 720 (see 6 FAM 725.7) governs the use of government housing for home-based businesses, allowing family members to work out of their USG-leased or owned properties.

Can a spouse set up a business in any country? Conducting a business will normally require that a bilateral work agreement or de facto work arrangement is in place. A local business would also be subject to local taxes.

FAM Regulations Pertaining to Spouses Working on the Local Economy

Spouses and family members of USG employees assigned to a US Mission overseas should be aware of the FAM regulations regarding acceptance of employment on the local economy of the host country. Specifically, read:

3FAM 4123 - Restrictions on Employment and Outside Activities

3FAM 4125 - Outside Employment and Activities by Spouses and Family Members Abroad

6 FAM 725.7 - Housing Abroad Policy: Using Residential Space - Businesses

Home-based Business Web Sites

Home Office Association of America - http://www.hoaa.com - Membership benefits include low-cost health insurance, UPS discounts, hotel and care-rental savings and inexpensive rates for using a collection agency to pursue slow-paying customers.

Insurance Information Institute - http://www.iii.org - Good source for basics on business insurance information.

Home Professionals - http://www.homeprofessionals.com - Offers many hokey products but also provides a comprehensive list of books that address various challenges for home-based business owners.

Power Home Biz - http://www.powerhomebiz.com - Excellent articles on working out of the home.

Business at Home - http://www.gohome.com - Advice and information for the home-based entrepreneur.

A Work at Home Community - http://www.workathomecommunity.com

Business Plan Web Sites

Home Business Research.com - http://www.homebusinessresearch.com/index.html - Information tools to build your home-based business, including Newsgroups, Discussion Groups, Revenue Generation, Resource Links, Spreadsheets, Business Forms, Financing, Promotional Items and a reference center.

Bplans.com - http://www.bplans.com/g - provides many resources to assist in the development of a business plan.

VentureCoach.com – http://www.venturecoach.com - a web site helping executives and leaders build world-class organizations and world-class careers.

Business Planning Institute – http://www.bpiplans.com/Articles.htm - provides detailed information on writing a business plan.

Small Business Administration - http://www.sba.gov/starting/indexbusplans.html - offers a tutorial and self-paced activity to produce a road map for a successful business plan.

Information provided by the Family Liaison Office
Contact the Family Liaison Office
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