One of the great American dreams is being able to quit a 40 hour a week job and to start building a home business. These days more are making their dream come true. But before you quit that job and set up your home office, there are a few things to keep in mind.
On the plus side, part of your home and related expenses are tax deductible. It's convenient to work while your kids are in school and being home for them when they walk through the door in the afternoon, and is a major plus not having a boss to answer to.
Sometimes thought it's not always the ideal situation. Starting a business from home isn't always easy on families. There are many issues that will affect your family. First and foremost there are financial issues. Some people might not be able to handle the hit to their wallet when they don't have a steady paycheck? If this might be an issue for you, consider working your business part time while holding down a full down job.
It takes a very dedicated person to work from home. There are always distractions to overcome such as the unexpected visits from family members who think you have lots of free time because you don't work a "real" job, having to do family errands, or the tendency to take continuous brakes in front of the TV.
It also seems like telemarketers prefer to call in the middle of the day, and don't forget the neighbors dropping by to see if you'll babysit while they run errands. It's very important to let family and friends know your working hours.
Tell them from the beginning that your business is your income and you need to block out regular working hours. Also let them know when you are available. Along those same lines, it is crucial that you explain to your own family that, although you are home, you are not always available to them.
This can be confusing to kids but by setting some basic rules for them to follow it should get a bit easier for everyone. Let everyone know your work hours and tell them you expect not to be disturbed. But occasionally, surprise them by quitting early and doing something fun with them! Here are a few basic rules that will help you and your family handle the new working situation.
* Make sure everyone knows not to answer your business phone. You'll be sure to always get your messages. Sometimes people (mostly kids) forget to get all the details. But most importantly you'll create a much more professional business image if you answer your own phone.
* If you're children are typical kids, they will want to "borrow" your office supplies, perhaps for school or drawing. Give them their own office supply center elsewhere in the house! Otherwise, you'll start losing your much needed supplies when you mostly need them.
*Set a work schedule at the beginning of every week and post it in a prominent spot so family members can check your schedule to see when you will be available.
Though issues can and probably will arise, working from home can turn out to be most advantageous for most people. Learning to set, and more importantly, enforce boundaries for family, friends and clients will make your business less complicated.
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