Working From Home - a Few Home Truths

Suddenly, everyone wants to work from home. And why not? Go freelance, and you've easy access online to thousands of employment possibilities. Or the chance to get involved in an abundance of web-based businesses. The opportunities - and benefits - seem obvious.

But as plenty of home-workers can tell you, the reality can be far tougher than most of us imagine.

In fact, there'll be moments when the life left behind seems like a dream come true compared to the realities of self-employment. So if you're one of the many wondering if home-working is for you, the honest answer is: not necessarily.

Of course, things usually get off to a great start. Let's face it, there's a definite feel-good factor to those first lazy mornings in bed when most of the world is trudging reluctantly to the office. And knowing that you'll continue to set your own routine is an even bigger buzz. From now on, you can work when you're at your most efficient. Stop whenever you need a change of pace. Lunchtimes become leisurely.

You wonder why on earth you didn't make the break years ago.

Yet something ominous begins to stir in paradise. Those extra minutes in bed are starting to become less of a luxury, more of a zoned out recovery time. That's because business is unexpectedly slow - virtually non-existent, to be honest - and you've started sitting up till three in the morning anxiously checking out marketing tips.

You discover a killer strategy. It'll turn things around. It doesn't. The weeks of minimal sleep pile up as the realization kicks in that this could all prove very difficult indeed.

And meanwhile, back at the office?

Your old buddy Bill calls, suggesting you meet. The company has just introduced flexi-time and he's taken the morning off, something he plans to do regularly. You'd love to catch up, the problem is doing it; you don't really have the energy to drag yourself anywhere.

But a month or so later, things are starting to look up. The new website is beginning to attract a little traffic and you've even had orders. About time too, because those emergency savings are dwindling to what can only be described as an emergency low.

The problem is, once you've done the accounting (something you hate, but can't afford a professional's fee) there's a lot less to feel good about. Quite a bit less, in fact, having factored in various taxes and tariffs. Not to mention the health plan and pension.

Perhaps you'll need to stay up an extra extra hour tonight to drum up a little more business.

Six months on, though, and you're feeling more upbeat. Sure, things haven't been easy, but would you consider a return to the day job? No way. Or rather - probably not.

That dependable salary was nice. Always there, month after month. ("Why is it", you wonder, "that clients never pay on time? You do the work, you seal the deal, then spend months on end chasing up damn checks.")

But of course there's the really, really good along with the lousy. The freedom to set your own agenda still gives you a real kick. Remember how those 'nine to five' hours so often turned into a nine to nine, unpaid overtime slog? At least now every minute is spent working for what you believe in. You.

Bill calls again. It's great to hear his voice. Any voice, actually. Working from home can get a little lonely.

Bill seems pretty upbeat, and is suggesting a few days away. A spur of the moment break along with some other ex-colleagues; "after all", he reasons, "you can just get up and go whenever you like, huh?"

The offer's certainly tempting, especially after all those months of relentless work. But something's holding you back.

For one thing, vacation time wasn't factored into your accounting. Do you really have that extra cash? And worse still, what if you miss out on something vital while you're away? A big contract? An on the spot deal?

Reluctantly, you offer a feeble excuse. Bill seems rattled.

"OK buddy - but hey, we're really going have to catch up some time..."

You hang up. Is it honestly all worth it? Yes, you decide. On balance - though it's certainly a precarious one - on balance it's what you wanted. But all that hype about working from home being the best thing since sliced bread? If only you'd known exactly what to expect.