Home Business Basics
The Three Most Important Elements in a Home-based Business
What's most important for every home-based business - space, time management, and separation of personal and business life.
There are several things that are important to your home-based business. But there are three that, without, you will not be successful working from home. This has more to do with organization than computers, desks, registrations or anything like that. What you need are some specifics that will allow you to operate effectively and professionally.
Dedicated Space
Firstly, you need a space set aside in your home. This is often an area in a spare bedroom or basement. It must be set up such that you have a real office space and is separate from the rest of the home. With this, you will be able to leave “home” and go to “the office,” even if it is just moving from one room to another – the 45-second commute. Your office needs to be set up as an efficient work environment, free from distraction and clutter. It is not a good idea to use a part of the kitchen for these reasons. While that can work, it takes a lot more discipline than most people have.
Time Management
Another essential for your home-based business is a schedule. You should always set business hours, even though you know you will be working outside of these hours at times (especially in the beginning). For example, from 9 am until noon you are in the office, then you can take a lunch break, and when you return you are in the office again until 4:30. These are you regular business hours, even if you are out meeting clients, you should still keep the same hours, at a minimum. Keeping a schedule like this is one of the basic elements that helps you to keep your business on track.
Separation of Personal and Business Life
You need to keep your personal and professional lives separate. This begins with your schedule (above), but you should also have a separate telephone number. Your home phone is your home phone, it is not for business, except if you use it for a separate fax line. Your business line on which your clients call you can be a cellular phone or separate phone line. This not only separates your professional (work) life from you home life, it prevents people from using your home phone inappropriately. And you can then turn off the phone when business hours are over, and let your voice mail take messages. That’s what it’s for!
Separate space, set hours, and a separation of business and personal life – the three essential elements to any successful home-based business. If you use these, you will have a head start on most people who work from home.
