Next ... the home office!!
This doesn't need to be complicated and can grow and develop as your business expands. Now I am not joking here but any space can due for a office/office area. If you have a laptop you have even more flexibility. Some suggestions are:
- closet that is not being used
- if you have a laptop ... a plastic rolling cart with drawers (to hold your supplies and business materials) since you can work where ever you roll the cart. Great for keeping a watch on the children
- obviously, a spare or guest room
- basement
- dining room table that doesn't get used (you know what I mean ... until recently I never used my dining room, my husband referred to it as "the show room")
Some other items to mention in regards to the office space is whether or not you need phone access, and more importantly eye sight to children.
Setting up your home business office:
This can be as complicated or as easy as you would like it to be. I kinda like easy! All you really need is a place for your computer or laptop, an internet connection, a notebook (or write notes on your computer - I still prefer a notebook) and a pen/pencil.
Easy Home Offices:
1) Kitchen Table
2) Living Room Coffee Table
3) Patio Table
4) Your Lap at the Beach
You are probably getting the idea that some "offices" can be anywhere. How about the coffee shop?
More Involved Offices:
1) Spare Room
2) Closet Made Over
3) Corner of your Kitchen (many people have built in desks in their kitchen now-a-days)
4) Space under stairs (usually a wasted space)
Now if you are going to set up amore involved office you should also invest in a Fax machine (many phone services provide a free second line for your fax machine which comes with its own number. It would be like a "party line" with 1 ring your home phone and 2 rings your fax, for example)
Lets set some rules!
Now I am not suggesting that you become so rigid that your family is actually suffering more. What I mean is that you need to set rules to prevent yourself from becoming too involved in your business adventure since it will be living with you. Your business is in the same building as you so it can be hard not to keep going into the office to do "one more thing". By setting "rules" you will be able to leave your work when it is time for family time.
Now depending on your situation you might work from 9 to 5 Monday to Friday (with the flexibility of attending to children); some might work 9 to 11 then 2 to 4 daily. The times you decide for yourself is irrelevant the point is that you need to establish a "tentative schedule" so you can consistently motivate and move your business forward.
Another rule is to stay out of the office when it is not office time. Most people have cell phones and on them is a "note" or place to jot down a note. Use this for "ideas" you might have after hours. This will keep you with you family and away from the office.
Business Plan:
You might be thinking ... I don't need a business plan, what is she talking about?!
If you don't want to succeed then sure don't make a Business Plan. Honestly a Business Plan will help you succeed! How else are you realistically going to evaluate your business (whether or not your present way of promoting, and executing your business is working), your work hours (times and days you have set aside for your work hours), and simply whether or not you are spending quality time with your family (which was probably the reason you started this venture). The Business Plan is the road map that will outline where you want your business to go and how you are going to get there.
Now a Business Plan doesn't need to be a 25 page legal document written in a language that most lawyers would only understand. It can be as easy as one page that simply outlines the following:
- Defining Your Business: Just a sentence stating what your business is. If you can't define what it is how are you going to tell others. For example my business could be defined as "Consulting and Marketing".
- Goals:
1) for the business
2) for your family
For the business: could be a certain amount of income obtained after one year in business or that you simple have worked the business so that the "kinks" are out of it and that the business is just starting to make business, or it could be that you have a certain amount of clients or projects at the end of the first year.
For your family: could be that you are able to attend all sports events and that you are not missing those "firsts" or special events.
Just remember make your goals for both Business and Family realistic!!!! Otherwise you will not meet your goals.
Now you don't have to locked into these goals ... life happens and what may be realistic now may not be in 3 or 4 months. So you can go back to your goals periodically. Every month would be good practice to re-evaluate your goals to check if you are on track.
Now in my business I also have a weekly goal sheet that I use to keep my week on track. Setting small goals (daily and weekly) is a great idea but I will touch on this topic later.
Okay lets get down to business with your Business Plan!
You need to answer several questions to complete your plan. Once these questions have been answered you should have a business plan to assist you in keeping your business on track and being successful. I have added some examples.
1) Description of your business: (defining your business - "Doe Consulting and Marketing Firm - Jane Doe owner, specialising in building home businesses")
2) Product/Service: What products or service are you providing? (Providing the service of assisting families to grow, work and play together), What sets you apart from the competition? (The company is providing an economical way to bring income and families closer together)
3) Who are your customers/clients: (parents and individuals who want to work from home), How will you attract, hold and increase your market share? (networking, word of mouth, and success), How do you price your products or services? (commissions, blog subscriptions, will research "going rates")
4) The competition: Don't be discouraged by the competition. Competition can be a great motivator and remember they may have more overhead than you since they are probably not working from home. But still be aware of who the competition is and how their businesses are similar and different from yours. You could even incorporate some of the aspects of their business that might help yours.
5) The location: For us home business owners the location is quite obvious but remember maybe your office location could be located somewhere else in your house to be more productive. Will not know this until your have worked for a bit. (office next to front door with lots of coming and going that is distracting; office not in sight lines of children so you are constantly getting up and down to check on children ...)
6) Management: What is your experience? I you need help don't hesitate to ask. There are tons of books, free services for information, and there is always me.
7) Financial data: I suggest that every time you make a purchase to enter it at the time you bring the item home that way things will not become overwhelming. Don't fear finances. Finances are easy to mange as long as you can keep it organized. I will touch on this later on in greater detail. Now if you need start-up money, depending on what type of home business you are starting, you may need a loan. Might only be for $1000.00 but all the same processes need to be completed. There are organizations that will help with free of charge or for a small fee. But to apply for a loan you will need: Forecasted Income Statement (what you predict you will make in the next year), Cash Flow Projection (what monies you think you will need to spend for day to day operations, when it will be needed, and where it will come from. This is the budget for your business), and a Balance Sheet (record of all financial transactions and shows a balance, somewhat like balancing your check book).
NOW GET STARTED!
ENJOY YOUR FAMILY WHILE WORKING FROM HOME!
Working From Home Tips
Now Where Do I Begin??
Okay ... Lets get started!
The first thing you need to do is to decide what your At-Home-Business is going to consist of. Don't be overwhelmed. Choose something you are interested in and always remember if you try it for a few months and don't find it is right for you then change gears. You still can be working from home just doing something new. Think about how many "projects" big companies have scrapped or had to entirely change because it was found not to be working out. That is being in business. There is not one business that hasn't had to change gears at some point.
The thing to look at so if you do decide to change gears later on is the cost of getting started in that particular venture. Now you still have to take in consideration the ratio of "why you wanted to work from home in the first place to the amount of investment in your own work from home business. If you have to invest $1000.00 to be your own boss and be able to tend to your families needs then it is still probably worth it. Also, how much do most business cost to get set up ... Hundreds of thousands!!
Now I hope I didn't scare you with the $1000.00 I mentioned above! I don't know your situation so I don't know what it would cost for you to set up a home office. When I started my At-Home-Business it cost me $29.00. This was because I already had a fully functioning home office. Some of you might have to buy a computer, fax, supplies all depending on what you will need. If you are unclear on what you will need just contact me and I can help you out.