Top Six Things You Must Have When Running A Business From Home

By Daniel Carlson


Running a business from home is not as simple at it may sound at the onset. Many a wannabe entrepreneur realises that no sooner is she or he prepared to get down to business, an important element is missing. To make sure you won't caught unready when you're ready to become a home based business owner and operator, here are the top 6 things you must have when running a business from home.

1. You want a dedicated, organised business area where you'll work. While this will sound like a typical sense suggestion, you'll be stunned to find out many entrepreneurs cannot instantly lay their hands on a telephone number (the rolodex is in the other room), find their last business tax assessment (it might have gotten filed with the personal papers), are unable to find back issues of the last newsletter they emailed to their subscribers (hard copies could have gotten picked up and recycled with the Sunday paper), or must wait for junior to get off the computer (that 3 page research paper on bears is due tomorrow). All your supplies, materials, and other business related items need to be in and around that area; resist the enticement of mixing private and business items, since this will lead on to confusion as your business grows.

2. No matter what business you are running, you are going to need to have a working PC, attached printer, printer paper, and additional ink cartridges. There are few things worse than trying to print out a bill and be lacking either ink or paper. Similarly, regardless of what home business you are engaged in, the percentages are good that for research, customer contact, and accounting purposes a PC with database capabilities is needed.

3. You will very likely need a telephone. Whether or not your business is primarily conducted online, the supply of a telephone line that is separate from your house line will stop from kids answering the business line and giving you a shoddy image. If you only rarely use the telephone, your cell phone will be fine.

4. Employ a wall calendar. Sure, your computer has a calendar function, but if anything happens, and your personal computer is not working, how can you know what your cut off dates are? How are you going to keep track of appointments, bills, and payments that are due to you?

5. You need backup copies of everything. Back up your work as you complete it. For those that create files on their home computers, upload them to a secure site where you can store them. If anything happens to your home PCs, you'll be able to access these files in a pinch from a library computer and with a net-based e-mail account send them to another account.

6. You want commitment and the willingness to effect your rules. The commitment is required to ensure that the pull of the TV or the chores isn't stronger than the cut off point that's looming big. Similarly, being willing to enforce your commitment and the guidelines you create could be a necessity for the buddy or member of the family who sees you as a great babysitting alternative since you are at home anyways, not realizing or understanding that while you are at home, you're still working!




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