Home Business

Tips for setting up your ideal home office
Nov 14, 2008

Setting up a home office will be one of your primary considerations when starting your home business. You can set it up in a spare bedroom, or even a corner of your living room when you're first starting out. Function is more important than form at this point.

Whatever location you do choose, make sure it's quiet and gives you sufficient privacy. Make sure your family understands that when you're in your office, you are “at work” and should not be disturbed. Do not entertain friends or guests at your home while you are working.

Also make sure there's good lighting. You don't want to spend long hours working in a poorly lit environment. If you'll be using a computer, make sure the area is well-ventilated. There should be at least one wall outlet nearby your work area to accommodate all your peripherals such as a scanner and printer.

You'll need a place to store your everyday office supplies such as pens, pencils, paper clips, and notepads. A good desk with various drawers should be sufficient for this task. A filing cabinet is highly recommended, as it will help you keep your documents organized over time.

Don’t overlook the importance of a good office chair. If you’ll be sitting at your desk for an extended period of time, you don't want to risk any back pain by using a low-quality chair.

Ideally you should set up a separate phone line that you'll use only for business purposes. You don't want your spouse or child to suddenly pick up the phone and start dialing while you're speaking to an important client. You may also consider using a separate cell phone for this purpose instead.

Try to set up a consistent work schedule and abide by it. Wake up at the same time every day and take your business seriously, just as if you were commuting to an office job.

Having a 10 second “commute” can be a real blessing, but it can also be a temptation to turn you into a workaholic. Remember to take breaks throughout the day and to stop working and “go home” at some point each day. One of the main benefits to working at home is the increased time you can spend with your family, so make sure you don't neglect them.

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