If you are running your business from home, then there are certain things you'll have to consider that you may not have to think about if you're working from a commercial office. Take space, for example. When looking for a commercial office, you'll have an idea of the amount of square footage you need and will look at space that can accommodate your needs. When carving out a home office, however, space can be an issue, and you'll have to make do or renovate to suit your needs. Let's tale a ;look at what else you'll need to consider when running your business from home.
Running Your Business From Home? What You'll Need To Consider
The Perfect Office Space
If you're thinking about creating a work space at home, you'll have to take into account the space you have available and how you can make it work for your needs. Will you be working from a finished basement or attic, a spare room in your home or perhaps a converted garage? Are you flying solo, or do you have staff need to consider? Is there enough room for storage, inventory, technology and supplies? You can use a free online office layout planner like SmartDraw to design different office layouts and give you an idea of what your space can look like.
Create A Comfortable And Organized Space
A clean and organized work space is the key to office productivity. After all, how efficient can you be in a cluttered, disorganized office? When taking your design into consideration, think about what you want and need in terms of creating a space that is chic, comfortable and organized. You might consider:
If you're thinking about creating a work space at home, you'll have to take into account the space you have available and how you can make it work for your needs. Will you be working from a finished basement or attic, a spare room in your home or perhaps a converted garage? Are you flying solo, or do you have staff need to consider? Is there enough room for storage, inventory, technology and supplies? You can use a free online office layout planner like SmartDraw to design different office layouts and give you an idea of what your space can look like.
Create A Comfortable And Organized Space
A clean and organized work space is the key to office productivity. After all, how efficient can you be in a cluttered, disorganized office? When taking your design into consideration, think about what you want and need in terms of creating a space that is chic, comfortable and organized. You might consider:
- Multi-use desks & credenzas,
- Comfortable seating for staff & guests,
- Storage and filing cabinets,
- Bookshelves,
- Wall Shelves,
- Pantry,
- Task lighting, and
- Desktop & cable organizers.
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On-Site Client Meetings
If you plan to take meetings at your home, or have individuals in your home for business purposes, it might be smart to add an ADA compliant ramp to accommodate those with mobility needs. Not every home based business needs one (the ADA guidelines do not include businesses with less than 15 people, for example), but it's always nice to make what's called "reasonable accommodations". Even just a few stairs or steps can be a challenge for those with needs, Additionally, the same considerations should be made for those who have service animals, so having a space that's welcoming to a service dog should be considered as well.
Technology & Communication
Your work space, no matter where in your home it may be, will need to be able to accommodate fast wifi and wireless communication. Therefore, may want to avoid any "dead zones" in your home where signals tend to be weak and / or unreliable. If you don't have a choice, a wifi extender as well as a cell phone signal booster can help You can also try contacting your current service providers or a new provider like Cox Internet Plans, TV & Phone Service to see what options they have available for your home-based business.
If you plan to take meetings at your home, or have individuals in your home for business purposes, it might be smart to add an ADA compliant ramp to accommodate those with mobility needs. Not every home based business needs one (the ADA guidelines do not include businesses with less than 15 people, for example), but it's always nice to make what's called "reasonable accommodations". Even just a few stairs or steps can be a challenge for those with needs, Additionally, the same considerations should be made for those who have service animals, so having a space that's welcoming to a service dog should be considered as well.
Technology & Communication
Your work space, no matter where in your home it may be, will need to be able to accommodate fast wifi and wireless communication. Therefore, may want to avoid any "dead zones" in your home where signals tend to be weak and / or unreliable. If you don't have a choice, a wifi extender as well as a cell phone signal booster can help You can also try contacting your current service providers or a new provider like Cox Internet Plans, TV & Phone Service to see what options they have available for your home-based business.
If you're looking for ways to successfully run your business from home, we hope you found this article helpful. Do you have a home-based business? What tips would you share? Share them with us in the comments below.
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