1. Make sure your decision to work from home is based on a sound assessment of its suitability, and yours, and not on idealistic or romantic preconceptions.
2. Check that your home has planning permission, or that such can be acquired, for the pursuit of business activities. And inform the neighbours of your plans before you execute them!
3. Explore any insurance and tax implications that may arise from running your business from your home: you may have to pay more insurance but equally you may benefit from certain tax exemptions.
4. Consider converting outbuildings, garages or garden buildings to office use if space in your home isn’t suitable.
5. Decide if you are going to receive clients at home and if so ensure suitable access to your office and adequate parking space.
6. Make sure you can separate family/domestic and business activities, both spatially and psychologically and that those you share your home with know when you are available and when you’re not.
7. Establish a working-hours regime and stick to it. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you’re available for your clients/customers 24/7.
8. Have separate landline, mobile and fax numbers for your business; use an answer-phone/call-minder service and let it take your business calls outside your established working hours. You can deal with them tomorrow!
9. Make sure that people you share your home with understand that although you are ‘at home’ you are not available for leisure pursuits/DIY/shopping trips during your working hours.
10. Investigate the possibility of joining a professional body connected with your business and subscribe to any relevant journals/newsletters to ensure you have a network of external reference points and avoid isolation, both professional and personal.
Do's and Don'ts
Do:
Establish if working from home really will suite your working methods, your business and your home.
Make sure you have any planning permission that may be required and the goodwill of your neighbours.
Separate your private and professional lives.
Don’t:
Be distracted by domestic concerns while working however more appealing they may be.
Treat your business as a hobby just because you’re running it from the comfort of your home.
Don’t allow yourself to become isolated from the wider business community, especially the activities of your industry and your competitors!
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