Being able to run your own business from home is a dream that many people have. There are many benefits that come with it: you get to work on your own time, there’s no need to drive out to a separate office, and you get to follow your passion.
There’s also much appeal in running your business from an apartment, since it’s usually cheaper to live in an apartment than it is in an actual house. So with that in mind, here are the five most important steps to follow for starting your home-based business from your Toronto apartment:
1. Find An Apartment
First things first, you have to find an apartment to live in, right? If you haven’t done so already, start searching the internet for Toronto Apartments for rent, and focus on choosing an apartment that is within your budget and meets each of your needs.
2. Set Aside Separate Office Space
A portion of your apartment needs to be dedicated to office use only. It’s important to have a dedicated work space so you can limit distractions and keep all of your work supplies and files organized in a neat fashion. Basic items your office needs to have include a desk, a comfortable chair, your computer(s), a printer, scanner, fax machine, pens and paper, and file cabinets.
3. Check Your Zoning Laws
Yes, you need to check your zoning laws because it’s actually possible that you may not be able to work out of your apartment depending on the specific business you are running. An example of this would be if your business requires customers to enter and exit your apartment on a daily basis in order to conduct business with you. Most zoning laws would not allow that.
4. Gaining Approval From Your Landlord
Let’s say that your local zoning laws allow you to run your business out of your apartment. But there’s still one more thing you need to check: your lease.
Depending on your type of business, your lease may require you to receive approval to run your business out of your apartment from your landlord or rental company. It’s important that this agreement is in writing, because verbally receiving approval will not be sufficient should you run into future legal issues.
5. Make Sure You Have The Necessary Licenses
Last but certainly not least, you must make sure you have all of the necessary permits and licenses to start your business. Don’t be intimidated by this process, because it’s something that any other business has to do and ensures that what you are doing is within the law. Regulations vary, so check up on what your local or provincial laws require.
Running Your Business
Running a business out of your apartment will come with many rewards, but it’s still important that you follow each of the steps we have covered above so you can ensure that everything goes as smoothly as possible.
