Self-employed, small home businesses are on the rise in North America. More and more entrepreneurs realize how successful they can be when they take a great idea and run with it. The convenience of working out of their home opens up many new opportunities some could never access if they worked out of an office.
Home businesses are rewarding, can be much fun, but also required tons of hard work and dedication. What you may see if a successful entrepreneur that is loving everything he or she does and earns a sizeable paycheque. What you may not notice though is all the long days and nights, dedication, commitment, and what he or she has given up to get the business off the ground.
If you’re thinking of starting up a small business from the comfort of your home, consider the following nine points to help you be successful.
Do You Have the Space?
Before you begin, you need to ask yourself if you have the space and layout at your home to run your business. Depending on what you’re doing, you may need a lot of space if you’re creating something. If you’re working on a computer, you won’t need as much space, but you will need a separate room to call your office.
See if you need to do any renovations to your home, or if you’re looking at moving to a new property that will work for your home business. There are self-employed mortgage options available that could get you the perfect house to start your company.
Come Up with a Business Plan
A business plan is essential for every entrepreneur, even those who run a small business out of their home. A business plan will help you determine if your idea will work, or if you need to revamp it and try something new.
Create a business plan that showcases your idea, the skills required, how you meet those skills, all the assets you need, what you proposed budget it, what the estimated overhead costs are, and everything else you can think of that will affect the success of your company.
Build Your Office
So, you have the space and business plan; now you need to create your office. Where you work and how it looks can have a significant impact on how focused and dedicated you are. Too many distractions around could steal your attention away from your work.
You’ll spend many hours in your home office, so decorate it in a way that is comforting. Invest in a chair and desk that is comfortable and ergonomic. Nothing is worse than having to stop due to back and shoulder pain. Use colors you love that makes you happy and uplifted. Add accessories that style the room and bring everything together.
Come Up with a Schedule
A successful entrepreneur that works from home and avoids distractions likely has a strict schedule he or she follows. Without that schedule, it’s easy to slip into a habit of sleeping in, getting distracted by what’s going on in the house, and falling behind in your work.
Instead, grab a day planner and schedule out your day the night before, or your week every Sunday night (or whichever day you plan to be last day of the week). Set the alarm to wake up at a consistent time every morning. Plan out your day according to the tasks at hand, and as you would if you drove to an organization every day.
Your Look Still Matters
It may be convenient to bum around your home office in your pyjamas or sweat pants. However, how you look still affects your mood and how you work.
Studies show that what you wear has an impact on your mood throughout the day. If you’re wearing lounging around clothes, there’s a good chance it will keep you in a lounging and lazy attitude. If you dress for success though, you have a better chance of staying motivated and focused. So, even if no one will see you that day, still get ready like you would be driving to an office.
Organization is Critical
For a successful small home business, organization is critical; it can make or break you. You’re likely the only employee, which means you’re doing everything. You won’t have someone else helping out with your schedule and ensuring everything stay organized. That falls all on you.
Organize your computer, files, and everything else you have to run your business. Label everything, so it’s easy to find. Make a system that works best for you.
Ensure This is What You Want
If you have any hesitation about running your home business, take some time to think about if it’s truly what you want. Because it will require a lot of dedication on your part, if you’re not 100 percent committed, it will be difficult to muster up the motivation.
Have a reason behind why you’re starting this business. It could be a passion or a hobby you love that you want to start earning money from. You may have an idea that you believe will take off. Seriously evaluate why you’re doing this and don’t be afraid to ask yourself difficult questions.
Have the Attitude of Working from Home
When you’re working from home, it can be easy to let your business fall on the back burner while you engage in your everyday life. It could be from a simple phone call from a friend or family member or scheduling your routine appointments when you should be working.
One way to prevent this is by setting up business hours and making sure everyone is aware of them. Ask people to refrain from calling or stopping by during these hours. Turn your phone on silent until you have a scheduled break. Even a sign on the front door that shows your business hours is helpful.
Don’t Become Isolated
One downfall and worry for many working from home is isolation. It’s easy to lose contact with the outside world if you don’t leave your house. That feeling of isolation and loneliness can hurt your mood, which can affect your business decisions.
To counteract any isolation feelings, take a day to work somewhere other than your quiet home. Go to the local coffee shop and spend a few hours there. Make sure to stay in touch with friends in the evening and on weekends.
