For today’s entrepreneurs, the home is no longer just a place to live, it can be seem a business asset. It is the office, the meeting room, the production studio, and the operational backbone of the business. When something breaks in that environment, the impact goes far beyond personal inconvenience. It becomes a business interruption.
Home-based work continues to be a defining feature of entrepreneurship. U.S. labor data from 2025 shows that more than 20 percent of private-sector workers perform at least some paid work from home, with nearly 10 percent working all of their hours remotely. For consultants, freelancers, digital service providers, and solo business owners, working from home is not a temporary arrangement. It is a deliberate business model.
As a result, entrepreneurs are beginning to view their homes as infrastructure that must be reliable, predictable, and resilient.
Why Rising Repair Costs Are Forcing Home Entrepreneurs to Plan Differently
At the same time that more businesses depend on home offices as a business asset, the cost of maintaining homes remains elevated. Industry data from Verisk shows continued year-over-year increases in repair and remodeling costs through 2025. The Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies projects homeowner remodeling spending to reach roughly $524 billion in early 2026, signaling that repair costs are likely to stay high even as growth slows.
For a home-based business, an unexpected HVAC failure, electrical issue, or major appliance breakdown can easily disrupt cash flow. Unlike traditional offices, home businesses do not have facilities departments or service contracts in place. When something fails, the owner must diagnose the problem, find help, and absorb the cost, often while work is paused.
Why Home Warranties Are Entering the Home Business Conversation
In response, many home-based business owners are exploring home warranties as part of broader risk planning. A home warranty is not a substitute for savings or preventive maintenance, and it does not cover every scenario. However, it can help manage certain types of system and appliance failures that directly affect daily operations.
Entrepreneurs often begin by reviewing providers such as Select Home Warranty to understand how coverage is structured, what systems are typically included, and how claims are handled. Even without purchasing a plan, understanding how warranties work can help business owners think more strategically about protecting their work environment.
The appeal is less about eliminating costs and more about reducing uncertainty and downtime when something breaks.
How Home System Failures Translate Directly Into Lost Productivity
Home-based businesses tend to operate on tight schedules. Consultants and coaches rely on uninterrupted calls. Designers and developers depend on stable power and internet connectivity. E-commerce sellers need reliable appliances and workspace conditions to fulfill orders.
When heating or cooling systems fail during extreme weather, productivity drops immediately. Electrical problems can knock out routers, lighting, and essential equipment. Plumbing issues can make a workspace unusable altogether. Each scenario represents lost time, delayed income, and additional stress for the business owner.
From a continuity standpoint, planning for home system failures is increasingly similar to planning for data backups or cybersecurity. It is now part of running a resilient home business, making it a business asset even more .
What Home Business Owners Should Review Before Considering a Home Warranty
Not all home warranties are the same, and details matter. Home-based business owners should carefully review coverage limits, exclusions, service fees, and response timelines. HVAC coverage is especially important due to both cost and its role in maintaining a functional workspace. Electrical and plumbing coverage should also be evaluated closely, particularly in homes supporting heavier equipment loads.
The objective is not to transfer responsibility for maintenance, but to determine whether a warranty meaningfully supports business continuity in a specific home office setup.
Practical Guidance for Remote Workers and Home-Based Entrepreneurs
For business owners who want a clearer picture of how home warranties apply to work-from-home scenarios, educational resources can provide helpful context. Select Home Warranty publishes practical guidance focused specifically on remote workers and home-based professionals. Their article, Home Warranty Guide for Remote Workers and WFH Professionals, outlines common system risks and planning considerations relevant to home offices.
Why Home Infrastructure Planning Is Now Part of Running a Home Business
Home-based businesses operate without many of the safeguards traditional offices take for granted. With remote work remaining common and repair costs staying elevated into 2026, managing home systems has become part of responsible entrepreneurship.
A home warranty is not a universal solution, but for many home business owners, it can be one practical tool as a business asset. It protects productivity, stabilizes expenses, and ensures that when something breaks, the business can recover quickly and keep moving forward.
References
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Telework Data (2025)
https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2025/
Verisk Q1 2025 Remodel Index
https://www.verisk.com/
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, Remodeling Outlook 2026
https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/
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