When you open up a business of your own, there’s one big choice you have to make: where are you going to get to work? A lot of people have to open up their own premises by renting a storefront or an office, but some people get to work from the comfort of their own home.
Deciding on the right one for you, though, can be a challenge. After all, there’s a few pros and cons involved in each.
If you have a separate office, you have a professional front that’s made for working and working alone. However, it will cost you a lot of money, and if you’re unable to buy outright, you’ll have no control over the bills.
On the other hand, if you work from home, the bills you’re paying are likely to stay the same, and you don’t have to spend time commuting to and from work. It’s a remote setup that a lot of people love, and there are many entrepreneurs out there who’d recommend working from home as often as possible.
But even with those pros in mind, there is one hefty con a home office will leave you with. Namely, you need to have the space for one! And if you’re currently trying to find the perfect space within your home, these are the weighing factors you’ll need to think about.
What Spare Room Have You Got – Realistically?
If you’re being honest with yourself, what spare room do you really have? A lot of people don’t have an actual spare room – such as a guest room or a converted garage that’s currently doing nothing – and thus have to make a home office somewhere else. That usually means taking your work to the dining room or living room, and in some cases, it means setting up in the bedroom.
So, where are you most likely to find the space you need to work on your business? Think about this in detail. Start with the small things, such as whether or not you can fit a desk in there, as well as all the essentials you need to work on it.
Then consider the more complex things. For example, what does the backdrop look like, in case you’re ever needed on a Teams or Zoom meeting? Or on the other hand, could there be a potential privacy issue if you have a webcam plugged in at all times and your bed is right behind you?
Who Else Will Need the Space?
This is another factor of choosing the best space for your home office. Is there anyone else in your home who could be using the space too, and at the same time as you? A partner or a relative, or even a pet who loves that you’re home all the time these days.
For a working mother, it’s also easy to have the kids around at all times. You can tell them you’re working and ask them to be quiet, but whether they follow what you tell them is another thing entirely! Indeed, if you know it’ll be hard to focus on your business whilst they’re in the same room, picking this as the spot could be totally counterproductive.
Ideally you want to find a space where you can shut the door behind you and require people to knock, but we know that can be a pretty tough requirement to fill.
Have You Got the Outlet Space?
You’re going to need it! Think about it – every office needs a computer, at the very least, but you also need to plug in the monitor. You’ll then want to set up supplementary equipment like a printer and/or photocopier, both of which need to be plugged in, and some people even have a 3D printer at their disposal!
Or if you’re a creative business who makes their own products by hand, you’ll still need space to plug in all of your electrical tools, such as a cricut machine, soldering iron, pottery wheel, etc. That’s a lot of plug sockets to go round!
As such, the next thing to consider is if your house can cope with this electrical load. You can plug things in and out as you’re using them, of course, but some equipment will be in constant use as you operate.
Relying on an extension cable is possible here, but you don’t want to overload one of those either. Visiting an electrical wholesaler could help, as you can buy more outlets to be installed within your property, but make sure you get an electrician’s approval before you make any adjustments.
Is There a Chance You Could Disturb the Neighbours?
If so, they need to know you’re planning to operate commercially, and you may need to take the issue up with the council as well. Indeed, you could need planning permission to set up business premises, and you may need to make the local government authority aware of whether or not you’re subject to business rates. After all, this will be paid on top of your council tax.
Business rates don’t usually apply to anyone working from home, but this is all dependent on the work you do and who’s coming and going. Be sure to check with your council before you go any further however, as you’ll want to have the rules around this written out in full. Of course, if you are eligible, you should also be able to apply for business rate reliefs as a small business.
Want a Home Office? Find the Perfect Space for One First
Does your house have the perfect space for a home office? It’s something to ponder over with the help of these points. Making space can seem like an easy task, but you need to be realistic about what you’ve got and how you’ll be able to use it. And remember, there could be extra costs involved in creating a home office; know now how they could end up affecting you.
