Posts Tagged ‘home office’
How Home Office Design Affects Productivity
Friday, May 9th, 2008
Having an office at home is wonderful. You can be around your family more and you won’t have to travel back and forth, to and from work, especially with gas prices being so high these days.
If you have an extra room that you can make your office, that’s great. If you don’t, you will have to find a space in your home where you can create a home office. This can be any room - even a large closet.
Liven Up Your Space
It is a proven fact that your office affects your productivity. So yours should be lively, not dull. The walls should be colors that inspire you, not simply grey or white.
You should have colorful artwork on the walls and area rugs on the floors. Have a sofa or chair in your office with throw pillows on it. If your office is white or beige and has no life, you will want to spend less time there - and therefore you won’t be very productive.
Save Space
If you are forced to make your closet your office, you need to save space in every way possible. Leave the legs off of your desk and mount the desk top to the wall.
You can use the area underneath the desk as a place for your computer tower, a trashcan, or even a few storage boxes. You can also have a closet system installed with several different shelves so you can stack files, or even stack plastic boxes.
If you are working in a small space, you want to keep the things you use everyday close to your fingertips. You want to make sure it is organized. If you have to waste time looking for something that you can’t find because your office is cluttered, you are not being very productive.
If you have everything organized and you are looking for a certain file, you know exactly where it is - and you can spend the time you would have spent searching for the file working. This will make you more productive and more successful.
Keep Only What You Need
Keeping only the things you need is very important. If you keep all of your files, even after you have finished using them, you may want to consider moving them to a storage shed or attic.
When you are in a small office, you want to maximize as much room as possible. If you are not using something, find another place to put it.
Having a small space takes a bit of creativity but in the end, you will have a functional office that you can be productive in. Begin by learning how to determine what is really needed and what is not.
That will carry throughout the rest of the house - and you can get rid of things that you may have been hanging onto for years but are not using.
Tags: home based business, home office, home office design, Leeia Ladipoh, productivity, Starting a Business, working from home
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Making Home Office Life Easier - Shared Office Spaces
Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
Working from home is a great option for many different professionals in many different lines of work. Some companies are even encouraging workers to become virtual workers when possible, saving on commuting cost and the cost of office space.
While staying home and having a home office may seem ideal to you, believe it or not there can be some issues when working from your home. Distractions are more prevalent at home although the argument can be made that there are plenty of distractions when working on-site as well. Losing your internet can be a real drag and also the fact that you lose social interaction in the workplace is an important factor.
What if your job requires you to meet with a client? You can’t always meet at a coffee shop, particularly if you want to be seen as a seasoned professional in your field. Where do you have the meeting? And when you work at home do you use your personal address as your business address? That works fine until the junk mail starts to pile up or you go to sell your home and the underwriter doesn’t like the fact that there was a business there previously.
When you get a little stir crazy at home you can just run out to the coffee shop right? Most have wireless internet and you can get a good cup of espresso as well. But what if the chairs aren’t all that comfortable or they turn the music up too loud? You just find a new coffee shop right? Easier said than done and there is a new alternative for people who freelance or work from home.
Shared Office Space
Shared office space is a business concept that rents office space to a host of individuals. Although offerings vary depending on your market most all of them offer a place to put your desk, several conference rooms which you can schedule for meetings, internet access, the potential for a phone line, and a business address you can use for your business.
There are different levels of membership from monthly renters that cost several hundred dollars a month to daily users who pay as much as $20 per day to use a community desk and link to the internet. You can get discounts for quarterly or annual memberships and some shared office spaces offer referral bonuses for friends and colleagues you are able to sign up.
While you can run into the same distractions you would in a regular office one advantage is you might find you are able to network with other freelance or home based businesses. You also don’t have to go into the office; you can use your home office or go in to your shared office space. Having a business address separate from your home address is a bonus and depending on the type of business you have access to a private conference room is an excellent idea.
If your city’s shared office space offers a daily rate it is recommended you try it for at least 2 months on a pay as you go arrangement and see how many days you go to “your new office”. This will allow you to evaluate if the move will be cost effective in the long run.
Tags: advice, home based business, home office, larry Slusser, shared office space, tips
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Getting the Proper Insurance for Your Home-Based Business - And why relying on your homeowners’ insurance is a BIG mistake!
Friday, April 4th, 2008
Many home-based business owners are surprised to learn that their homeowners’ or renters’ policies do not cover most aspects of their home-based business. It’s important to remember that it only takes a single catastrophe or lawsuit to completely shutdown a business, leaving its owners in financial ruins. So, it’s best to be prepared for the unforeseeable with the proper business insurance coverage.
What type of insurance coverage is needed?
In order to make sure that you business is adequately covered, you’ll need to consider all aspects of it. Consider the following questions:
1. Will you be using a vehicle for any type of business purpose?
2. Will clients, vendors or delivery couriers come to your house for business purposes or to deliver business mail or packages?
3. Does the business store valuable products in a warehouse or inside the house?
4. Does the business manufacture or supply products?
5. What electronic equipment will be used for the business?
6. What other valuable equipment or tools will be used for the business?
The most common types of small business insurance
Property Insurance - Most home businesses should have property insurance. This protects against loss or damage to the property or equipment used in the business. For example, computers, fax machine, scanner, printer, copier, office furniture, etc. When securing property insurance, in most cases you will have the option of getting actual replacement cost coverage or cash value coverage. While replacement cost coverage will have higher premiums, it will better protect the business after a catastrophic loss.
Liability Insurance - This will protect a business when it is responsible for damages to a person or to a person’s property. This can be anything from a delivery person slipping on your driveway while making a delivery, to a tree on your property falling on a client’s car. Your homeowners’ policy won’t protect you from claims made by your business visitors, so instead of playing a game of chance with your financial future, it’s always best to have liability insurance for your business.
Product Liability Insurance - If your business manufacturers, supplies or designs a product or products, then most likely you will need product liability insurance. This type of insurance will protect the business if a claim is made due to damages that occurred as a result of your product.
Business Automobile Insurance - Since your personal automobile policy doesn’t cover the business use of your vehicle, you will need business auto insurance if you will be visiting clients or vendors, making deliveries, picking up packages, etc.
To ensure that you are getting the right coverage for your business, talk with an insurance agent that specializes in small business insurance. It’s possible that your homeowners’ or renters’ insurance company offers business insurance but, more often than not, you will end up using a separate insurance company for your business insurance needs. The most important thing to remember is to make sure that all parts of your business are covered; leaving something overlooked could end up being disastrous for both you and your business.
Tags: home based business, home based business insurance coverage, home office, small business insurance, Starting a Business
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Working From Home: The Basics of Setting up a Home Office
Friday, March 28th, 2008
Today, most small business entrepreneurs have a home office - even if it’s just to catch up on a little office work on the weekends. Whether you’re considering setting up a home office for full or part-time work, here are some helpful suggestions in getting it set up right the first time:
Your home office space
Choosing the right space for your office is more important than you might think. Everything from the amount of sunlight to the color of the walls can affect your productivity. An area that’s secluded, yet bright is best - like a spare room in the house, but preferably not the basement or attic. If you don’t have or need an entire room to devote to your home office, that’s fine, perhaps a corner or closet in a spare bedroom will do just fine.
For the best work atmosphere, get rid of the maroon or navy painted walls and bring in some lighter colors. Keep windows unblocked and be sure your office space is uncluttered and clean - it’s hard to get into a work mode if laundry is scattered everywhere. Also, as tempting as it may be to set up a little corner of the living room for your office, don’t - you’ll end up getting half as much work done, having to constantly deal with distractions and interruptions. Your home office should be out of the main flow of the house - a secluded spare bedroom is the perfect recluse to focus on work.
Your work tools
For your home office, you’ll most likely need a phone, fax, computer with internet service and a printer. However, there are plenty of options for each. For your office phone line you might decide to use your cellphone, a voicemail phone service or an internet phone service like Skype. For your fax, you have options such as a fax machine, a scanner with a computer fax program or an online monthly fax service. As for your computer, you have the choice of a desktop or a laptop with a docking station. If you do a great bit of traveling, you might find that having a laptop as your main computer will make life much easier. And, of course, for internet you can choose from cable, DSL, T1, etc. You may find having a wireless internet connection is convenient if you sometimes prefer to work on the couch or in your bed in the evenings - hey, why not!
In order to have a productive home office, it’s important to have all of your work tools convenient and readily accessible. That means having files, paper, pens, trade magazines and books within easy reach. Nothing disrupts a great work momentum like having to get up and look through a basement full of file boxes for your business’ EIN number.
Having your office right at home can truly make going to work fun: not having to worry about what power suit to wear or what lunch to pack, no commute and no idle chit chat with cubemates you don’t particularly care for. Yep, working from the comfort of your own home puts you in total control of your workday - which for some can be scary and temptation ridden. But, don’t worry, a productive workday begins with your home office - and as long as you keep your work space separate from your home space, you’re off to a good start!
Tags: advice, Carrie Hinkel, home based business, home office, Starting a Business, tips, working from home
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Five Tips for Home Office Supplies on a Tight Budget
Monday, December 3rd, 2007
If you are just starting a home business, you are well aware of how quickly the costs can add up. You’ll want to save every penny to put toward the business. Marketing costs, operational costs, and then making ends meet can be frustrating.
One of the most important parts of owning and operating a home office is purchasing office supplies. It is surprising how much money can quickly be spent on pens, paper, lamps, desks, and other home office necessities.
Here are some tips on finding high quality, bargain office supplies:
1. Look for the office supply store sales. Each Sunday, most newspapers contain circulars for major office supply stores. Check these out for great deals on all sorts of supplies you need. Beware! Entrepreneurs can spend hundreds in a large office supply retail store in a matter of minutes.
2. Check eBay or other online auction web sites. Some supplies, such as toner cartridges and computer equipment, are pricey even on sale. This is when you can really save a lot by bidding on Internet auctions. The best part of Internet auction sites is that you can find almost anything there - the selection is much greater than the local office supply store. Remember to check the sellers’ feedback to make sure you’re buying from a reputable seller.
3. Watch for "going out of business" sales. Sadly enough, there are retailers that go out of business. This is when you can find best buys. These retailers need not be office supply specialty stores - larger department stores might sell furnishings or perhaps boxes of paper. If you can find a small stationery store that is going out of business, you’ve hit the jackpot on smaller office supplies.
4. For larger items, check yard and rummage sales. You might be surprised to find the perfect desk or chair for your home office at the neighborhood yard sale. Sometimes the items with the most character are found at rummage sales; these can really add ambiance to your home office.
5. Buy in bulk. As a small business owner, you should be eligible to join wholesale clubs. Sam’s Club, Costco, and other wholesale clubs have great deals on bulk office supplies. The cost of membership will usually pay for itself with regular purchases. You’ll find everything you need for a successful home office at wholesale clubs - even coffee and muffins for your clients who drop in.
The easiest way to find affordable office supplies is to keep your eyes open. Communicate with other small business owners in your community. You may even make some great friends in your quest.
Tags: Accounting, budget, Finance and Accounting, home office, saving money, supplies, tips
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Avoiding Work At Home Scams
Wednesday, October 17th, 2007
Wouldn’t the world be a great place if everyone could do their jobs from home? No rush hour traffic, six a.m. alarm or hurried attempt to finish things before bedtime. You have probably passed those flyers on your way home from work or skipped over them as you were reading the Sunday paper. There are many “work at home” advertisements out there, and 99% of them are scams, bent on preying on people’s desire to spend time with their families or trying to reach independence from the workplace. But avoiding these scams can be hard, especially for those who desire so much to work at home that they are willing to look past almost anything. Here are some things to look out for when searching for a work-at-home opportunity:
1. Are they trying to charge you for information? Let’s face it, knowledge is power, and scammers know that. They use information they have found from experience or from the Internet to attract victims. The truth is, you could probably find the same information online yourself, with just a little bit of resourcefulness. It’s different if they are offering a subscription, ongoing information that may take you hours to find each week, but if they want you to pay for “the secret” to making money online, approach with caution.
2. Is your main job to “recruit” others? This is more than likely the classic MLM, or pyramid, scheme. There are a lot to these schemes that may appear legitimate, at first. Sometimes it can take months for all of the inconsistencies and negatives to pop up, but when they do, you’ve already lost hundreds of dollars. They draw you in with promises that if you work hard, you’ll make good money. It doesn’t sound too good to be true, and that’s why it attracts so many honest people. A classic MLM scheme requires that you recruit other people to sell products from a catalog (not that you sell the product yourself). It asks you to pay money for “training” so that you can become a better recruiter, and that you buy a certain dollar amount of merchandise per month from their catalog. In a way, you’re being cheated three times by one company. If you sense that an advertisement might hint at MLM, don’t even call for information.
3. Is the pay too much for a task that is too easy? Nothing in life comes that easy. Stuffing envelopes, sending chain letters, assembling products - those jobs are mostly done by automated hands now. Filling in advertisements for money? This job involves a lot of marketing knowledge and creativity, not sheer data entry.
4. Do they care who you are? If you apply for a job and they don’t ask for your employment history, a resume, or simply for you to fill out a W-9, then you don’t want to work for them. Chances are you’re either going to be scammed, or the company is doing something illegal and they don’t want the government to know. You should always be given some kind of notice as to how taxes will be handled, at the very least.
5. Are they requesting money up front? This is one of the obvious signs of a scam. If any company is asking you to shell out money before you see any kind of profit, you’ll more than likely never see the reward from that purchase. Some scammers will explain that you are joining a start-up company that requires start-up money. If this was the case, they wouldn’t be looking for “employees,” they would be looking for investors. Tread carefully.
There is some common sense involved when it comes to avoiding work at home scams. It doesn’t hurt to check any company out with the Better Business Bureau just to “make sure” it is legitimate. The worst that could happen is that you have found a scam, and that’s not a bad way to discover the truth. More than likely you will try to find information on the BBB web site, only to discover that there is nothing to show. The best things to do then is Google the name for information, or simply check out any of the number of work at home scam sites. If the company you were about to sign up with sounds like one of the companies you read about, don’t do business with them!
Tags: advice, E-Commerce and E-Business, home based bsuiness, home office, jennifer ratliff, scams, Starting a Business, work at home
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Deducting Home Office Expenses for your eBay Business
Wednesday, September 19th, 2007
Most eBay sellers operate from their home. One of your biggest tax deductions for your eBay business may be your home office, so it’s important to learn what expenses you can deduct.
If your home office qualifies, you may be able to deduct part of your housing expenses on your tax return. Your home office qualifies if it is your principal place of business, and you use it regularly and exclusively for your eBay business.
To pass the ‘place of business’ test, your home office must be the principal place you conduct your business, or a place where you regularly meet clients or customers, or it must be a separate structure not attached to your home. If you store inventory for your eBay business, that may also qualify you for the home office deduction.
Regular and exclusive use means that you spend at least 10-12 hours per week conducting business in your home office, and that you don’t use this room for other purposes. For example, if you use part of the room as a laundry room or children’s play room, you may not qualify for the home office deduction (unless you segregate the separate areas and the ‘business area’ is used only for business purposes).
Expenses that can be deducted include mortgage interest, real estate taxes, utilities, insurance, repairs, security, and depreciation. Only the business use percentage of these expenses can be deducted. The business use percentage is calculated by dividing the square footage of the office space by the square footage of the home, or by dividing the number of rooms you use for business by the number of rooms in your home.
Direct expenses, such as repairs made solely to the room used for your home office, or telephone lines installed just for business use, can be deducted in full. Indirect expenses, such as mortgage interest and real estate taxes should be allocated between the home office deduction and your itemized deductions to get the greatest tax benefit.
Caution: Your eBay business must earn a profit to take the home office deduction. If your home office expenses are larger than your business profits, you must carry the excess expenses forward to future years.
Kristine A. McKinley, CPA, Certified Financial Planner(r), and founder of Beacon Financial Advisors, teaches individuals and families how to invest and plan for retirement, college, and other financial goals. Kristine offers financial and tax planning on an hourly, fee-only basis. For more eBay tax tips, visit her blog Tax Tips for eBay Sellers .
Tags: CFP, CPA, ebay, home based business, home office, Kristine McKinley, tax deductions, Tax Tips for eBay Sellers
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