Five Questions To Ask Yourself if You Are Ready to Start Doing Business at Home

Working from home is now becoming very popular for many companies thanks to the benefits it has on productivity and investments. For some workers, working from home is better because it inspires them to work at their own pace and save time and money. 

However, this work setup is not for everyone, especially for businesses. Even though there are benefits, it may not be visible if you cannot get your business to adapt to a remote setup. 

If you are considering moving from a traditional office setup to a work-from-home setup for your business, here are five questions you should ask yourself before doing the shift:

1. Do you have the right tools to do a work-from-home setup? 

No matter what industry you are in, it is important that you have a reliable internet connection and phone lines to operate your business at home. 

Ideally, you must have two phone lines and a fax line which your customers and partners can contact. If you plan to move your business to your home, you need to find out how you can retain the same phone numbers for your business. Some providers do allow people to retain their phone numbers if they are going to move to a new location for a certain fee. If your provider does not allow it because of your home’s location, you will need to look into other ways for your clients to reach you without problems. 

With regards to your internet connection, you must see if your area has a stable line for internet connectivity. Run tests before you move your business and see what internet providers are available in the area which you can reach out to if you need to replace your internet line at home for your business. 

Aside from phone lines and a stable internet connection, you need to make sure that you have the right computer setup and applications to get your business started. 

2. Does your work involve having to speak to clients and suppliers regularly? 

Do clients, suppliers and employees regularly visit your office? If that is a yes, you will need to create a way on how you can meet them once you move your office to your home. It can be quite odd to invite them to your home office and some people may find your invitation unprofessional even if you have a home office for your meeting. 

If your suppliers and clients have their own offices, see if you can arrange a meeting there rather than having them visit your home office. If they do not have regular office hours or they want to meet you somewhere else, look for a restaurant or cafe where you can talk without worrying about noise and disruptions. 

3. Do you have an area at home where you can work in peace? 

If you will be moving your business to your home, you must have a space where you can work on your tasks in peace. Experts always say that we shouldn’t mix our personal life with our work and in this case, your business shouldn’t flood spaces in your home where you bond with your family and friends. When this happens, you will find it difficult to focus on when you should stop thinking about work and focus on your personal life. 

If you do have a space at home to serve as your office, get it sorted out by refurbishing it with the right furniture. These furnitures should include shelves for your files, computer desks, seats and other things you may need for your business. It must also have the proper lighting so you can focus properly on your work. 

4. Do you have a storage space where you can store your office equipment and products?

If you have been working in a traditional office for a long time or if your business involves a lot of products, you will need a storage space to keep your equipment, products and the other items you have collected throughout the years. If you have one ready, it is best to get it renovated to store the items correctly and still have space for other things you may need for your new business set up. 

However, if you don’t have one ready, scope what options you have such as checking storage warehouses or selling your unused equipment. Local experts such as those that do removals in Perth will be able to advise you. If you will be renting a storage space, make sure that you can afford the costs because it can stack up in the long run. 

5. How will you move your office work to your home?

Finally, you need to ask yourself about how you will get all your office work moved to your home office. Which items will you be using for your office space? What files should be deleted or kept for your records? How can these items be stored and moved to your home office? Check if you have enough budget to get a professional mover to move your stuff for you, especially if you deal with a lot of electronics and equipment. Get insurance if you can so you don’t have to worry about repairs and damages. 

Making the step to move from your traditional office to a home office is a big step to take for any business. Before you make the step, ask yourself if you can do this move successfully with the questions we listed above. If you see that you have everything prepared, take the step and see how your move can help your business in the long run.