Reasons to work from home

Starting a home business is a big decision that requires research and planning. The following section includes key aspects to help you negotiate your schedule, gain a work-life balance, and take responsibility for your income.

Control Over Your Schedule

Being in charge of your day is one of the biggest benefits of working from home. You can set and customise your work hours to meet the demands of your life. Do you wish you could take a power nap in the middle of the day? You can as a home business owner. Do you do your best work late at night? You can schedule your work time to suit you.

However, this freedom can also bring with it distracting temptations and the risk of procrastinating on work-related tasks. You need to make sure you have a good daily organisational plan to handle this new responsibility. If you have a family, a partner, or roommates, you need to ensure that your home is conducive to the work environment you require.

Work & Life Balance

If you feel like your job is taking up too of your much time, having a home business could be the solution. Having a flexible schedule means you can make more time for your family or pursue other personal interests.

Take time to do things you enjoy with your family.

Balancing work and life at home can be challenging if certain rules and standards are not set and followed. Continuous interruptions from your children, for instance (while welcome and a good way to take a break) can cause you to lose quite a bit of work time.

However, achieving a work/life balance does take some planning and time management. In some cases, you may need to arrange for childcare to give you the uninterrupted time you need.

Make Money Doing Something You Enjoy  

One of the best aspects of starting a home business is being able to turn a hobby or a passion into an income. In fact, when starting a home business, you are more likely to achieve success if you focus on pursuing your passion for profits.

No More Commuting

Travelling to your place of work from home not only takes a lot of time, especially if you have a long commute, but also incurs travel expenses. Cutting down on a daily commute puts some of that money back in your pocket.

Control Over Income

Many people choose not to start a business because they worry about making a regular income. This is understandable as bills need to be paid. The potential ebb and flow of income makes running your own business more challenging than a regular monthly income. Financial targets must be viewed over the long term with a closer eye kept on income and expenditure. The reality for many is that a home business can allow you to earn what you are worth.

As the owner of the business you set your own income goals. You have responsibility for your products and service prices. If committed to carrying out all the work that needs to be done, such as finding new customers and marketing your business, you are likely to make a profit.

Control Over Your Work Attire

No more blazers and dress pants. You can wear whatever makes you feel comfortable in your home office.

No Boss

A home business is ideal for someone who likes to be independent and does not appreciate being told what to do. You can work in the way you feel is best. The need to request time off or call in sick is no longer required. No manager is looking over your shoulder to make sure you are working.

On the other side of the coin, being your own boss and working from home requires a high level of self-discipline that takes time to cultivate. If you are just starting out, and tend to procrastinate, allow yourself time to get used to the responsibility of managing your working day.

More Opportunity for Growth and Variety

Too often, employees end up feeling stuck in their jobs. In a home business, even if your day-to-day tasks are relatively similar, there are many opportunities to add variety and move between activities. You can work from a different location, change your schedule, or re-prioritise the order of tasks to be completed.

Starting a business does requires more initial investment than traditional work. You need to gain a working knowledge of basic accounting practices, marketing, and have the money for the equipment you require. To stay competitive, you should continue to study, grab some credibility and qualifications. Keeping abreast of current trends in your industry, as well as in business management, is crucial to success. In essence, you design your day and what you need to do to expand and grow your skills and your business.