In “Creating An Affordable Home Office-Part 1” I discussed ways to put together a home office without breaking the bank. Experts say if you are designing a new office from scratch, you should set aside about $5,000. Needless to say (for most families anyway), $5,000 is a lot of money (but, again, that was the total estimate for an office being created from scratch). So, we are looking at ways to get that number down so you don’t have to go into debt trying to furnish a place that is supposed to be helping you make money.
Here are more suggestions:
Review your list of expenses and prioritize. For example, money spent on graphics for well-designed business cards may generate more business than a fancy fax machine. And, as we all know, you want to spend money on the things that will generate business.
Time is a factor. I’m not talking about how much time it takes to create the office I am referring to judging how valuable your time is. For instance, experts suggest, rather than spending money for QuickBooks or some other type of software and taking time to learn the program to use it correctly, you may be better off hiring a bookkeeping service.
Don’t skimp on the phone setup. Adding an extra line or two can be critical to a home business. Someone once told me that nothing screams amateur like having a single phone/fax line. It’s true… it is unprofessional to have children answering the phone or to not answer every call with your business greeting. The cost to add another line is minimal compared to the benefit of the professionalism and credibility it adds to the business. Also, avoid the temptation to use a cellphone as a business line—cellphone numbers are not listed in the phone book.
Location. Location. Location. Finding the perfect spot to set up your home office is critical. You want to stay as far away from noise and commotion as possible, preferably a room with door, such as an extra bedroom or a den. Another possibility is the basement. If none of those ideas will work for you, do what I did–use a decorative divider or bookshelf to create a small office area in or off a larger living space. I once saw an episode of HGTV’s “House Hunters” where the homeowner created a home office that was run efficiently from a closet with louvered doors.
The bottom line: make sure your home office is as comfortable as possible, and treat it as though you’re working in an office building. If you have children that may be a challenge, but you should at least try to establish boundaries in order to achieve home office-life balance.
Related Articles:
Creating An Affordable Home Office-Part 1