When you’re starting a business, and you don’t have substantial levels of
capital, then the chances are that you’ve considered whether you should start
the business from home or get yourself an office. In this article we take a look
at the advantages of waiting as long as possible before taking on any mortgage
or rental obligation.
FlexibilityYou’ll be able to fit
your work around your life far easier when you don’t have to work between
certain hours in the day. You’ll be able to pick the hours that suit you, and
possibly have an opportunity to spend more time with your family. That’s why
it’s common for work at home parents to start a small business.
SavingsYou’ll be able to save money you would otherwise
waste on office expenses and invest it straight back into the business when you
work from home. You might be able to spend the money on advertising to drum up
more sales; raise less capital and therefore limit equity dilution; or even
spend the money on outsourcing certain jobs to service providers such as a
bookkeeper or marketing professional. When you work at home, you will find that
your business will be in a position where you’ve got less to
lose.
Preparing For FailureAccording to government
statistics, 80% of UK businesses fail in their first two years. That’s a lot,
but it doesn’t mean that yours is going to end that way. However, in the case
that it does, it’s best that you have as little to lose as possible, and that’s
why you’ll be in a better position if you choose to work from home. You will not
have any contract period to worry about on your office, electricity and line
rental bills that will keep coming in for years after your business has ceased
to trade. Some of these issues can be addressed by the formation of a limited
company, but it’s still best not to have these things to worry about.
Less Travel TimeAny time you spend travelling is time you
could be spending growing your business. When you
work from
home you’ll be able to get up in the morning and start working right away if
you choose. Likewise, you’ll only have to walk through to the kitchen when it’s
time for lunch. If you can save 2 hours a day in travelling time through working
at home, you’ve just made yourself, and your business, 25% more effective.
BillsWhen you work from home you might be able to assign
part or all of your broadband, heating and other bills to your business. This
works great when it comes time to pay your taxes, and you’re able to offset
these costs against money that your
business has earned. You might also be
able to complete certain purchases, like a PC that can be used by the whole
family, against your business. Remember, it’s always best to consult your lawyer
or accountant before making any decisions about the best way to handle your
taxes.