I am trying to decide if I should conduct my small business from my home or have a separate office at a different location? What is your opinion? – Eagle, NE
My suggestion would be, if your resources allow it, to get a location outside of the home. I understand that many small businesses originated and started in the “basement” or the “garage”, but then I ask myself well why didn’t the stay there? The answer is the distractions. When I hear someone say “I work from home”, I always think to myself “well do you?” How much work actually gets done from home is always a significant question. I have observed many small businesses owners to who begin in their home and end up moving to an outside location. I know the obvious benefits working from home; the price, the commute, the ability to do laundry between phone calls, the childcare, and the flexibility, but by what business owners tell me, some of these “benefits” become more of distractions over time and doesn’t allow them to achieve their business goals. Depending on your personal situation, resources, and situation working from home can be a huge advantage, but next thing you know you may be on the phone with a client and the dog starts barking at a squirrel in the yard, taking creditability and professionalism away from your business. Also another advantage of starting outside the home is the ability to leave it, too many times I hear small business owners having trouble leaving work at work or bringing the work home. Well can you image if your work is at home! Sometimes turning off the light and locking the door creates a conclusion to the day or week or month, giving the small business owner time to gather their thoughts or process information. A lot of communities have business incubators, to allow start-up businesses space to work, grow, and receive guidance for below market lease rates. One is located at Southeast Community College in Lincoln, NE near Eagle. If you are serious about giving yourself the best chance to allow your business to grow and achieve the goals you would like for it to achieve, then I would suggest putting it in an environment that allows it to achieve your idea of success.