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Keeping track of your paperwork

Making It Work at Home: Preparing Your Home-based Venture

VWB Blog 3 years ago 1

Running a business on your own is tough. Running a business without a dedicated office space for operations? That’s even harder. When the only space you have to dedicate to your operations is your own home, figuring things out can get tricky. We’ve put together a few tips to help make it work from home, so you won’t have to go anywhere.

  1. Make A List Of Everything You Might Need             

The key to setting up shop no matter where you are is knowing which tools you need. From tape dispensers and labels for packaging to heavy-duty electrical appliances, write everything down in a list. Having a list will help you determine just how much space at home you’ll need and help you figure out present and future costs. Once you’ve got all your tools down, separate them into categories: shipping and packaging, production, electrical tools, and other categories that could apply.

Now you’ve got your list in order, you can easily see which ones take higher priority to acquire. For example: if you’ve put bubble mailing packs and a receipt printer on your list, getting the printer first might be a wiser choice due to the possible expense. Having a list and slowly checking tools off can be deeply satisfying, so make sure to always check which ones you already have.

  1. Set Up A Proper Space At Home For Work

A proper space could easily be a corner with a table and some shelves, a spare room, or even your entire kitchen. Dedicating a specific area in your home for business-related things can help you stay more organized because you’ll know where everything is. Everything is set up for a sole purpose, so it will also be easier for you to focus and go into “work mode” despite being at home. It will also be easier for you to finish tasks because you won’t have to walk to another area of your home to fetch supplies.

An added benefit to having a specific area for business-related tasks is that winding down after a day of processing orders is easier. You get to unplug your systems in an office setting and create a clear separation from your desk once the day is done. Being able to physically see a corner made for work at home can make it easier to detach when it’s time to rest. Giving yourself that clear boundary helps you avoid burning out.

3. Check On Areas Of The House That Might Cause Future Problems

Since your home is now your office (or studio or makeshift warehouse), make sure certain areas you’ll need are ready for the workload. A person looking to make handmade acrylic trinkets would need an isolated area of the house with lots of ventilation, so it would be wise to check on their garage or basement to see if air circulates well.

Alternatively, someone in the food business would need a kitchen free of any stove or sink issues. The places you’d find yourself frequenting should be prepped to save you time and money in the future.

It’s important to note that while a good workspace is needed before business starts, it’s also okay for some areas at home to need a bit of improvement. There are affordable drain cleaning services if your kitchen sink needs an upgrade before starting on batches of cupcakes or firing off on some stew. Repairs, done as soon as problems come up, can help you save a great deal of stress, too. Consult trusted companies in your area and ask questions.

  1. Keep Track of all Your Documents

Running a business at home can be daunting because acquired paperwork could get mixed up with household documents. Things like receipts and business permits have to be kept all in one folder to avoid confusion. You can’t afford to lose official documents because that will be an added weight on your shoulders, as some could take days to process. Taking a few days off to tend to paperwork again could halt operations and set you back.

Buy a binder with a built-in paper organizer. This way, you’ll keep your papers in one place and be able to separate them according to their purpose. If you can, go for a file cabinet for added security, as legal documents can be involved in running a business. Keeping track of your paperwork is best to stay completely on top of things (especially if you currently work alone!).

  1. Set up a Schedule and be Consistent with Your Hours

Set up a time that works perfectly for you and the other people at home if you share a space. Knowing your schedule can help your brain clock in and out of “work mode” easier and help you stay productive. Studies show that having a proper routine helps us function better, so set a schedule to accommodate your work and personal tasks.

Allowing work to eat up too much time into your day can lead to burning out and resentment towards something you’re passionate about. Be strict with the time you keep for yourself. If it’s time to shut down and rest, do so with no reservations. Running a business from home is still work, so give yourself breaks.

Running a business can be difficult, even more so at home. So take the necessary measures to ensure that you can manage it efficiently.

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