Run Your Small Business From a Home Office?

Do you run your small business from a home office? Running your small business from your home has its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the advantages and disadvantages even overlap.

Disadvantages of working from home include:

• It’s easy to get distracted by family, and household chores.
• It can be lonely holed up in a home office away from the rest of the world. Social media, and web cams have helped. I usually have Skype open when I’m working and have an occasional conversation with others.
• It can make it difficult to separate your work from your family life. Working in a home office makes it easy to sneak in and work when you should have family time. On the other hand it’s easy to play when you’re supposed to be working.

A couple of advantages of working from home:

• You don’t have to pay for office or business space.
• You don’t have to dress up and go to the office every day. You can wear the clothes you like, not conform to an office dress code.
• Hours can be more flexible. For me that’s wonderful during the summer when my son is home from school. I do more work early in the morning and late at night.
• You don’t have to drive to work, saving miles and gas. No driving is a huge plus on those cold snowy or icy winter days.

Overall for me the advantages definitely outweigh the disadvantages for my small business. I’m a very self motivated person, and I’ve never really cared to have someone looking over my shoulder while I’m working.

Do you operate your small business from home? What are the advantages and disadvantages for you?