Are you in the process of starting a home-based business? Do you love the idea of working from the comfort of your own home?
If you want to make money from home you’re not alone. As a first time home-based business owner, you may not fully understand everything you are getting into; while there are many benefits to this business model, there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of as well.
For example, even without a storefront, there are still financial challenges. You may need to consult with a credit repair service before starting your business to ensure that your finances are in order and you can secure any loans you may need to grow your business now or in the future.
If you’re interested in the freedom and flexibility of being your own boss and working from home and feel prepared to tackle the unique challenges the home-based business model presents, here are a few tips to get you started on the right path.
- Learn From Other Home Business Owners
With roughly 38 million home-based businesses in the United States according to Inc. File, there’s a good chance you know someone who is already working in the position you want for yourself.
You should reach out to as many of these people as possible, asking them for advice about what is and isn’t working for their business and what steps they took to establish themselves in their markets. A strong network of support will not only keep you motivated, inspired, and informed, but it could also help you establish new connections and open new business opportunities in the future.
- Create a Marketing Plan
You put so much time into getting your physical space ready and stocked that it can be easy to overlook some of the most critical details of running a business. You don’t want to overlook the importance of a marketing plan, as this can be the difference between reaching your goals and finding yourself out of business before you even know what happened. Without an effective marketing strategy, sales will be slow and leads will be limited.
According to Entrepreneur, you can create a marketing plan by taking just five simple steps, so there’s no excuse to not have some plan in place. Everyone will need to make adjustments to their approach along the way, you just need to have the bones in place.
- Avoid Distractions
Possibly the biggest challenge of a home-based business is learning to avoid distractions and becoming a more self-motivated person. With no boss around to watch over your shoulder and only self-imposed deadlines to follow, you may be tempted to sit around and watch movies like People You May Know or the latest Netflix series instead of doing the difficult work of running your business.
Forbes lists some of the top workplace distractions and strategies for avoiding them, which will become even more critical when you’re working from home and only affecting your own bottom line. From the television to the temptation of the kitchen, you need to avoid distractions and stick with your plan for the day just as if you were working in a traditional office setting.
- Hire an Interior Designer
While certainly not a requirement to get started in your home-based business, bringing in someone to help you create a functional and efficient workspace could be just what you need to keep your business on track (and avoid all those pesky distractions). An interior designer can not only help you find your feng shui, but can also help you with things like organization and optimizing your workflow.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Census, there are nearly 70,000 interior designers working across the country, so you shouldn’t have a hard time finding someone who can help you maximize your space and work within your budget.
- Get Fresh Air
When working from home, it’s easy to get into the habit of staying “holed up” for long periods of time. While there is nothing wrong with staying put until your work is done, you don’t want to do so at the risk of your health (and sanity).
There are many benefits of getting some fresh air, such as its ability to clear your mind. While you may not like being interrupted, the reality is that a short break outdoors can actually have a positive impact on productivity.
Final Thoughts
As a first time home-based business owner, you should expect to face some unique challenges. After all, this is going to be something completely different than the office lifestyle you’ve become accustomed to – which is exactly what you wanted, right?!
Fortunately, if you have a solid plan in place, there is nothing you can’t handle.
Have you successfully launched a home-based business? Share your success strategies in the comments.