How to Successfully Work From Home

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By DaniaDenise
User-Submitted Article

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(11 Ratings)

A candid of me working from my home office space.

The choice to work from home can be an exhilarating one at first but unless you have a plan and are disciplined, you should be careful what you wish for.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Money
Discipline
Resources
Business Plan
Clients/Customers
Budget

Step 1

There are a number of reasons why you may feel the need to work from home and because each situation is different, you should plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time to organize. Never rush into such a decision.
Step 2

If you are currently employed and wish to work from home in order to become self employed, it is critical to plan and time things wisely. Never burn your bridges, especially if the economy is not very prosperous and the job market is gloomy. Create your business plan and save up your paychecks to make sure that by the time you put in your two week notice, you’ll have a nice amount to sit on to cover your expenses, both work and home related.
Step 3

If you are employed and have the opportunity to continue working for your employer but from your home, this is a great situation to be in. But you should still plan and take careful steps when making the transition from the office to a home office.
Step 4

Laid off? The decision to become self employed and work from home can potentially be great for a new career that you will be happy in but make sure to do what you can to generate income from elsewhere until you're established (part-time job, etc) so that you have enough money to pay your bills, living expenses, and to start up your home business.
Step 5

Putting a business plan in place is the best way to successfully work from home. Ask yourself the following questions: what services will you provide? Who will your clients/customers be? How much income do you plan to generate from your business? How much will it cost to start your business? Will the nature of your business involve just you or will you eventually need to hire other people? What will you do if your home business fails? There are many more questions but these are among the most essential.
Step 6

Once you have a business plan in place and are ready to begin your home-based business, make the necessary accommodations to your home so that you can work in a productive environment. This may include redecorating a room or space in the house with a computer/laptop, file drawers, printer, fax, etc.
Step 7

The main downside to working from home is lack of discipline. Many get distracted easily by being at home and often aren’t able to organize and prioritize their home life with their work life. If you have a family, sit down and discuss your new career path and make sure your kids and significant other understand your situation. Make special home office rules if you need to, which can include the hours during the day when you will be “working” and shouldn’t be disturbed, and what times during the day you will be free. If you have children that are not of school-age, then you’ll have a challenge all your own in terms of getting work done while keeping an eye out on your little ones.
Step 8

Learn to organize your day. You don’t necessarily have to work 8 hours a day in your home business, but don’t be a slacker and only tend to your workload for an hour or two. The nature of your business will more than likely determine how much time you’ll need to devote to your business. If you work with clients, you’ll have to be prepared to work on deadlines, prioritize, and maintain excellent correspondence via phone, email, and/or fax.
Step 9

Prepare for the paperwork. Being self employed and working from home means a whole new approach to taxes. Make sure to talk to a trusted tax advisor who can educate you about your new arrangements. You’ll have to begin keeping tedious records and receipts of any income you generate as well as expenses you incur that relate to your business. These can be used as "write offs." Additionally, you’ll also be responsible for paying “estimated taxes,” which are done on a quarterly basis. It’s a lot to account for so make sure you are up for it and properly prepared!
Step 10

Take breaks. Being productive is one thing but pushing yourself to the limits will easily burn you out. Work on a project for a few hours and then when you’ve reached a good stopping point, walk away from it and do something else. Have lunch, clean the house, run some errands. Then return to the project and work until you reach another milestone. Spend your breaks with your family. Take walks together and play with your kids. Once this practice is mastered you can effectively meet your deadlines while maintaining a clean and orderly household.
Step 11

Don’t forget to have fun! There is a way to be productive while working from home as well as enjoy the experience. Once you have a good work schedule arranged, learn how to get out and enjoy life. Now that I finally have my home-based business together, I am able to make time for important things, like my friends and family. I often schedule my lunch time around their schedule (they work for actual employers) and I’ve learned when to take a day or so off to do things non-work related that I enjoy. I basically have the best of both worlds and with the right planning and can-do attitude, you can, too!