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WORK FROM HOME : Starting a work from home businessStarting a work from home business by a BusinessWeek reporter.A year ago I took time off to write a book. It was a terrific opportunity, but without the luxury of company-owned technology, a built-in support network, and all that top-notch office furniture, I was starting up a work from home business from scratch.According to the National Federation of Independent Business, more than 21 million Americans were working from home in 2007, the most recent period for which data are available. That number has undoubtedly grown with the recession as laid off workers find themselves starting to generate their own income on their own. To the new group of home business workers, let me share a few of lessons I learned. I didn't make too many mistakes, except for one expensive piece of technology I shouldn't have purchased. Indeed, I'm quite happy with my setup, mostly because I took the right first steps, creating the office that worked best for me. Picking a Location Figuring out how to set up a spot in my home where I could be productive and professional was a significant undertaking. Most important was picking a location where I knew I'd be happy spending hours at a time. I had shared a tiny office in the basement with my wife, where we did all of our home computing. But it's dark and somewhat claustrophobic. We call it the dungeon. There was no way I was going to spend all of my working hours there. So my wife and I got creative. We figured out a way to turn a playroom into a bedroom for my youngest son, and I took over his old room on the second floor for my work from home office. Once you find your space, you'll need to consider what you'll need to do your job best. There's no one right way to do this, of course. Much will depend on your space, your budget, and your job requirements. After moving my son downstairs, I brought in a contractor to rewire the room. It wasn't inexpensive, about $900 for the work, a bill that also included some painting and supplies, The new wiring, though, allowed me to move my wireless router from the old office in my basement to my new workspace to ensure I'd have a solid connection to the Internet access provided by my cable company. The contractor also added a second electrical outlet near where I'd be putting my desk, so I'd have enough spots to plug in all the gadgetry—everything from lights to computers and my iPod speaker system. My office is hardly gold-plated, and where I probably saved the most money was on furniture. I wasn't planning on any visitors, and I wanted to make sure I made the most of the advance my publisher gave me to write the book. So I bought a used desk from a friend for $100 and a couple of inexpensive filing cabinets from Staples (SPLS) for $285. Lighting is key, particularly in the dark winter months in the Pacific Northwest. My money-saving answer: a $25 desk lamp from Ikea to augment the ceiling fixture already in the room. I already had a good office chair. Most ergonomists will tell you that it's one area where you shouldn't skimp. My biggest expense was technology. I couldn't use my BusinessWeek-issed laptop while I was on leave. So after shopping around, I decided on a MacBook Air. It was not an inexpensive option, at $1,750. But I've been increasingly impressed by Apple's (AAPL) software. And while the MacBook Air has some limitations—it doesn't have a DVD drive, it has only one USB port, and enterprise software programs aren't always optimized for Macs—it's perfect for my needs. source: http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/oct2009/id2009105_608500.htm Next logical step - Work from homeFor many of us, the next logical step towards creating our own income is to work from home, and an increasing number of these home based businesses are operated...Resources for Work From Home TipsFrom free-lance to full-time gigs, there is a range of fields and work from home tips and resources below. Only you can decide if a home business opportunity is right for you...More People Work From HomeMore and more people work from home every day. Not only that, more and more people don’t work from their offices, or "where they’re meant to work".....Working 9 til 5 at Home Worked for ThemWith visions of working 9 til 5 at home in their pajamas all day, many people dream of owning their own business or somehow finding a way to use their computer to make a living...Work From Home Business Tax DeductionsWork from home business has a number of unique advantages. But one of the best advantages is tax deductions. Understanding your business deductions will keep you on the right track for running a successful and profitable work from home business...Professional image matters, even when you work from homeEven though some brag about how they work from home, there are problems with work at home environments that are too casual. If you’re trying to establish a professional reputation, ...Other related Articles: Work Scams Information Sept. 5, 2010Avoiding work-at-home scams, both internet and in life, can be difficult. Here is some information to look for the following warning signs...FTC cracks down on work from home scammers Feb 19, 2009The Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) has launched a new crackdown on workfrom home scammers who are preying on unemployed Americans....Starting a work from home business October 6, 2009A year ago I took time off to write a book. It was a terrific opportunity, but without the luxury of company-owned technology, a built-in support network, and all that top-notch office furniture, I was starting up a work from home business from scratch.....Find Work From Home Jobs August 23, 2009Everyone knows how difficult it can be to find a work from home job. With all the scams out there, how can anyone be sure if an opportunity is legit or not. ...Law Proposed to Ease Work from Home Business Tax Deduction May 26, 2009Proposed legislation would make it easier for small businesses to qualify for the work from home business tax deduction. ...Work from home offers new challenges May 6, 2009A growing number of unemployed residents are throwing caution — and sometimes their life savings — to the wind to work from home and start a business ...Mothers Work from Home March 26, 2009The 25 million people in the U.S. who work from home ( including mothers ) perform a balancing act more challenging than walking a tightrope ...Home Business Tax HelpAs would be expected in a struggling economy, more Americans are looking to work from home to supplement family income part-time or, in some cases, on a full-time basis ...It's a Good Time to Work from HomeIf you've ever wondered if you could work from home — whether you could earn real money from a job that satisfies and excites you, design your own office, and work ...Is Working from Home the Business?Fed up with dealing with colleagues? You’re not alone. One in eight of us have ditched the office to work from home in significantly more stylish surroundings ... |
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