Photo via Unsplash. Guest post provided by Amy Collett.
5 Must-Know Tips for Launching Your Home-Based Business
If you feel like you can’t fulfill your true potential at your 9-to-5 job, you might be thinking about launching a home-based business. Yes, being your own boss is a major commitment, but you’ll be able to choose your ideal clients, control your work environment, and focus on projects you’re genuinely passionate about. And if you’re trying to decide which business idea to commit to, the experts at Career Constructors can support you in your journey to entrepreneurship. These tips will help you chart a new professional path as you work to launch your home-based business.
Consider Consulting
If you are leaving the corporate world, and you’ve decided that you want to work from home as an entrepreneur, you should consider starting a consulting business. After all, you’ve spent years in the workforce honing your skills — now, it’s time to teach and train others and charge for your expertise! Offering your services as a consultant will allow you to network within your former industry, work from anywhere in the world, and create your own schedule. You’ll need to be prepared to act as a mentor while staying on top of developments in your field.
Creating a Budget
Even if you will be keeping your overhead low by working from your house rather than a rented office space, you still need to write up a business plan that includes a budget. You’ll estimate your expenses as well as your sales projections. The Balance suggests outlining three different sales projections, including a best case, worst case, and most likely scenario. Remember, it’s important to keep your personal finances separate from your company finances!
Prepare for Productivity
When you’re working in your cubicle anymore, you might find that you struggle with productivity. It can be difficult to stay on task with no external pressure from your coworkers or manager. Designing a functional home office that suits your lifestyle can help you stay focused. You’ll want to invest in comfortable, high-quality furniture, a separate business phone line, and an organizational system for your desk to keep clutter out of your way while you work. If you live with family or roommates, you should also set boundaries around your work schedule so that they know when you need quiet and solitude in your office.
Essential Tools
In addition to furnishing your office, you may find that relying on certain digital tools make your workday easier. For instance, you may want to download project management software to note all of your deadlines and progress in one place. Downloading a website blocking app can prevent you from spending too much time on social media during the workday. Your smartphone can also be a powerful business tool for keeping in touch with clients — just make sure to turn it off when you don’t need it to avoid scrolling mindlessly!
Finding Your First Clients
Once you’ve established your business plan and budget, outfitted your home office, and acquired all of the tools you need to run your new company, you’ll want to build a small business website and begin networking to find your first clients. RippleMatch recommends reaching out to people within your professional circle as well as your family and friends. You could also become a member of professional organizations to gain access to virtual conferences and other events.
Today, countless people are discovering just how freeing it is to work from home and dive into entrepreneurship. If you’ve been thinking about starting a home-based business, there has never been a better opportunity. Building up a profitable home-based business can take some time, but it’s a very rewarding process.
Ready to make your next big career move? Career Constructors can help you find your professional calling. Contact us for questions and consultations through our website!
