Want To Move From The Home Office?
Take Our Quiz to See if You’re Ready for a Commercial Office Space
Scott Irvins, UAC graduate, worked from home for ten years before moving to a commercial office space. Some freelance accountants, like Scott, find working from home productive; they can get a lot done while avoiding the rental expense of a commercial environment. But not everyone thrives in a home office space. Do you think you’re ready to move away from home? Take our quiz to find out.
Are you easily distracted at home?Some find that there are too many interruptions when working from home.From the TV, to the refrigerator, to the telephone, to the family, to home emergencies – sometimes it can seem like the day is filled with more distraction than work.If that’s the case you need to look at the pros and cons of a home office and a commercial office space and see which comes out on top.If you find that you’re not doing much work from home, you should consider alternatives.Of course, don’t forget anticipated expenses. Will the increased productivity you expect in working from an office space pay the rent?
Is your business growing?Sometimes a business literally outgrows the spare bedroom in which it was founded.If you find that you have more clients than you can keep track of in your home office space or if lack of space hinders your productivity, it may be time to move your business away from home.
Would your clients appreciate a more professional environment?Chances are you hold regular meetings with clients in your home office space. Is your office space up to professional par? Unfortunately, an unprofessional work environment can reflect back on your accounting skills. You want to project a professional image in everything you do, from your balance sheets to your filing system, and when clients have to step over stacks of paperwork to find a seat, they may second-guess how you’re managing their finances. If you think moving to a commercial office space would give you a professional makeover, it’s worth considering.
Are you thinking about hiring help?There are many factors to consider when inviting someone to work from your home. It may be awkward to invite a stranger to commune with your family; it can also be uncomfortable for neighbors who don’t like the idea of you generating even more traffic into the neighborhood. If you find that your business has grown to the point where you need help, you also might consider finding the space to accommodate those employees.
Will projected revenues support the move?If you’ve decided that a move is in your immediate future, you also need to run the numbers to see if projected revenues will support that move.Remember that rent is not the only expense to consider.Insurance, gas for the commute, loss of the home-office tax deduction, should all factor into the equation.
Do you need a clear boundary to separate home and family life?Some start working from home because they feel it will give them the flexibility to spend more time with their families. The problem is that it’s difficult for some individuals to set a clear boundary between their professional and personal lives. When you rent a commercial office space it becomes much easier to distinguish between the two while retaining a more flexible work schedule.
If you answered “yes” to two or more of the above questions, chances are you should seriously consider renting a commercial office space. Most importantly, ask yourself these two questions: Do you want your own office space? And can your income support the costs? If you answer “yes” to these two questions, than you need to go hunting for office space.
Join us next week when we discuss “Meet Your Match: How to Find a Commercial Office Space for Your Business.”
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