Working for yourself is an exciting way to push your career in the exact direction you’ve been dreaming of. However, it can come with a bunch of challenges, especially if you plan to work out of your own home.
Working without a dedicated office can take a major toll on your overall well-being and put your business at risk of failure. This is because, without a dedicated workspace, you run the risk of blurring the lines between your professional and personal lives. This demolishes work-life balance and leaves entrepreneurs feeling like they’re always on the clock.
Self-run businesses are always time-consuming, but they shouldn’t feel like they’re occupying every moment of your day. Creating a great home office is the best way to prevent this. In order to help you achieve your dreams, Chandler Painting Pros has created this guide to making the perfect at-home workspace for your business.
Designing Your Office
When it comes to designing a home office, you want to pick a spare room in your home that has plenty of natural light. Sunlight improves mood and focus, so a wide-open window can do wonders for your ability to buckle down. You should also pick a room that has decent temperature control. If your office is too warm or too cool, you’ll have trouble staying on task.
Next, invest in great products that will make your office a functional one. Some basics that will boost nearly any home-based business include a quality laptop or desktop computer, a comfortable desk chair, and an appropriately sized desk.
Finally, you’ll want to focus on aesthetics, particularly if you’ll be seeing clients in your home. This will include an inviting color on your walls, which is important when creating an atmosphere. The ideal design will encourage productivity while also adding a sense of calm.
Building Space
If your home doesn’t already have the space for an office, you could consider building an addition or auxiliary building. This is a great opportunity to add a tiny home to your property. In addition to serving as an office, you can offer it to guests who come visit or turn it into an in-law suite down the line.
Before investing in these kinds of changes, however, do your research. Check local zoning laws to make sure your addition isn’t violating any rules. A good contractor won’t get started until these things are confirmed, anyway, but you definitely don’t want to find out there’s a problem after you’ve started building.
If you have yet to manage certain details related to your business, now is also a good time to apply for licenses or permits as well as register your LLC with the state. Some of this can be handled quickly online, so look for services that can expedite the process, which will allow you to return your focus to setting up an ideal workspace. You’ll also need to appoint a statutory agent, who will accept legal documents on behalf of your business. Additionally, you’ll also need an official entity office to set up an LLC in Arizona.
Upgrading Your Home
You might evaluate your home for office space and realize you’ve outgrown your property. This is a natural part of life, especially for people who want to make big dreams come true. If you know your business and family can’t thrive under your current roof, it’s time to search for a new home.
Start by finding a trustworthy real estate agent who can help you navigate your local housing market and who can guide you through the transition of selling and buying at the same time. Next, turn to your lender to get a sense of the kind of loan you qualify for and then get pre-approved for it. This is a vital step — in today’s market, you’d be hard-pressed to find a seller willing to move forward on an offer without pre-approval. Once you’ve got this, you can start searching through what’s available and make an offer on any homes that work for you!
Whether you’re decorating an existing room, building an addition, or searching for new property, remember to focus on creating boundaries between your work and personal lives. It’s harder to do when it’s all under one roof, but it’s work that pays off. By keeping these worlds separate, you’ll give yourself the stamina to find success.