Tips For Designing Your Home Office [office home design]
Setting up a home office is one of the most important tasks you will face when you make the decision to work from your own home. Your home office can be a corner of your kitchen or living room or, if space permits, a former spare bedroom.
Size is less important that functionality. When deciding on where to set up the nerve center of your business, there are some factors you need to consider.
Is the area well lit?
Proper lighting is extremely important. Spending hours at a time in a dimly lit work space can create eyestrain which, after long periods of time, could lead to more serious problems with your vision.
Are there plenty of electrical outlets?
Take into consideration what appliances you will have in your work space. Your computer system will require an outlet for your cpu, monitor, scanner, printer, speakers (sometimes) and other ancillary equipment you may have.
Is the area well ventilated and dust free?
All of that computer equipment needs to “breath” to remain cool and functioning properly. If you have ever “fried” a computer you know how important it is to keep the fan clean and dust free.
Do you have telephone access?
In addition to having a telephone handy for business purposes, you will also require telephone access for your modem. You may also consider a separate telephone line for your business. It is much easier to track telephone business expenses for tax purposes if you have a separate phone line. It’s also important that your clients can reach you. If your clients have to compete with your teenagers telephone habits, chances are they will call someone else. Make certain that this separate line is set up to receive phone calls while you are online. Most major telephone companies now offer that service. You may pay a few extra dollars a month for it, but it will pay for itself over the long haul. [office home design]
How much ‘foot traffic” is there liable to be?
You want your office to be as isolated as possible. Can you imagine trying to speak with a client or figure out html code with kids screaming in the background? Not a very professional picture. If you have no choice but to have your office in a high traffic area, adjust your work schedule to coincide with family activities. Sit your family down and explain the importance of your work and why you need their cooperation. It won’t always work out that way but at least it’s a step in the right direction.
It goes without saying that you need to have normal office supplies. Even if your work is online you still need the pens, pencils, note pads and so on.
One of the stickiest challenges you may encounter comes from your friends. People who do not work from home seem to think that if you do, you have all the time in the world to visit. This can become a major problem if you do not set the parameters. Setting out the ground rules is important to the overall health and well being of your business. Let your friends and extended family know your business hours and explain to them that you are not available during those periods of time. The sooner you do this the better.
Conduct your business in a professional manner. Just because you work at home does not mean that you should throw out the rule book. Maybe you have read the humorous comment about “working in your pajamas. It sounds good in sales messages, but the truth is you are much better off if you awaken in the morning and prepare yourself for your work day as if you were still trekking off to the office, because you are. [office home design]
You will be much better prepared to focus and get down to business if you dress the part. That doesn’t mean that you need to squeeze into the normal “office” attire. It does mean that you set the standards for your business and much of that has to do with “mindset” and self-image. Dressing comfortably is a one of the serendipities of working at home, but you will be much better prepared for business if you dress the part.
I have one final word of advice for the new work at home entrepreneur. Having your office right down the hall can be a blessing, but it can also be a curse. Remember to take time out for yourself. Most people believe that working at home comes with certain privileges, and it does. However, it can also become all-consuming and take total control of your life.
Don’t allow that to happen. Create your schedule and live by it. Make sure you turn off the lights, shut down the computer and “go home” at the end of your work day.
by Patty Baldwin
Monday, December 10, 2007
Organize Your Office and Improve Productivity
Organize Your Office and Improve Productivity [office organize space]
Are you frustrated with your office space? Do you hunt for a pen every time you put one down? Is the search for documents a half-day event? Is your paper filed chronologically - working your way down the pile to 'one week ago' and unable to pull out 'four months ago' for fear of a paper flood catastrophe?
Every office deals with an excess of paper and whether large or small, your business is suffering when you aren't operating in an organized space.
So, how do you clear the clutter and gain control?
SPACE IS ESSENTIAL
The biggest problem with staying organized in an office is that people set up a system and don't give themselves enough room to grow.
If you have spent the better part of a day cleaning out a drawer and replacing the items in organized, labeled files, but you can't squeeze a single extra sheet of paper you've wasted your time and the unfiled papers will grow again. [office organize space]
Be certain to have at least a quarter to a third (more if possible) of growing room when implementing a system. You may need to change over at some point, but having some extra space will encourage you to keep up with the organizing.
This also goes for items such as architectural drawings or other products or documents you may accumulate.
Set aside time to purge unnecessary documents. Not only will this provide more space but will save you time that would otherwise be wasted looking through worthless paperwork.
SIMPLE FILING SYSTEM
Do not make your system too complicated or it will be hard to follow through. Color coding can be the easiest if you do not have too many categories. This is effective for systems which only require 'Income', 'Expense', 'Projects', 'Correspondence' or something similar.
For filing of large groups of clients, projects or invoices, use a single drawer for each group of related files. A tall filing cabinet can even be divided into alphabetical or chronological systems.
For items you refer to daily or even hourly you might consider a posting board near your desk. This is a great idea for phone number lists, 'To Do' lists and appointment calendars.
MAINTENANCE
A filing system is only as good as the upkeep. You may find it easier to have a small system of files located on or near your desk and daily or weekly transfer the items into their permanent home. [office organize space]
This also works for items which you need close at hand such as current project information or price lists etc.
STYLE OF FILING
Consider if you can realistically maintain a filing system. Perhaps labeled boxes would suit you better (especially if you tend to pile papers). The key is to find something you will feel comfortable maintaining. If papers are sorted and occasionally purged, your system will work.
EVERYTHING NEEDS A HOME
Everything MUST be assigned a home. By giving each item a place you will not loose pens, cellphones, glasses and so on. Don't crowd the items or you will get frustrated. Recognize that all of your efforts will help you run your business more efficiently, and thus productively. Reward yourself for keeping the system working!
by Shannon Emmanuel
Are you frustrated with your office space? Do you hunt for a pen every time you put one down? Is the search for documents a half-day event? Is your paper filed chronologically - working your way down the pile to 'one week ago' and unable to pull out 'four months ago' for fear of a paper flood catastrophe?
Every office deals with an excess of paper and whether large or small, your business is suffering when you aren't operating in an organized space.
So, how do you clear the clutter and gain control?
SPACE IS ESSENTIAL
The biggest problem with staying organized in an office is that people set up a system and don't give themselves enough room to grow.
If you have spent the better part of a day cleaning out a drawer and replacing the items in organized, labeled files, but you can't squeeze a single extra sheet of paper you've wasted your time and the unfiled papers will grow again. [office organize space]
Be certain to have at least a quarter to a third (more if possible) of growing room when implementing a system. You may need to change over at some point, but having some extra space will encourage you to keep up with the organizing.
This also goes for items such as architectural drawings or other products or documents you may accumulate.
Set aside time to purge unnecessary documents. Not only will this provide more space but will save you time that would otherwise be wasted looking through worthless paperwork.
SIMPLE FILING SYSTEM
Do not make your system too complicated or it will be hard to follow through. Color coding can be the easiest if you do not have too many categories. This is effective for systems which only require 'Income', 'Expense', 'Projects', 'Correspondence' or something similar.
For filing of large groups of clients, projects or invoices, use a single drawer for each group of related files. A tall filing cabinet can even be divided into alphabetical or chronological systems.
For items you refer to daily or even hourly you might consider a posting board near your desk. This is a great idea for phone number lists, 'To Do' lists and appointment calendars.
MAINTENANCE
A filing system is only as good as the upkeep. You may find it easier to have a small system of files located on or near your desk and daily or weekly transfer the items into their permanent home. [office organize space]
This also works for items which you need close at hand such as current project information or price lists etc.
STYLE OF FILING
Consider if you can realistically maintain a filing system. Perhaps labeled boxes would suit you better (especially if you tend to pile papers). The key is to find something you will feel comfortable maintaining. If papers are sorted and occasionally purged, your system will work.
EVERYTHING NEEDS A HOME
Everything MUST be assigned a home. By giving each item a place you will not loose pens, cellphones, glasses and so on. Don't crowd the items or you will get frustrated. Recognize that all of your efforts will help you run your business more efficiently, and thus productively. Reward yourself for keeping the system working!
by Shannon Emmanuel
4 Easy Ways to Find Office Space for Your Home Business
4 Easy Ways to Find Office Space for Your Home Business [Business office space]
The kitchen's crowded and taken at least in the evening for meals, your home has enough bedrooms for the family without any room to spare. To keep your home-based business going, you're forced to set up a small desk and computer in the corner of the living room. Now the business is taking off and you really need office space. But how are you going to do it? Do you kick one of the kids out of the house? Eat out as the only meal options so you can completely take over the kitchen?
Obviously, there are more realistic options out there, and better ways available to find office space from which to run your business. Here are four easy ways you might try to solve your office space problem:
1. If your business is primarily Internet web sites, you may need nothing more than a good laptop computer, a large briefcase/computer case, and a workspace with an Internet connection. Writing and web publishing business can be run out of a reserved room at the public library, if your library system has study rooms available and public Internet access. Cafes and coffee shops often have cozy booths or tables and wireless Internet connections for their patrons. That's another excellent office space option if you want to get out of the house to work and your business model permits it. [Business office space]
2. If you require a permanent office solution and have nothing in your home, look into adding a portable building and furnish it with electricity, plumbing, whatever. Such portable buildings often are used as storage sheds. But if you have a bit of money to invest, they can be turned into one-room offices detached from your house and offering the privacy you need. Word of caution: Make sure there are no zoning laws or building code requirements this solution would violate. You don't want to get your business moved into affordable, practical office space only to run into legal issues.
3. Rent affordable shared-office space in a local office property. Most cities and even small towns have office centers which offer package deals that include one or two rooms, utilities, Internet access, phone access, a mailing address, and even a shared receptionist. You generally can customize such arrangements to meet whatever office and storage space requirements you need.
4. If your business requires it and your budget allows it, go the full route and rent or buy full-fledged, dedicated office space. [Business office space]
Ideally, you have a home-based business or career because you want to work from home and value the so-called career in a bathrobe. You want to work from home to avoid a commute, or whatever. But finding office space outside your home may be something you decide works best for you. It's your career, your choice. Hopefully, these four easy ways to find office space for your home business will help.
by Garold Speer
The kitchen's crowded and taken at least in the evening for meals, your home has enough bedrooms for the family without any room to spare. To keep your home-based business going, you're forced to set up a small desk and computer in the corner of the living room. Now the business is taking off and you really need office space. But how are you going to do it? Do you kick one of the kids out of the house? Eat out as the only meal options so you can completely take over the kitchen?
Obviously, there are more realistic options out there, and better ways available to find office space from which to run your business. Here are four easy ways you might try to solve your office space problem:
1. If your business is primarily Internet web sites, you may need nothing more than a good laptop computer, a large briefcase/computer case, and a workspace with an Internet connection. Writing and web publishing business can be run out of a reserved room at the public library, if your library system has study rooms available and public Internet access. Cafes and coffee shops often have cozy booths or tables and wireless Internet connections for their patrons. That's another excellent office space option if you want to get out of the house to work and your business model permits it. [Business office space]
2. If you require a permanent office solution and have nothing in your home, look into adding a portable building and furnish it with electricity, plumbing, whatever. Such portable buildings often are used as storage sheds. But if you have a bit of money to invest, they can be turned into one-room offices detached from your house and offering the privacy you need. Word of caution: Make sure there are no zoning laws or building code requirements this solution would violate. You don't want to get your business moved into affordable, practical office space only to run into legal issues.
3. Rent affordable shared-office space in a local office property. Most cities and even small towns have office centers which offer package deals that include one or two rooms, utilities, Internet access, phone access, a mailing address, and even a shared receptionist. You generally can customize such arrangements to meet whatever office and storage space requirements you need.
4. If your business requires it and your budget allows it, go the full route and rent or buy full-fledged, dedicated office space. [Business office space]
Ideally, you have a home-based business or career because you want to work from home and value the so-called career in a bathrobe. You want to work from home to avoid a commute, or whatever. But finding office space outside your home may be something you decide works best for you. It's your career, your choice. Hopefully, these four easy ways to find office space for your home business will help.
by Garold Speer
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
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