How Efficient Is Your Home Based Business?

If you work out of an office you probably have most of the tools needed to run your business. However you might want to read on for some tips for the home based office that may entice you to make a couple shifts to your space at the office.

A home based office can be simple to elaborate! You may have a room at home dedicated to your office space! You may have a TV tray set up that you are using. Either way is not as important as what you do with your space.

What does your space look like?
Does it reflect the great traits about you?
Simple is great as long as it is functioning great as well!

Do you have a calendar to set up appointments, see what is happening today, planning for the future or logging your work hours?

You may or may not have a computer in your space. If you do, how is it set up? Can you use it for all of your business? Is it shared with others? I found a lap top works for portability however use what ever you have available and find the best ways to make it work for your business. A computer is helpful to make up flyers, keeping track of your customers and clients and do research to improve your business.

Get a cork board to pin up your goals, invitations, encouraging notes, up coming events and reminders. Put up pictures of the places you want to go in the next year or two. These could be the incentives that keep you going. Use this space to keep you going on those days you do not feel like working yet know it would be the best thing to do to be sucessful.

Is there a telephone near you? Many people are using their cellular phone as their business phone. Cellular phones are great however may not be cost effective anymore. Check with your provider to see if you are on the best price plan or would a land line work better for you! Remember a land line can be forwarded to your cellular phone if you need to leave. Find what works best for you and use it to its fullest!

Have a business log for yourself. Log your incoming and out going calls for your business. How long did you spend on the calls and in what way did that call serve your business. Log where you go for your business. What meetings did you attend? How long was the meeting and how did that meeting serve your business? Log your mileage, gas purchases, any meals with clients and travel expenses. Log your accounts receivables and your payables. There are many computer programs to support you with this however if you do not have a computer put it all in a log and keep track of it! (Do not just wing it and hope it all works out!) Think for a moment on why I would suggest logging everything. How do you see logging as a benefit for you and your business? Ok now that you came up with your own reasons why, here are some reasons why I do it! I log to see how much time I am spending in my business, where I am spending my time and is it cost effective for me to be in business or make some shifts. I also get to see what my average time I spend on calls, with clients, traveling and thus an accurate picture of what I make per hour in my business!

When you go out do you have a business card to give to people? There are several free options for business cards! There is no excuse to not have one! This is how you will be remembered when you leave. Always carry business cards! You may need to hand one out to the person in the grocery line or at a restaurant! You never know who you will run into so be prepared! The basics to have on your business card is your name, phone number, email address (different from your personal email) and maybe a reminder of what your business is! The rest is extras! You may want to put a PO Box on your card for privacy reasons, if you have a web page or blog page you can add that onto your card. Adding a quote that serves your business may be a good asset also. Remember you can always change your business card so do not get stuck in it having to be perfect the first time out! Just get one done and get it out to people who are potential customers/clients for your business!

Set up a system for your receipts. Use envelopes, accordion file box or a filing cabinet. Just create a system so you can log everything for your taxes at the end of the year! Trust me you can file your taxes quickly and not get stuck in looking for everything at the end of the year. Create something that you will use! I like to use envelopes. I categorize them as.
Expenses
Supplies
Utilities
Travel
Meals
Training
Insurance
Licenses
Trade Associations & Memberships

One of the most important tips I have for having your home based business is to treat it like a business! Get up in the morning, get dressed to go to work, get into action and work your scheduled business hours! Many times I hear “I like that I can just sit in my pajamas and go to work!”. That is fine if you are the kind of person that can truly take that on. I would suggest testing yourself. For two weeks go to work as you currently do. Log all your calls and new business. Then test getting dressed, add a little make up and making the calls and logging everything there as well. You may find that you accomplish more when you get yourself ready instead of just as is. If you are sitting occasionally in your pajamas ok! But what is your standard business practice? Remember you are in business. A hobby is something different and thus treated differently!

Being a business owner is a great way to be independent and fulfilled! The question you will want to ask yourself is “Do I want to be successful too?” if so, then get out there and go for it!
Know that Be A Legacy is here to support you in your success.