1. Home Sweet Home Working
Working from Home – Is it for me?
Chris Pearson

2. Content
• Pros & Cons of running a business
• Have you got a good idea?
• Have I got what it takes?
• Pros and cons of running a business from home
• Issues and implications of running a business from
home
• Hints and tips
• When is it time to leave?
• Any Questions

3. Pros & Cons of Self employment
Advantages
• You are your own boss
• Time is flexible
• There is no ceiling on
your earnings
• Job satisfaction
• There may be tax
benefits
• You make the decisions
Disadvantages
• You need self-discipline
• You have to manage your
time carefully,
• There is no floor on your
earnings
• You are completely
responsible
• No payment for sickness,
holidays etc

4. Viable idea?
Key Questions to Ask Yourself…
• Is my idea legal?
• Will people buy my product / Service?
• Will I make a profit from my business?
• Can I make a living from my business?
• Have I got what it takes?

5. Have you got what it takes?
• Skills – Technical, business
• Characteristics – Attitude, Discipline,
tenacity
• Motivation
• Support – family, financial, professional
• Capacity / time – 168 hours per week
• Space – premises, home, serviced office

6. Pros of working from home
• Low cost
• Offers convenience and flexibility
• Supports work / life balance
• Overall can be less stressful
• You may be able to get tax relief on
domestic bills
• More practical for people with special
needs or disabilities

7. Cons of working from home
• Professional isolation
• Difficulty separating personal life from
business
• Easy to become distracted by domestic affairs
• May undermine professional image
• May need planning permission
• May need to pay business rates
• Clients may turn up uninvited or late

8. Home working Issues to consider
• Does your lease / deeds allow you to run a
business
– Tell your landlord / mortgage provider / Home insurance
provider
• Do you have space to work effectively
– Can you leave your papers untouched overnight
– Is your kitchen big enough
– Do you have enough storage space (DPA?)
• You may need to apply for planning permission if:
– You change primary use of premises
– Clients coming and going
– Creating smells, noise

9. Issues and Implications of Working from Home
• You need to comply with Health & Safety
regulation
• Don’t forget your family, friends, and
neighbours
• You may need a trading license
– i.e Child minding, health & beauty, food (LA
dependant)
• You need to comply with the Disability
Discrimination act.
• IT & Communications

10. Hints and Tips
• Working from home does not confine you just
to home
– Meet your customers
– Meet your networks and attend events, forums and
meetings
– Market research is not just about sitting behind your desk
• Consider buying used furniture
• Set aside a separate space and ground rules
• Set up a separate phone line
• Working from home does not mean you have to
look small to your customers
• Go to work! (get yourself in “the Zone”)

11. When do I Leave Home?
• When image becomes important
(prestige)
• When you need to recruit employees
• When your domestic equipment / space
becomes inadequate
• Personal desire

12. Any Questions?