It used to be “home away from home”. But if you have a home office, what do you do if you occasionally need a real office?
Let’s face it, there are a few drawbacks to running a business from your home office – having your home address on business cards, having meetings with clients at your house, and sometimes it just gets lonely.
What do you do if you sometimes need a real office or want to interact with other entrepreneurs? How about a real office that costs as little as $100/month?
It’s called co-working. That’s where you lease part of a communal office that provides a desk, conference area, Internet access, business mailing address, or even a receptionist for a daily or monthly fee.
A recent article from Florida Trend talks about the co-working facilities in my state.
Depending on the location and package, co-workers will have access to a conference table with other co-workers or their own desk for the day, for as little as $100 a month. High-speed internet access and coffee are standard amenities; for extra fees, co-workers can add a receptionist and mailing address.
These shared offices generally have added business services like web design or marketing assistance to help pay the bills.
Do a Google search for ‘coworking’ or ‘shared office space’ in your area. You might be surprised..
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Lots of you are looking at starting a home office, especially with the latest recession. We’ll look at the three main components of a home office – the space, the furniture and the technology.
You can start small and expand later or outfit your home office with the latest and greatest – the main idea is a functional and comfortable work environment.
Home Office Space
Unless you live alone, you really want your home office to be in a separate room – with a door that can be closed. It keeps out noise and distractions, allows for privacy and is easier to write off on your taxes.
A spare bedroom or small den should work fine. It should also be well lit with several lamps (one for the desk) rather than a bright overhead light. The consensus today is a light and airy decor rather than the dark oak paneling of yore.
If you don’t have a spare room, at least try to outline an office space. Use a corner of the family room. Have a couple of lamps to light the space. Consider a folding screen to block off the area.
Home Office Furniture
Office supply stores will have “office suites”, often for $1000 or more. They’re worth checking out even if you can’t afford one just to see how they’re laid out. If you have to piecemeal your office here’s what you need. Continue reading .
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