Many people dream of building their own business without leaving the comforts of their homes. Who would not want to be able to work from home, run their brand in a spare room or garage, and be with your family 24/7? The fact that many giant corporations started in a basement makes a home-based business a terrifyingly tempting idea for many homeowners.
But then, there are many things you ought to consider before you kick start your brand. One might think that everything is a little bit easier since you don’t have to leave the house just to run the business. But home-based business owners often have to deal with unique challenges that can test their resilience.
Security Becomes a Bigger Deal
You try hard to make sure your home is safe from unwanted guests for the sake of the family. You invest in many home upgrades like a home security system, a reliable fence, and a gate, and even make sure you hire the best professionals to repair your home’s garage door. But once you start a home-based business, you will worry more about security.
You want to make sure that your business equipment, files, and inventories are kept safe and secured within your property. Some business owners would invest in surveillance cameras, burglar alarms, and even additional fire alarms, water detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. Others would make their home smarter to enable remote access from other areas of the house.
Since you will surely use computers to work and automate some tasks, you need to invest in cybersecurity. You also want to make sure your employees, if any, are well-trained and follow strict IT protocols. This will help better protect your business data.
Problems With Neighbors and Homeowners Association
Some businesses are not meant for residential communities. If you leave in an area where your neighbors very near your home or if you are part of an HOA, there is a need to keep your neighbors and HOA rules and regulations in mind. This goes beyond making adjustments just to make sure you don’t get in trouble.
For instance, you plan on giving music lessons to kids. Most neighbors are not fond of loud noises. If you plan on providing drum lessons, there are certain modifications you will need to invest in. This will ensure your HOA and neighbors that you won’t cause much of a noise disturbance during your business hours.
If you have lots of clients and employees coming in and out of your property, this can also be a cause of concern for some people. An exclusive subdivision, for instance, takes security as a high priority. Non-residents are not welcomed there, especially if different people are constantly becoming a nuisance for other people living in the area.
Toxic Waste by Some Businesses
Some businesses make use of toxic materials in creating products. If your planned business will surely be handling toxic materials and will be producing toxic waste, you might be subjected to zoning restrictions. Remember that everyone’s safety is the government’s priority.
If your business can potentially cause serious harm to your neighbors and everyone else around you, they may use zoning rules to bring your business down. Rarely do they allow businesses to handle and producing toxic materials in residential communities. You might want to rethink your business of choice or find yourself a better location.
Customer Issues
There are some consumers who would rather avail products and services from businesses with a storefront. They are not keen on working with home-based brands thinking they are at a disadvantage. They can’t visit the place to check other products, the business does not seem legit, and they might have problems when it comes to return and refund.
Other customers don’t believe that home-based businesses are trustworthy enough. Even if you have the necessary licenses and permit, they may doubt the quality of your offers. There are also times when customers would want to talk to you in person, and they may change their views after finding out your office is just a makeshift one out of your garage.
Interference With Family Life
One major stressor of home-based business owners is their failure to separate work and family life. Even if you have a separate space for work in your home, this can still interfere with your daily tasks. It can be hard to stay focused on your work when your family is hovering on your back.
It can be difficult to provide your kids with enough attention when you can’t take your mind off of your work. With your business literally a few steps away from your home, this blurs the line between personal life and your business. You might feel isolated from your family or your business can suffer due to your lack of focus and productivity.
There is no easy way to run a home-based business. There are more considerations to think about and unique challenges that can put you in a tricky situation. Anticipating these issues and knowing how to handle each will help you build a resilient business even in the comforts of your home.
