One of the most important activities you will engage in when going into business for yourself is setting up your home office. Your home office will be the place you conduct business, and while it can be in the corner of your kitchen, you will really want to find a spot where you are away from family activities and can have some privacy and silence while you work.
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.
What about proper lighting?
Proper lighting is essential. You do not want to spend hours in a dimly lit work area, which can result in eyestrain, headaches, and blurred vision. Prolonged periods in inadequate light could lead to serious problems further on.
Electrical Outlets Should Be Considered
You want to take into consideration electrical outlets available for the equipment that you will be using day-to-day. At the very least, today's modern home office has a light, computer, telephone, answering machine, monitor, scanner, printer and speakers (optional but still nice to have). You may also add a radio/CD/MP3 player that will need to be powered. Make sure you have enough electrical outlets to power your home office adequately so that you do not have play plug switch on equipment.
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.
Telephone Access Is another Consideration
Depending on your Internet access, you will need either one or two telephone lines in your home office. If you are on dial-up, you will need two phone lines - one for the computer and one for you to talk on. It is also much easier to track your telephone usage if you separate your personal phone line from your business telephone line.
As well, if you are on dialup Internet access, you will need two phone lines so that your clients have access to you during business hours and can leave messages while you are away. If you have teenagers in the house, it is a definite that you will need a separate telephone line that is only in your home office or they may never get through. For a few extra dollars, you will have peace of mind in this area.
What Type Of Internet Access Do You Have?
Most modern home offices will have a decent Internet connection - DSL or Broadband. Gone are the days when dialup access was sufficient, and while it can still be done, most home office business have a fast Internet connection. You may be already DSL-ready and only need to call your telephone company to get it started.
However, if you have a broadband connection you will also need cable access nearby where your computer workstation or desk is going to be for a convent hook up. If you do not have a cable outlet near by you will want to have one installed before you move into your new space. Most cable companies can help with this or you could use a do it yourself kit to accomplish this if you are handy around the house. You will want to make sure it is done right as a poor connection will hinder your productivity.
A third option if you are near a WiFi hotspot you could go wireless or you could also consider using a wireless card to hook into your main router and main broadband connection point. If you decide to go wireless make sure you properly secure your connection from prying eyes and encrypt it for further safety.
About the Author:
Think blogs will leave your mind hungry? Discover a world of new computer technology and the latest information to keep your home office running smooth and productive.
No comments:
Post a Comment