By Susan Guillory
As the year draws to a close, I find myself counting my blessings more and being grateful to have been a business owner for over 10 years. If you, like me, work from home, you’ve got plenty to be grateful for, too. Here are five work from home benefits that may apply for you.
1. You Will Never Have to Sit in Rush-Hour Traffic
Can I get a round of applause for our super-short commute? I blearily shuffle in my cat slippers from my bedroom to the kitchen to start the kettle for pour over coffee, then plop down at my desk. No need to be more alert to navigate the craziness that is rush hour. And don’t get me started on how great it is to save on gas money!
2. You Save Soooo Much Money
Okay, I happen to live in one of the more expensive cities in the U.S. (San Diego), but I’m sure commercial real estate is still pretty pricey where you live. You could shell out dough to have a pretty office to sit in, but wouldn’t that be a waste? If you do need to meet with clients, you can meet at Starbucks (yay Pumpkin Spice Latte) or rent office space for the day. Put that saved money back into your Starbucks fund — er, I mean your business.
3. It’s Exactly as You Want It
You don’t need a fancy decorator to make your home office comfortable. Even if all you’ve got is a closet (hopefully minus the winter coats), you can make it your own with pictures, accessories, paint, and an uber-comfortable chair.
4. Your Clients are None the Wiser
Just because you work out of your home, that doesn’t make you less professional than any other entrepreneur. If your website is top-notch and your work is stellar, your clients don’t ever have to know that you’re working at your kitchen table.
5. You Can Pass Your Savings Onto Your Clients
What your clients will appreciate is that your services are affordable. After all, you’re not paying the overhead of office space, utilities, and employees, so you can afford to come down in price a little. This could seriously help you attract a ton of business.
I absolutely love working out of my home. I recognize that it’s not for everyone — some people need the social aspect of working around others. But for me, having my cozy office in the place I love most — my home — makes me happier and more productive in running my company.
