- Convenience for you
- Time flexibility
- Lower start-up costs
- You can write off a portion of your home operating expenses
- Cost savings on child care
- You can be more casual
- No commute
- You determine your work environment (colour of walls, lighting, temperature etc.)
- Less confinement
- Peace and quiet = greater concentration = higher productivity
- No office politics/drama
- Healthier – Less stress
- Healthier – Can get out for fresh air whenever you want
- Healthier – Less take-out food
- Healthier – More time to exercise
- Healthier – Dog/cat hangs out with you
- You control the size of your business
- Cost savings on vehicle expenses/clothing
- No big store front to set up
- Meeting space available to rent if a conference room setting is required
- Technology allows face to face meetings when an in person meeting isn’t necessary
- You get to do what you love every day
- You are your own boss
- You are not tied to a long term lease
- Studies show people who work from home are happier in their jobs
- More YOU time
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- Possibly inconvenient for your customers
- Can’t leave work at work
- Higher household expenses
- Home distractions during work hours (kids, laundry, phone, television)
- Kids screaming in the background
- Tough to remain professional in bunny slippers
- Loss of living space
- Depending on your business – you may have strangers going through your home
- Neighbours who don’t like the higher traffic generated by your customers
- Social isolation
- No physical barrier between work and life
- Out of sync with other family members (you want to get out of the house while they want to stay home)
- Customers call or show up outside of work hours
- Limited room for expansion
- Higher house insurance costs
- Signage limitations
- Zoning by-laws
- Don’t look as professional
- If you live in a rural area, internet might be a problem….more expensive too
- Loved ones/friends who think you are available to chat or run errands for them
- Home based businesses tend to be worth less upon sale
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