Running a business from home brings with it a whole host of benefits, but it also has its cons. When your business takes place at home, it's very easy for household demands to overshadow business needs. This is a common challenge for every home business entrepreneur.
So what’s the best way to run a company from the comfort of your home while ensuring productivity and a healthy work ethic? Eleven members of Young Entrepreneur Council shared their insights by answering the following question:
What's one productivity tip you'd offer someone trying to start a business at home, and why?
1. Plan and execute
For many entrepreneurs who have just started their businesses at home, it's important to make plans to run your business around other important activities, like a job, and then have the discipline to actually see it through. Whether you decide to get up an hour or two earlier before the chaos of the mornings or stay up late to work, just do it. Is it painful? Yes. Still do it. —Samuel Thimothy, OneIMS
2. Schedule yourself first
It can be easy to deprioritize self-care. Over time, though, this actually negatively impacts your ability to perform and lead others and affects many other aspects of your life. Schedule your exercise, thinking time, meditation, or whatever it is that you do for your own personal well-being, and stick to it. The better you are, the more you can give. —Kevin Getch, Webfor
3. Leverage cloud-based tools
Set up as many operational cloud-based software tools for your business as possible. By doing so, you’ll limit the amount of employees or additional resources needed by obtaining increased efficiency and productivity. —Jordan Edelson, Appetizer Mobile LLC
4. Home business entrepreneurs should follow a set daily routine
A major productivity tip is to have a daily routine that helps you stay on top of your to-do list. This ensures that you have time to complete your tasks so you don't feel stressed or overwhelmed by the time the end of the day comes along. Routines are the key to success as they keep you on track and on top of things. —Stephanie Wells, Formidable Forms
5. Set a schedule as if you are at work
Often our environment dictates how we interact, so business owners think that because they are at home, they can relax or clean or take care of the house. Treat the house as your office and set a schedule for when you do work versus when you have house duties. —Jean Ginzburg, JeanGinzburg.com
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6. Pay attention to when you’re most productive
When working from home, look out for times in the day and the week where you're naturally productive. Not everyone is built for the 9-to-5 lifestyle. Don't feel bad if you get the most work done between 4 a.m. on Tuesday and 3 p.m. on Thursday. As long as you can keep meeting your goals (and communicate with your team members and clients), work with whatever schedule you want. —Bryce Welker, CPA Exam Guy
7. Sign up for a coworking space
You should sign up for a coworking space like WeWork or Regus. I did this when I started my company 10 years back. It gave me a business address and I was also able to book meetings with my clients and staff in the coworking space. I used to go to the space one day a week, which allowed me to get out of my home and also connect with more people. You can also learn from fellow entrepreneurs in the space. —Piyush Jain, SIMpalm
8. Home business entrepreneurs must set ground rules
If you want to start a business from home, you need to set ground rules with friends and family. People are much more accepting of remote work than they were a decade ago, but you still need to get your point across that you're technically "in the office." Separating work and personal time will help you focus and make progress toward turning your business idea into a reality. —Chris Christoff, MonsterInsights
9. Take breaks away from home
Starting a business at home can give you a sense of claustrophobia. As business duties and home duties start to blend together, it can feel as if you never leave work. That's why I find it important to take your breaks outside and away from your home. This gives you some distance from the other work around the house that may distract you and keep you from taking a productive break. —Jordan Conrad, Writing Explained
10. Eat breakfast outside before work
Eat breakfast outside before you start your day. This may sound whimsical, but it works. Getting sunshine in the morning with coffee or tea is a great way to wake up properly and prepare for the day. Even if you don't need caffeine, an influx of vitamin D and basking in the outside air can make a huge difference to your mood. To a lesser extent, you won't feel cooped up inside all day. —Duran Inci, Optimum7
11. Listen to music
Honestly, I wouldn't be where I am today if I didn't listen to music while I work. Since the inception of my business, I've worked remotely, and I've always used sound as a way to tune out everything around me and get laser-focused on the task at hand. Everyone's preferences are different, so I would suggest starting with white noise from rain or a fan. —John Brackett, Smash Balloon LLC
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