Saturday, May 23, 2015

Gumball Business Guide: Home Office

By Karlos Ying


You probably know what you'd gain by setting up shop in the comfort of your own home, but you've probably never considered how hard it might be to make the shift.

But you may or may not have already considered all the negative ramifications of setting up shop in the comfort of your own living space. There are definitely some things to consider before you jump on the "work from home" bandwagon.

There are some obvious and fairly simple tasks that should be more fun than work-picking out your office space, setting up the furniture, getting supplies, storing gumballs and gumball machines, and decoration-but there are also some serious logistics you have to work out if you're going to make working and home work for you.

Picking the right room to christen your office can be both a science and an art. You may be stuck with the only room available (in many cases this is actually a good thing-save time and money by not having to decide between rooms-but you may have a couple options. As far as space goes, we generally say the bigger the better. A larger workspace allows you to organize more effectively, fit more people in for meetings and discussions, and it mentally opens up your space and your mind. One of the biggest complaints among all business professionals is that they don't have enough space.

You also need to be sure that the space will meet your needs categorically. If this doesn't happen, you might need to reconsider working at home at all (it's that important). Here are some basics you need to be sure of before you continue:

-Space and utilities for a desk, chair, computer, phone, gumball machines, and general office supplies (maybe a shredder?) -Filing and storage for documents and old records -Shelf space for books and supplies -Work area for technical and non-technical labor-stuffing envelopes, opening mail, assembling materials -Meeting space for working and meeting with employees, investors, partners, etc. -Specialized space and utilities may be needed for the specific type of work you do. One specific clause to consider is that unless you have a separate room or space you cannot claim your home as an office and therefore be eligible for the home office tax credit (which I would highly suggest aiming for).

You don't need to worry about your workspace not being in a room that was originally intended for working from home. Few houses have a room that easily doubles as office space, but that doesn't mean you can't make it work! A few new fixtures can do wonders for the feel of a room and make it a great office.

Getting your home office up and running is a great way to kick-start the seriousness and efficiency with which you deal with your own work, and it is highly likely to encourage others to take your work more seriously too. Especially when running a gumball vending business, taking your business seriously is important. If you can build a space that is both convenient and peaceful, you can get the best of both worlds, and increase your businesses chances of success.

As always, remember to help others build their own dreams by offering advice and assistance to other people who want to work from home.




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