A dedicated workspace is very important to have for your business. If you have a spare room that can be used for your office, perfect! If not, consider converting your dining room or another underutilized space in your house. Ideally the office will have a door on it so you can shut out the outside world when it’s work time and shut out the work world when it’s family time.
Following are some of the basics you will need to run your business:
* Furniture. Chances are you already have a desk that will work for your office. If not, places like Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples and Costco have affordable home office workspaces that are very functional. Be sure that the desk your choose has enough room to spread out the things you will need. A hutch is a welcome space-saving addition to any desk. A bookcase and a filing cabinet are also good investments. In choosing a desk, make sure that it can accommodate your computer. Some desk designs haven’t yet caught up to the world of 20+ inch monitors and nothing is worse than spending four hours assembling a desk only to find that your monitor doesn’t fit. A comfortable chair is also essential. If possible, try out different desk and chair combinations to ensure that the set up will be comfortable, particularly when you add a keyboard to the mix. Function is far more important than design. You can always upgrade later after you’ve moved into a corner office in your own building.
* Placement. Even if you enjoy the view, keep your desk away from the window. The added glare from a window on your monitor will strain your eyes. If you must place your desk there, get a good shade to darken the room.
* Computer. A good computer workstation is essential to your online business. Thankfully, a good computer doesn’t cost an arm and a leg anymore. Don’t let a salesperson talk you into a mega machine with a lot of bells and whistles. The vast majority of your time on the computer will involve working on the Internet, answering emails and managing your finances, website and marketing. You don’t need the biggest, fastest or greatest to do this. Do buy a backup drive. Nothing is more maddening or heartbreaking than the day when your hard drive seizes and you lose all your data. Get into the habit of backing your data up at least weekly. When you go on vacation or a business trip, take the backup drive with you so your business can recover in case your office starts on fire or is robbed while you’re away.
