Is it a good time to start my own business?

People always wonder if this is a good time to start their own business. The fact is, there's really never a bad time to launch a business. It's obvious why it's smart to launch in strong economic times. People have money and are looking for ways to spend it. But launching in tough or uncertain economic times can be just as smart. If you do some research and there's a high need for the business you're starting. Because many people are reluctant to launch in tough times, your new business has a better chance of getting noticed. And, depending on your idea, in a down economy there is often equipment (or even entire businesses!) for sale at bargain prices.

When you start a small business you face lots of challenges. In order to improve your chances of beating the odds, what is important is that you educate yourself about business development. Starting and running a business, or any form of self-employment, requires a range of skills and attitudes. It can be very demanding.

It’s important that you understand all the responsibilities you’ll have, and as many of the foreseeable challenges as you can. On the other hand, it’s also important to recognize the rewards of working for yourself and providing a quality product or a needed service to your customers and the community.

Working from home might seem to be cheaper than leasing or renting an office space, but in the current climate with lots of property available, office space rental isn’t the costly exercise you might think it to be. In fact, thanks to the recession, many landlords are simply eager to lease out their dead office space, and so as a result, prices are actually more competitive than ever.

You’ll be surprised at how cost effective this option can be and the extra benefit with renting an office space from Van Nuys Offices with one of their short-term contracts  It also allows convenience and flexibility, which are both essential things when a business is in its fledgling state. Shop around, take a look at the deals – it could be the best thing you’ve done to date.

5 Signs Your Business Needs an Office

Need more space?

Here are some signs that your business may be ready to move out of your home:

• You have frequent face-to-face meetings with clients, but no place to hold them. Not having an actual office can get in the way of creating a well recognized business image if you need to meet with clients frequently. Always asking them to head to Starbucks may not send the right message. Noise (like your kids asking for something) during conference calls can also convey a less-than-professional image.
• You outgrew the space that was dedicated to work only.  If your inventory, equipment or other aspects of your business are spilling out onto your kitchen table, overflowing the garage or otherwise invading your personal space, it may be time to look for an office. Have you taken over your children’s closets? If you have evicted your children from their closets to make room for your products, you need to find a better place to store your merchandise.
• Your home is too noisy or has too many distractions for you to get your work accomplished.  Many home-based business owners struggle to resist the siren call of the fridge, the TV or the phone. Kids or overly friendly neighbors can hurt your focus and cut into your productivity.
• You don’t have a dedicated work space at home.  When company comes over you have to move boxes off chairs in order for them to have a place to sit.   This is a sign that your space problems are becoming critical.
• Your business’s blooming rapidly and you can afford the added expense of an office.

Is a Home Office the Best Idea

Home Office Getting too Crowded

For many new small business owners, a home office makes the most sense. Being able to work from home is an appealing concept for women today. The cost of starting a business is relatively low and women can feel more fulfilled knowing all the hours they put into work are to build their own business instead of someone else’s.More than 60 per cent of people who start a business are now doing so from home. From fashion design, IT and catering through pet care and arts/crafts to accountancy and legal services – you name it – it’s being run as a business from someone’s home. Most cities and towns will allow you to run a business out of your home as long as you meet certain criteria. A major benefit of using your home as your business location is that you won't waste any time commuting and you won't incur additional costs to rent an office space. The IRS also offers significant tax deductions for a home office used for your business.

But there is also drawbacks to working out of home. A major drawback of working from home is that you can never truly leave work. Also, many types of businesses aren't suited to a home location. The advantages of moving out of your home office boil down to increased professionalism, more space to work and unlimited growth potential. Of course, with any advantage come a few disadvantages, but nothing that can't be overcome. For some people, the chance to move into commercial premises provides a more professional outlook, greater scope for expansion and the room to accommodate permanent staff. 

For some businesses, such as lawyers,  accountants, insurance brokers, & classes,  most clients either want, or need, to come in for face-to-face appointments. Other businesses, such as advertising firms, may be able to service their clients while hardly ever meeting them in the flesh. Before you move out your home office, read on to learn about the pros, cons, and factors to consider when moving to a retail space. There will be lifestyle and financial changes to your business if you choose to do so. You probably considered these factors when you decided to start a home-based business, but you will have to consider them again. If you can afford the move and want to expand your business to a larger clientele and higher production rates, then moving to a commercial location will definitely accomplish that goal.