1. Home business sectors

1.1.

Operating from home may not seem ideal for every business – shops and those operating heavy machinery might find it a challenge – but Jones is adamant that almost any kind of business can do it.

“When asked what businesses it won’t work for, I generally say whale fishing and space exploration,” she laughs. “People say ‘Surely if you’re a manufacturer or a call centre you can’t work from home?’. But business owners are defying the odds every day.”

Research by Enterprise Nation has found that professional services, personal services and online traders are among the fastest growing home business sectors. Surprisingly, food manufacturers and domestic energy companies selling electricity to the grid and helping others become environmentally-friendly also make the top five.

2. Setting up

2.1.

Jones advises keeping your home and business life separate. “You will benefit from having a separate space that gives you peace and quiet, but that you can leave at the end of the day,” she points out. Storage space can be rented, as can office space for meetings.

Legal and administrative hurdles are no greater than if you were setting up in other premises. “You may need planning permission if your business changes the nature of your home,” warns Jones. “For example, if you create traffic or make smells and noise. Local authorities don’t want unhappy neighbours.”

Your council will also need to know what portion of your home is used for your business in order to calculate business rates and amend your council tax. You will need to inform your insurance company and you will have to carry out a health and safety risk assessment – particularly if you have employees or visitors.

3. Growing your home business

3.1.

Business growth, usually linked to staff numbers, is often seen as an obstacle for home businesses. “But home business owners are changing the definition of growth,” counters Jones. “When you take on employees, you have all sorts of issues, such as PAYE and health and safety.

“But many home businesses grow their turnover by hiring freelancers or creating partnerships for projects,” she explains. “It’s a fluid business model and home business owners are highly networked, despite reservations they may have about working alone.”

“One in five will eventually move into larger premises,” she concludes. “For me, running a home business is a no-brainer. You save money, save time, help the environment and it doesn’t hold you back from growing.”