Have you ever wondered how much mums who own their own businesses contribute to the economy, or what makes them so successful?
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Running my business from home - is it for me?
“There are two main reasons for working from home – cost savings and time savings,” declares Emma Jones, founder of Enterprise Nation, the home business website. “Most new businesses can’t afford the cost of two premises, so you reduce your risk when you’re starting out.
“In commuting time alone you can save a day a week, so you have more time for your business or family,” she continues. “Plus you’re not clogging roads at peak hours, so you’re helping the environment.”
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Further information:
Find out more about running a home business at Enterprise Nation
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has specific advice for small businesses
Download the HSE leaflet ‘Homeworking: guidance for employers and employees on health and safety’
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.”
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I've been in business for a year now, running Generation One magazine - a local parenting magazine in Hull and East Yorkshire. I started the magazine because I had no support network after the birth of my son, Charlie and I realised lots of other Mums are like me - in their 30s, away from their families and with their friends working full time.
My advice would be to not be afraid of being yourself, warts and all. I started off thinking I had to wear a suit and act like a candidate for The Apprentice. I've learned that respect for others and good relationships lead to good sales - not any magic hard sell formula. The magazine has gone from strength to strength because other people recognise what I feel. Sometimes you need to stand up and be counted. It's scary, but it's not all about numbers, running a people business is incredibly valuable too.
Claire Boynton, Hull