Running a business from your own home can be one of the greatest accomplishments of your life. But, it can also be a little frustrating. Keeping everyone on task, including yourself, can be difficult at times, especially when either your home or your business is not organized as well as it should be. To make things easier, you must get your home based small business organized for success.
The first task is to take a look at the space for your home based small business. Is the area set up in a way that is conducive to your work? If not, it is time to start over and rearrange your workspace. Your desk is the hub of your work and should be located in a place that will allow you comfort, so that you can get your work done easily. Many people often prefer their desk located in front of window so that they have a nice view, but if you find it is a distraction, locate your desk in another area of the room.
Items that you use often in your business should be placed near your desk for easy access. This may include your printer, fax, and telephone. Having your fax across the room may be fine if you only use it a couple of times a week, but if you use it every day, you will want it close by. Other items, such as your filing cabinet, can be placed a little further from your desk, but make certain you have a box nearby that you can place items to be filed in. This way, nothing gets lost or mixed up in another file.
Before you are done with your work for the day, go through your schedule for the next day. Make certain you have all the necessary items to complete your work and take the time to write out your tasks on a to-do list or calendar. You’ll also want to take care of any filing that needs to be done, return any phone calls, and basically, get your workspace organized for the next day.
Once your home based small business is organized, you will need to maintain your organization. By planning out the activities for the following day and clearing up any items on your desk every day, you are developing good habits that can only lead you to success.