Whether you started a small business from home when the pandemic hit or you simply work from home with your computer, working from a home office can be difficult. You might be debating hiring an employee, working face to face with your customers, needing to free up more space in your house, or you are simply tired of the distractions going on in your home on a daily business; it might be time to consider moving your home office out of the house. But how do you know if it really is time to move your home office out? Where should you move your office to? In this article, we will look at why you should consider moving your home office out of the house.
You Want to Hire Employees
If your business is growing to the point that you need to hire employees, and you do not want to have them working out of your garage, it is a good idea to move your home office out of the house, so you can hire those needed employees.
If you run your business out of your home, you might ask potential employees to meet you at a coffee shop for their interviews, which means they might not take you or your business quite as seriously. You are adding on a layer of professionalism by having interview candidates meet you at your business location that is not in your living room. Prospective employees might take you more seriously as a business owner.
You Need More Space
Does your home office occupy too much space in your house? Is your family expanding, requiring you to move out of the spare room you turned into an office? Then it might be time to move out of your home office.
On the other side of this, have you run out of space in your home office? If you have a product-based business, you might end up running out of room to store, produce, and ship your products. Instead of taking over your entire house with your products, it might be a good time to move your office outside.
Your Productivity is Suffering
Working from home can be difficult, even for the best multitaskers. If you are having trouble focusing on your work during the day and keep getting distracted by chores or the other people in your home, it might be a good idea to move your home office outside of your house. This can help increase your productivity and potentially give you a better work-life balance.
Sometimes, just physically walking out of the house and going into an office can trigger a mental “work mode” mindset that can help improve your productivity. It gives you a more formal environment that can help you avoid procrastinating a little bit better.
You Miss People
For some people, working from home can make them feel lonely and isolated, especially if they are used to working with people. Interacting with customers, vendors, or employees can give you some human contact, lifting the isolation you feel by working at home alone.
Renting out a co-working type of space, with multiple businesses in a single office building, is a good solution. You will still be able to interact with others and just do your thing.
You Need Privacy to Hold Client Meetings
Depending on what exactly your business is, you might find yourself needing more privacy when holding meetings with them. Having clients meet you at your home for meetings or at a coffee shop can make you look less professional to clients. If there are often a lot of background distractions at home, you might not have enough privacy to even hold meetings through Zoom. By moving your office out of the house, you can have the privacy you need and give clients a better impression of you.
If you are working through something sensitive with a client, it can be especially important for you to have the privacy of an office outside of the house. Difficult conversations or disagreements are typically conversations to have in person when possible, so you can pick up better on non-verbal cues, but if your kids are running around in the other room, it can be hard to have those conversations in your home office.
You Need to Improve Your Well-being
Your well-being encompasses your physical, mental, and emotional health. Working from home all day, every day, plus being at home when you are off work, can start to feel monotonous. You might find yourself in a rut and are having trouble getting out of it. Getting away from the house, even if it is only a couple of days a week, can break up that monotony and help you break free of that rut. Moving from one place to another every day can truly help improve your well-being since you will not be at home 24 hours a day without getting out and disrupting your current routine.
You may love being home, but sometimes you can benefit from spending some time out of the house. Working away from the house can help give you a much-needed break from your house, making it easier for you to unwind when you finish work for the day.
Moving the Office Can Increase Your Revenue
If you have a business where you work directly with your clients or customers, having an office outside of your home can help your clients or customers see your business as more professional, especially since you will not have the dogs, kids, or spouse in the background when you are in the middle of an important meeting. You will also be able to see your business in public by moving it out of the home, which can increase your business or revenue.
If you sell products, you will also be able to have more space to work on your products without worrying about someone getting into them if you leave them sitting out.
Things to Consider Before Moving Your Office Outside the House
While there can be many benefits to moving your business outside of your house, it is not for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the things that you should consider before you decide to move your home office out of the house.
Can you afford to move your home business out of the house?
Before you start packing up your home office, go over your current finances to make sure you can afford to do so. If you do not currently have the capital and cannot take out a loan, you can begin saving up capital for it or seek out small business loans from other sources.
Paying rent on your office space should not dip into your personal salary, your employee’s paychecks, or the supplies and tools you need to keep your business running. Make sure that paying for whatever space you end up choosing for your business is one that you can afford without dipping into any important profits.
Do you truly want to move your business out of the house?
Are you thinking about moving your business, but deep down, you really do not want to work away from the house? There is a solution. You can get a small shed-type building and add it to your property. That way, you are still putting physical distance between your work and house, but you are not completely away from home. While this might seem like a more expensive solution, a steel building is an affordable solution that can get your home away from home office set up fast and efficiently. It can be insulated and wired with electricity. You can even set up a small restroom in it, so you do not have to go back inside the house for that.
You will still be able to leave your house every day, but you will not need to worry about lengthy commutes cutting down on your time with your family. This is a highly beneficial option to consider when deciding to move your office away. Even though it is still next to your home, it is not in the house, and that alone can be a bonus for many people.
Final Thoughts
Working from home can be a great, fulfilling thing for many people, giving them a better work-life balance, removing their commute, and getting more time to spend with their family, but sometimes your home office just is not enough. By moving your home office away from the house, you might find your career more fulfilling, and your mental health may improve since you will not be home 24 hours a day. It can also help you find the divide between work and home again, which has become quite blurred for many people over the last few years because of the pandemic. If you need to move your business away from the house, look into your options to do it; it might help your business and your entire well-being.
