Working from home sounds like a dream come true to those of us who are office-bound five days a week.
Freedom from the daily grind, avoiding heavy traffic and having time to spend with family all sounds great – but a home office also comes with its share of hassles. Here’s what to look out for if you’re considering working from home.
Running a business from the suburbs – is it legal?
The first question that you’ll want to ask when you consider working from home is simple: is it allowed?
If you’re a consultant or run a very small business that doesn’t attract a lot of clients to your physical premises, you may be able to work from home without breaking any by-laws.
On the other hand, if you’re planning to run a retail, food, or entertainment business that relies on passing trade and a full house of customers, you may find yourself on the wrong side of the law.
Would you like to live next door to your business?
Businesses that attract noise, littering or a lot of vehicles to a residential area are not likely to be popular with residential neighbours. This is doubly true of restaurants and nightclubs, which often generate noise that disturbs residential neighbours during their valuable downtime.
To avoid clashes with your neighbours and the law, always make sure that your property is zoned for commercial activities before you get started.
Do your quiet work at home – and your selling elsewhere
If you’re concerned about the legality of your business and its impact on your neighbours, you may want to split your business activity between different premises.
Take an eCommerce business for example. While you monitor sales and oversee your marketing efforts from home, your sales staff can be based in a small commercial property or retail space to attract customers.
This type of compromise will give you the retail space you need while keeping monthly overheads low. You’ll also maintain a professional image with your customers and avoid friction with your neighbours. Everybody wins!
If you’d like to invest in a compact retail or office space for your business, contact us today. The Commercial Space team is ready to assist you.
