ing you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them r

Ok, so you have decided to start your own home-based business, what next? Well there are a few things you should do before you open the doors. Since you will be working from home you will have many distractions from crying babies to barking dogs so it is very important to designate an area as your home office exclusively. This should be an area of your home that is only to be used to conduct business . Try to find an area that does not have a lot of traffic. For example the corner of the kitchen or family room would not be a suitable option for a home office. Maybe a spare bedroom or invest in some movable walls and take over part of a finished basement as your new office.

Next you’ll want to invest in a good computer desk with adequate working space. This desk must suit your needs so take some time and check out the many different styles of office desks that are available. And no, an old folding table and extra kitchen chair will not be an adequate substitute. This is where you will be spending the majority of your time so make sure that it works for you. Your desk should be large enough to hold everything that you will be utilizing to run your business from your computer monitor to your office phone plus any other items all within arms reach.

The next article of importance is an office chair that is extremely comfortable yet provides incredible support. I cannot stress this enough. For years I worked out of a home office with a desk chair that was salvaged from a dumpster. I simply would not break down and purchase a new one even though I viewed working at my desk as a form of medieval torture. There is nothing worse than spending many hours in a chair that gives you a backache, a neckache, and a headache. Save yourself money now by investing in a good office chair and avoid the chiropractic bills later.

Another important item you will need is a separate phone line dedicated to your home-based business only. This phone line will be used for nothing else but your business. This will also save you the hassle of trying to figure out which percentage of your monthly house phone bill was used for business come tax time. Also there is nothing more unprofessional than a four-year-old answering the phone when a client calls or a busy signal because you cannot pry the phone from your teenagers red and swollen ear. The phone should be equipped with a speakerphone and a headset jack so that you can talk to clients hands-free enabling you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them ri

and take over part of a finished basement as your new office.

Next you’ll want to invest in a good computer desk with adequate working space. This desk must suit your needs so take some time and check out the many different styles of office desks that are available. And no, an old folding table and extra kitchen chair will not be an adequate substitute. This is where you will be spending the majority of your time so make sure that it works for you. Your desk should be large enough to hold everything that you will be utilizing to run your business from your computer monitor to your office phone plus any other items all within arms reach.

The next article of importance is an office chair that is extremely comfortable yet provides incredible support. I cannot stress this enough. For years I worked out of a home office with a desk chair that was salvaged from a dumpster. I simply would not break down and purchase a new one even though I viewed working at my desk as a form of medieval torture. There is nothing worse than spending many hours in a chair that gives you a backache, a neckache, and a headache. Save yourself money now by investing in a good office chair and avoid the chiropractic bills later.

Another important item you will need is a separate phone line dedicated to your home-based business only. This phone line will be used for nothing else but your business. This will also save you the hassle of trying to figure out which percentage of your monthly house phone bill was used for business come tax time. Also there is nothing more unprofessional than a four-year-old answering the phone when a client calls or a busy signal because you cannot pry the phone from your teenagers red and swollen ear. The phone should be equipped with a speakerphone and a headset jack so that you can talk to clients hands-free enabling you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them r

items all within arms reach.

The next article of importance is an office chair that is extremely comfortable yet provides incredible support. I cannot stress this enough. For years I worked out of a home office with a desk chair that was salvaged from a dumpster. I simply would not break down and purchase a new one even though I viewed working at my desk as a form of medieval torture. There is nothing worse than spending many hours in a chair that gives you a backache, a neckache, and a headache. Save yourself money now by investing in a good office chair and avoid the chiropractic bills later.

Another important item you will need is a separate phone line dedicated to your home-based business only. This phone line will be used for nothing else but your business. This will also save you the hassle of trying to figure out which percentage of your monthly house phone bill was used for business come tax time. Also there is nothing more unprofessional than a four-year-old answering the phone when a client calls or a busy signal because you cannot pry the phone from your teenagers red and swollen ear. The phone should be equipped with a speakerphone and a headset jack so that you can talk to clients hands-free enabling you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them r

er important item you will need is a separate phone line dedicated to your home-based business only. This phone line will be used for nothing else but your business. This will also save you the hassle of trying to figure out which percentage of your monthly house phone bill was used for business come tax time. Also there is nothing more unprofessional than a four-year-old answering the phone when a client calls or a busy signal because you cannot pry the phone from your teenagers red and swollen ear. The phone should be equipped with a speakerphone and a headset jack so that you can talk to clients hands-free enabling you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them r

ing you to use your keyboard or search for important papers without missing a beat.

Next thing you’ll need is a filing cabinet. Now I know you are saying, “but I have nothing to file!” Trust me, you will and if you already have a filing system in place you will be able to file your paperwork, bills, invoices, and bank statements as you acquire them rather than sorting through a stack of papers months down the road. Hand in hand with the filing cabinet would be a paper shredder and a waste basket. You will have sensitive documents that you will need to dispose of and the best way to do this is to shred them right into your wastebasket. With identity theft at an all-time high you will want to do everything you can to protect yourself.

After this you can personalize your space however you would like. Some people like working to music, some like fish tanks to help soothe them when they are feeling stressed. Many people like plants in their home office and yes they do make great listeners. Personalizing your home office is up to you just make sure you are comfortable and that the space is a place that you will look forward to working in. You will be spending a lot of time in there so make it yours. Remember, a happy office is a productive office.