In the age of technology and the internet, it has become increasingly more convenient to run a business from home. Whether you’re a stay at home mom, or a small business entrepreneur who is looking to save on the cost of renting an office space, working from home and being able to run (or start) a successful business is important! Below are some tips to help you get started.

Make a Timeline

When you are first starting out and live in the planning stages of your new business, make sure to have a timeline of where and when you want to accomplish certain landmarks in the growth of your business. There are a lot of steps that go into starting a new business, and while working from home can make some aspects of life easier (no travel time!), it can make getting certain permits, etc. more difficult. Make sure to lay out your business plan in stages.

Keep a Structure

It may be tempting to sleep in, stay out late, or take off some days when you feel that you’re completely in charge of your life with a work from home job. However, it is important for you to structure your days so that you don’t fall behind. When you run your own business, the business completely depends on you, especially in the beginning stages! While there is some flexibility to your schedule, you still need a schedule to get things done. Recognize what kind of personality you have, and make sure to structure your day and your business around this.

Separate Home Life and Work Life

Even though there is no physical distinction between your work and your home, there needs to be a separation between work and home life. An article from the Australian Institute of Business cites three main reasons for a work life balance being less burnouts, better attention to the right things at the right time, and better overall health. While it might be tempting to take care of the kids during your “workday”, or bring business to the dinner table, those lines will eventually blend and create an unhealthy environment for you and your family or loved ones. If you plan out your work days and stick to a schedule, there should be few reasons to bring work into your personal life.

Make Sure It’s Legal

There are a plethora of laws that apply to running a business from home. Those can include how to file taxes, registering your business as an LLC, and more. It is important to go through the proper channels when first starting out your business as to avoid trouble in the future. There are plenty of resources out there to help you with the legal end of your business.

Whatever business venture you decide to go on, make sure that you make the most of your working from home experience, and follow these tips to make your business the most successful it can be!