Figuring out how to work from home in a realistic, sustainable and profitable way has been one of my main goals since I was at university.
And it hasn't always been easy.
There's been times when money has been short, stress has been high, and the prospect of going to a real job would keep me up at night.
These days, however, I feel more confident with my setup and have been happily working from home for quite a few years.
And I know a lot of other people want that too.
I've put together this guide on how to work from home to give you all the main tips that I've picked up over the years. It's my hope that something here will help someone out there make a transition from a stressful job to one that they love.
Let's dive in!
NOTE: This article will be coming from the angle of blogs and online businesses because that is where my experience lies. I am NOT selling anything and there are no affiliate links in this post. I just want to share some realistic tips!
A no-bullshit guide to working from home?
When I started researching this article I quickly learned how much rubbish there is out there on the subject of working from home.
There's even a website built by the Australian Government devoted to helping people figure out whether they're getting into work from home scam!
So I want to make it clear from the start:
This article will focus on general tips that I've learned from building my own sustainable online business. There is absolutely no get-rich-quick element to it. Unless you are willing to work hard in an systematic, legal and ongoing fashion then this post isn't for you.
The thing is, I actually take these types of articles extremely seriously because it's real people who are reading them and possibly making a decision based off of something they heard from me.
With that in mind I have worked hard to make it as useful and comprehensive as possible in order to combat some of the rubbish.
And that leads us nicely into the next section.
Some (very) important considerations to make before you quit your day job
If you want to work from home (full time) you'll eventually have to quit your job.
And that is a really big decision.
The decision is even bigger if you have things like a mortgage, a family to support or some other debts that need to be serviced regularly.
As I mentioned in my guide on how to start a blog I spent quite a while working as a cleaner in a gym from 6am to 10am in the morning so I'd have enough money to pay my rent while I built up my blogs in the afternoon.
Here's some things you should know about working from home:
- A lot of small businesses fail
Unfortunately the stats don't lie. Most small businesses will close in the first two years. You have to be realistic and acknowledge that it's going to be tough. Profits can be slow growing It's only recently that I've really started to feel like the money is where I want it to be, and I've been working at it for a long time. Some people make it happen in a big way really fast, others it takes a lot longer. There's no safety net Unless you have savings or a spouse that earns a good income, there aren't a lot of safety nets should your work from home business fail. Consider what would happen if you couldn't make it work. It costs money Most businesses (even blogs, websites and online ventures) need to spend money initially on set up, advertising, stock, etc. in order to get started. Factor that in. Sometimes it will be stressful
Being your own boss has its advantages (we'll get to that soon) but it also can be stressful. Honestly speaking, a lot of people simply aren't made for that kind of pressure and a regular safe job is a better bet.
Please read this article knowing that it isn't a quick little decision that you should make in a week, month or even year.
That being said, it is one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.
So let's get onto the positive stuff.
The major benefits of working from home
When you finally figure out how to make the work from home thing happen for your situation it is one of the most incredible feelings.
All of a sudden you realize that you are working on a brand and business that solely belongs to you. All the hours of creativity, late nights and hard work are going directly into an asset that you yourself own.
And that is pretty cool!
Here are some of the major benefits that I've found:
- You can set your own hours
Some people, no matter how they try, cannot get used to a 7am start. Well, when you work from home you can work from 12pm to 8pm if that suits you better. There's more flexibility Just like setting your own hours, generally speaking you'll have more freedom to pick up the kids from school, go to the gym or run some errands. You need to still work the hours, but it often doesn't matter when. You're growing your own baby As mentioned, when you work from home on your own business you are building something that is just for you. That asset is yours. No office politics When I catch up with my friends it's only a matter of minutes before they start talking about some work drama. Sometimes it can be a serious source of stress. None of that at home. The earning potential is more Unless you are an investment banker or surgeon, chances are there is more potential income running your own business as opposed to a regular career type job. This is especially true for online businesses. Note that I say potential income it's not a guarantee. You can do some good
If you are able to set your business up so that you have more time, and especially if you make a decent income, you'll be free to do more things like volunteering, charity donations, etc. This is a huge motivating factor for me.
Everyone will find their own joys and stresses when it comes to working from home.
The important thing is to weigh up the pros and cons and make a decision based on a calculated risk, not a blind risk.
