Do you want to work from home? Many people do!  Think of the benefits - ditch frustrating commutes, be there for the family, save on the clothing budget.  But as with anything worthwhile, there are potential problems to be aware of.  You must be able to be a self-starter, be very organized, and deal with the lack of workplace companions.  Below, we present an article which will help you decide if you really want to work from home, and will guide you if you decide to set up a home office. There are two ways to work at home, as an employee of a company or as the boss of your own business.  If you are presently working at a job that you enjoy, but you think that working from home could be beneficial, check to see if your company would allow you to "telecommute". Many firms now allow their employees to work from home one or more days a week.  You may need to purchase some business equipment but the rewards will probably be worth the one-time expense. Maybe you want to start your own home-based business.  Many are attracted to the potential for a fabulous income, the flexible hours, and not having to answer to anyone but your customers.  A major advantage to having your own business, and something to learn about to insure that fabulous income, is tax deductions.  Your home office may very well be a deductable expense.  The IRS web site has an article on Home Office Deductions which you should read if you have, or want to have, a home office. Related Links: The three big stores to go to for office supplies, furniture and equipment are Office Depot, Office Max and Staples. The most popular software package used in the business world is Microsoft Office.  It provides a Word Processor and Spreadsheet, and in some versions a Database program and other tools. Two major online sites for office equipment are Dell and HP. Hometime.com, the web site for the home improvement TV show has an article on constructing a Home Office. The Entrepreneur.com web site is jam-packed with helpful business articles.  Here is their index of articles on Home Offices . Home Business Magazine has an online couterpart that has a lot of interesting business information. Sites with support information for those who work at home include Home With The Kids and Work-At-Home Moms.  Both have forums where you can post messages.  The Telework Coalition has tons of information on Telecommuting.  For more information on Home Offices, we recommend the following books:
Home Office Solutions: Creating a Space That Works for You	Most homes don't come equipped with an office -- and most offices come with enough paper to bury the average living room or kitchen table. This information-packed guidebook offers solutions and layouts for carving out home offices that work with your space and boost your success. Home Office Solutions helps you take charge of productivity, find your optimum work style, and organize space for efficiency and creativity. With more than one hundred color photographs, as well as checklists, floor plans, and sound advice for everything from billing to storage, this is a must-have resource for free-lancers, gurus, telecommuters, and the new breed of home worker -- you.
Going Solo: The Best Resources for Entrepreneurs and Freelancers	A growing economy, widespread corporate downsizing, and new technologies have contributed to a dramatic increase in the number of workers "going solo" as entrepreneurs or freelancers. Going Solo provides invaluable insights into the world of resources available to those creating their own company, including performing work as a contractor, freelancer, or telecommuter. These pioneers need a wide range of advice arid information, on topics ranging from tax and accounting issues, to how to set up their home office. Many are seeking inspirational stories and help with their business plan. Others will want to know about Interact-based "cafes" where they can "talk shop" with the successfully self-employed. Individual chapters conveniently organize hundreds of books, websites, videos and audiotapes, and software available on the topic of self-employment. We describe and rate each resource, allowing the reader to quickly find the best resource for the particular issues they want to research. We also highlight resources that are of special interest to women, minorities, and mothers with home-based businesses.
The Work-at-Home Sourcebook	This indispensable directory contains information not found in any other book on the subject. The Work-at-Home Sourcebook is the only book available which gives specific information for finding, applying for, and getting home work with AT&T, J. C. Penney, and more than 1,000 other companies that routinely hire qualified home workers. Contact information, job descriptions and requirements, and details on pay and benefits are included. Other chapters cover handicrafts, franchises, telecommuting, learning how to work at home, and ideas for businesses that can be started from home with a minimal investment. All information has been updated, and over 150 new opportunities are included.
Home Office Book	The Home Office Book explores all aspects of creating a workable, comfortable, and stylish office at home. Author Donna Paul, a contributing editor to Metropolitan Home, brings her experience and expertise to an analysis of 45 home offices around the country, looking at how and why they work. These locations offer practical, innovative possibilities for storage, lighting, seating, work surfaces, reception areas, and much more. Whether the office is tucked into the corner of a living room, installed in a second bedroom, or housed in a converted garage, The Home Office Book suggests ingenious ways to work with the space available. Some of the home offices are designed with one user in mind; others are to be shared with a mate or associate. Many of the offices must perform double duty, sliding out of sight or converting when needed into guest quarters, dining rooms, or additional living spaces. The 300 color photographs-showing entire rooms as well as close-up details-give hundreds of practical and creative design ideas. With its extensive source listing, The Home Office Book will be an invaluable resource for anyone going into business at home.
101 Home Office Success Secrets	101 Home Office Success Secrets delivers what it promises: 101 secrets to making your home office a success.Now updated in a new second edition, 101 Home Office Success Secrets shares the strategies of 30 home office specialists such as Amy Dacyczn of The Tightwad Gazette and syndicated columnist Jane Applegate. Author Lisa Kanarek also pulls from her own experiences as a home-based entrepreneur and gives readers an inside look at improving their businesses and their marketing, increasing their bottom line, and organizing everything for peak efficiency. In this clear-cut, informative, and entertaining guide, Kanarek addresses the needs of home office professionals including: Streamlining your office. Developing strong personal work habits. Inexpensive yet effective public relations.