I thought I’d re-visit and re-post this two part article on “The Advantages & Disadvantages of a Home Office!” I’ve been getting many emails asking me if I knew the answer to what it takes to be successful with a home office. I’ve written these articles a while back and thought what a better way to answer then with this article.

This first part article lists advantages of a home office and the second part of this article, will list the disadvantages of a home office, which I will post tomorrow.

What are the advantages & disadvantages of a home office? My personal take.

-Working from my home office is a blessing. I’ve had to outweigh the advantages and disadvantages of working from my home but the outcome for me far outweighs working in the corporate world. I have had the opportunity to encounter just about every possible positive and negative situation. I also had to evaluate whether a home-based office was the ideal situation. In my case, it was and I’m happy to say it has been the best decision for me.

A home office isn’t for everyone. Evaluate your circumstances and find the ideal solution to your needs. Most people think it will be a wonderful existence, until reality sets in and they experience isolation and home-office problems. Although, this article isn’t to stray you away from working at home, it is an article that will list the advantages and disadvantages to a home office so that you can base your own decisions.

Read on and decide for yourself whether you are cut out for a home office:

Advantages

1. Low overhead
2. Home office-tax deductions
3. Flexibility of hours
4. Security, peace and quiet
5. Safety in inclement weather
6. Family time

Low Overhead

-Having a home-based office eliminates much of the overhead expense of a business and you can claim deductions come tax time.

Home-office tax deductions

-Your home office will incur expensive operating costs just like any business. However, the beauty of a home-based office is that a portion of these costs can be claimed on your income taxes. You are paying these costs anyway so it’s a bonus to be able to claim them as a tax deduction. Remember, you can only claim a home-based office if it is the head office of your business.

Flexibility of hours

-The flexibility you have working at home is a precious commodity to parents of young children. If you are ill to work, you can rely on your voice mail or take your portable phone to bed and rest. If you lose time during the day, you can burn the midnight oil so to speak.

Security, peace, and quiet

-The feeling of control and comfort from working at home also plays an advantage. You know your home is secured because you are there. If something goes wrong, you can deal with it when it happens. You can dress casually instead of wearing expected business attire which allows you to save on wardrobe costs.

Safety in inclement weather

-It is a great relief to be able to work at home and not have to step out into threatening and hazardous weather. You can continue to work without stepping out into the danger zone.

Family time

-Again, this luxury is one of the reasons I chose to work at home. I am able to provide for my family so much more then if I had to work the 9-5 roller coaster ride of a corporate job. Family time is important and I’m so blessed to be able to provide that.

Do you know of other advantages to a home office? Please feel free to comment below.

Tomorrow, I will continue Part 2, disadvantages of a home office… stay tuned!

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