Starting a business from home is a great way to save money. It is easier to manage, and startups can use the extra space to store equipment or hold client meetings. It is possible to convert your home into a business property with a little effort. The first thing to do is to check with local zoning laws. In many areas, it is illegal to run a business from home. You should apply for the correct permits and licenses before you start working. Next, you must ensure that your business is compatible with the neighborhood. If you run a retail store in a residential area, you will have to consider the local competition and how it will affect your business.
Know the zoning
You need to know what you can and can’t do. You can’t have a liquor store in a residential zone. You can’t have a hair salon in a residential zone. You can’t have a restaurant in a residential zone. If you are buying a property that is already a business, you should know what the zoning is and if it is something you want to carry on. If you’re buying a residential property and you want to convert it into a business, then you need to know if that’s possible. You’ll need to do your research and make sure that you can do it.
If you’re about to purchase an old house and want to know more about the zoning, you can use a zoning map to check whether your intended use of the house is allowed in the area. Zoning maps are also called topographic maps, and they show the different land uses allowed in the area. You can get a zoning map from your planning department. A zoning map shows the following information: the zoning of the property, the zoning of the surrounding street and the lot size of the property.
Consult an architect
Before you take the leap, contact a commercial building design architect or home designer and ask them to come over to your house to walk around and take a look at your property. They can take measurements of how large your walls are and where your windows are, which will be important when it comes time to move forward with plans. Your architect should also be able to give you an idea of what your home is worth in your area and how much you should expect to spend on office renovations. They will also inform you on the proper ways to turn your space into an office with things like ergonomics, functionality and flexibility.
Create convenience for yourself and your employees
Many people choose to turn their house into a business property. Why not? It’s convenient, it’s cheap, you already have everything you need, and it’s a great way to work from home. But, even though a house can be a business property, it’s important to remember that it’s partly your home. You will need to take care of maintenance issues readily. Hire roof repair and other maintenance services before employees come in and productively start working at the new premises.
When you own a home business, you and your employees are most likely going to be working in your home. In many cases, this means you and your employees will be eating at your home, taking bathroom breaks and even running errands at your house. Make things easy on yourself and your employees by keeping a lot of your business essentials in one central place. Store things like papers, envelopes, pens and paper clips on a desk – or get a large box that you can easily carry around.
Implement security
Before you can start fixing up your new property, you need to ensure you have the best security to protect your investment and your family. If you don’t have a security system in place, the first thing you should do is consider getting one.
When you live in a house, you often don’t worry about security. You may leave your doors unlocked and live without feeling afraid someone will intrude in a peaceful and secure neighborhood. When you have a business, though, you can’t allow yourself to be so lax. You need to make sure your business is as secure as possible. That means creating a security system that can be accessed from your cell phone and making sure your doors are always locked. Depending on your area, it may be wise to sit down with a security company to get a home security assessment. The company will come to your home and assess your property for dangers and vulnerabilities. From there, you can choose which security measures are best for you.
