Jean L. Serio

While home business startups are currently a red-hot business trend, some of the very reasons you want your business at home may also be some of the most distracting scenarious you'll wind up dealing with. So before you start organizing your home business, there are some personal questions you must ask yourself, along with legal questions you need answers too, first.

1. How will you deal with children and family members?

Once people no longer work in a business environment, with few distractions beyond the phone, their new home-work environment may throw them a curve. And have them - and you- concentrating distractedly. With one eye on work and the other on children and family members.

Before you make the move to open a business at home, think about the following. Can you:

* Organize your clients, and schedule, around that of your children or other family members?

* Set up other responsible, loving people - spouse, former spouse, relatives, grandparents, neighbors, friends - to care for your children or family?

* Organize a professional to care for them, daily, for a daily alloted time to free yourself for client meetings, special projects, business errands, for example?

Juggling work, while trying to attend to a child or family member's needs, is extremely difficult; even for the most organized. Since it's usually impossible to "be all things to all people", determine what and how much you can actually do before opening your business at home.

2. Creating a professional impression requires keeping clients separate from your own personal or family space. Will you have that space or can you create it?

The less personal space a client walks through, or is exposed to, the more capable you are of maintaining your professional image. That image is out the window when a client is forced to sit and do business at a kitchen table filled the remnants of family breakfast, or wade through a sea of children's toys. While you may not notice these things, you can be sure a client will.

Is it possible to have private office space near an entrance, with a sign directing clients to it? Or - can you reorganize space to get some semblance of privacy and quiet with a client? Nothing says your office must be large, with expensive furniture. But privacy and quiet are musts.

3. Will local, city and business regulations allow you to open a home business?

For instance, if you live in a gated community there may be association rules which prevent you from having a business at home. Or, there may be several layers of regulations requiring formal letters of explanation, even a brief investigation, voting and acceptance by community members. Review or have your lawyer review, all community, leasing, contracts or bylaws.

Check your local or city government regarding in-home business requirements. Things like zoning, parking and other local laws may affect your business. Increased commercial traffic - from your clients and business associates - into a strictly residential area, the use and housing of commercial vehicles, or the constant flow of commercial vehicles (like UPS and FedEx) may prevent you from having some types of in-home businesses in residential areas. Remember, in many instances "failure to comply" (with set regulations) brings stiff fines and penalties. It's far better for the life of your business to know the rules and comply than fail to.

A few other business your city may have laws regarding are: medical practitioners who plan to care for patients in their homes, businesses who create food products or sell them to the public out of their homes, those who develop or sell flammable products out of their home, for example. Know the rules and know your rights.

4. What are insurance regulations in your area?

If you live in an area where you're required to have a home-owners policy to insure your home, more than likely you're personally liable if a client, customer or business associate is injured while on your property; or they harm someone else. Your policy must also cover any damage occuring to your home's structure, brought about by a client, business associate or business activity, plus other situations.

Before moving your business into your home, it's absolutely necessary to chat with your insurance representative and have them issue a policy which reflects the needs of your business. In some cases, they'll simply add a "rider" (addendum) to your current homeowners policy, including very specific coverage for your business.

5. Is "image" necessary for your businesses "credibility"?

Before making the final decision to open your business in your home, give some thought to whether your business requires the following - for reasons of credibility. Does your business need a location:

* With a prestigious address?

* Where other businesses reside to get clients, to participate in local events, create high visibility?

* With easy access and parking for clients, pickups and deliveries?

* With seating and a receptionist, where clients can make calls or order coffee?

* With a conference room and visual equipment; workspace for multiple employees?

* With high visibility for retail sales, because your're a corporate lawyer, image consultant, for example?

To create credibility, or image, some businesses require a prestigious or visible business location, rather than the casualness of a home address or post office box. On the other hand, a warehouse may be perfect for developing food or other products. Only you can determine whether a home-office will work for you.

Before you open your business in your home, you must also consider your clients, their needs and whether they'll be comfortable in your home.

Starting a business at home is a great business strategy. For one thing, your expenses will be considerably less than leasing commercial space. You can start small and expand when the time comes. But don't cramp yourself. Be prepared and allow room for expansion. Your home business may be one of the exciting new ones which takes off like a rocket the day it's doors are opened. Be prepared.

Jean L. Serio, Copyright 2006. Are you one of the 1.2 million women tired of the 9-5 grind, sick of trying to make ends meet? As you know, starting your own business is one of the best strategies for providing you financial freedom. Discover how to start a business, today, with your own step-by-step Action Plan. Plus to ensure you receive all the details FREE and learn how to harness the power and resources you need to start, first sign up for your Free Newsletter "Start Up A Business Today" and receive your Bonus Report "5 Mistakes Women Make Starting Up A Biz". Go to: www.womensmarketingandbusinessnetwork.com "We help you make it happen!"