NFIB

The Outside Advantage
05/ 09/ 2002

by Marcia Jablonski

Working out of your home has the mystique of being the ultimate work situation. Not always. My husband and I are self-employed. When he started to spend the majority of his time working at home instead of traveling, our cozy two bedroom cottage got downright claustrophobic.

The truth is, I never needed my husband as an excuse from work. There had always been plenty of reasons leading me away from my copywriting assignments: dirty dishes, dusty floors and gardening always seemed infinitely more important. So, after years of freelancing out of a converted bedroom, I decided to move--lock, stock and zip drive into a real office.

It might seem extravagant to have an outside office, but in most areas, you can rent space for less than a modest car payment. Here are some things to consider:

Where on earth? After checking your local newspaper's classified section, put the word out. Ask store managers if they have or know of any spaces available. Rental agencies will often work only with clients looking for large square footage, but sometimes they can offer an office within a suite. That often comes with the bonus of a shared reception area.

Watch out for distractions. One place I looked at had a salon specializing in artificial nail applications down the hall. I knew I couldn't work with the odor wafting under my door.

Don't be afraid to ask. Talk to the other tenants and ask if they are happy with the property management. See if there is an office directory, and make sure you can get your name put on. Is there security? Will you have access to the building on the weekends or evenings? (This was vital for me.)

Know your square footage. Commercial rentals are priced per square foot. Call local real estate agents to find out what the going rate is in your area. When I started my search I learned the local range was between $1.25 to $2 per square foot, so when one space was offered at $2.75 per square foot, I had leverage to negotiate or reason to walk away. I ended up renting a space that was subdivided from a larger office with its own entrance. I negotiated a month-to-month lease and the option to terminate with 30-days notice.

Control additional costs. If you rent in a business building, you have to install a business telephone line, which means a higher monthly rate and cost per call. If your business requires Internet access and fax service, you may feel a need for multiple lines. But do you really need them? I signed up for voice mail and fax services via the Internet, which ended up costing a fraction of what my local telephone service would have charged. Another option is to use your cell phone as your main office number and switch the land line between the Internet and fax.

Self-employed doesn't have to mean exiled to a home office. If you are disciplined enough to be your own boss, then it will be easy to get into a work routine that takes you outside your home. No longer will you be haunted by unfinished work lurking behind a closed bedroom door. You might even find a more comfortable relationship with your home and a renewed enthusiasm for your family now that they are no longer standing between you and "the project."

Jablonski happily runs her copywriting business away from her home in San Luis Obiso, Calif. She can be reached at riteword@earthlink.net.

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This article originally appeared in the April/May 2002 issue of MyBUSINESS magazine.

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