Running a Home-Based Business: Balancing Space and Work
Is This It?
Work. Long days at the office, hours spent commuting, getting home to fall into bed for a few hours before getting up and doing it all over again, all to make profit for someone else.
Does it really have to be like that?
Going It Alone, From Home
So many people dream of starting their own business – the flexibility, lifestyle independence, potential financial rewards and the sheer personal satisfaction of it are all factors that are very appealing. In Ireland, we’re good at giving it a go too – we’re the third best country in Europe for startup entrepreneurs and startup support is robust here.
It used to be the case that a premises was often a necessary factor when starting out on your own. An office space, or workshop – somewhere you’d go to work. However enforced stay-at-home work during COVID really highlighted just how possible – and advantageous – working from home could be.
Pandemic aside, pretty soon the advantages that home workers had enjoyed for years suddenly became apparent to everyone as technology paved the way to make things as efficient as ever while we enjoyed more flexible schedules, more family time, less stress, less time stuck in traffic – it was straight from bed to screen for office workers, for example – and no more having to listen to Cathal at the next desk eat his bran flakes – bonus!
Suddenly, starting your own business from home became a lot more do-able. And if you’re going to do it, do it right. Growing businesses can benefit hugely from storage space, and self-storage offers a huge range of benefits for home-based businesses which mean that entrepreneurs of all sorts can maintain efficiency, increase their capacity and be super organised and flexible, all while keeping the base of operations at home, sweet home.
Get To Work With Self-Storage
Space – the Final Frontier
As your business expands, it grows – and how! Stock, documents, equipment, materials, groaning boxes of awards … well, maybe that comes later – however, it’s not ideal to have to find space for everything you need at home if you want any space to relax, and to keep things harmonious with those who share it with you. Self-storage units offer that extra space you need, without having to move your whole enterprise into a larger property along with all of the costs and hassle that incurs. Having this extra space keeps your home clear of clutter, your mind free to think up your next move and your family the space to get in the front door without falling over storage boxes.
The Long and The Short of It
Self storage facilities will generally offer flexible terms which will suit your specific business requirements, whether short or long term, which will suit businesses with seasonal demands or occasional spikes in stock or equipment requirement. This flexibility helps to cater to varying demand without long-term commitment.
Safe and Sound
According to the Gallup Wellbeing Index, 45% of business owners said they’re stressed so anything that can grant even a crumb of peace of mind is welcome. And while your home is your castle, it’s likely that your defence systems aren’t feet-thick walls and the odd portcullis. Self-storage facilities offer surveillance cameras, gated entries, sophisticated digital access systems including codes and incorporating biometrics – knowing your stock, documents, equipment and everything in between is protected could knock some of that startup stress on the head, and prevent your home becoming a burglar-beacon to boot.
In and Out
The convenience of Self-Storage is never to be underestimated. Keyholders can gain access to their units whenever they need so it’s in and out for with a pickup of stock, or that document you need from the files, or the specific tools you need to complete a particular job. Access can also be granted to staff so that anyone who needs to come and go can do so and you can all just get on with the job.
Money, money, money
Running a business from home doesn’t come for free, just like with any startup, so it’s prudent to look at ways to keep costs down wherever possible. With a self-storage unit, you’re not tied into paying rent on a premises that might be too big or too small – instead, you’ll be paying for a space that’s just right for where you are at any given time. Lease terms are flexible too so you can up- or downsize whenever you need.
Into the Archives
Some businesses more than others require paperwork – even in the digital age. Consultancies, legal, accounting are just some of the fields that will definitely have documents that need to be stored safely, securely and confidentially, and self-storage ticks all of those (clearly labelled, neatly stacked) boxes.
Getting Organised
Self-storage doesn’t mean that everything is shoved in boxes and locked away, however. A self-storage unit can be an active space, and very much a live part of the day-to-day running of a business. Organisation is key – managing stock, categorizing items appropriately, storing items in an easily accessible way – to ensuring that your unit can be whatever you need it to be – stock room, archive, library etc. and make sure it works as hard for your business as you do.
Tis the Season
Many businesses have a seasonal element so storage is necessary for all those Christmas-themed items when it’s July, and the summer stock won’t shift in December – and your living room is definitely not a suitable place to stash everything for months at a time. Keeping everything safe in self-storage until it’s time comes around again takes some of the pressure off selling at peak times to clear stock space, and also facilitates stocking up off-season when you might just get a bargain which will help profit margins.
On The Move
Your business might have started in the shed, at the kitchen table or in your garden, even – but with good fortune, and clever management, that won’t suit forever. You might grow, you might relocate, you might open your first outlet – or your second – or your twenty-second! Make this movement easier by using self-storage to store stock, equipment etc. while you’re finding a new premises or renovating the perfect place.
Success is What Matters Most To You
All types of businesses can benefit from self-storage, but if you’re home-based, then it’s the perfect option to keep work separate from life. It allows you to efficiently manage stock, docs and equipment while keeping them safe and keeping your costs down. A self-storage unit can mean that with a home-run business, home can remain a sanctuary for family, leisure and relaxation and work can, well, stay at work!
Unlock the freedom of extra space. Get in touch with Storage World today or get a quote online
