Quit the commute

To celebrate Small Business Week (October 13-17) Sarah Willingham, one of Raymond Blanc’s inspectors in the BBC programme The Restaurant, gives her top tips for setting up a home office.

One of the youngest, most successful people in the food and leisure industry, Willingham was part of a consortium that acquired The Bombay Bicycle Club.  She swiftly turned it from a loss-making business into a profitable one, growing it into the largest chain of Indian restaurants in the UK. Sarah works from home – and here gives her tops tips on how to set up your own home office.

THE OFFICE SPACE
Setting up your business from home can be an excellent choice as it allows you to combine your home life with your work – but you have to make sure you also keep them separated. Therefore make sure you have a dedicated space that can be used solely for your business. It is also important to make sure you also switch off when it is home time and not drift back into the office to check a couple of emails. 

SMART SET UP
Even though you might be working from the spare room, you can utilise the latest developments in technology to give your business a competitive edge, which is especially relevant in the current climate.  For example, BT Business provide a Work From Home package that includes BT Business Total Broadband with free 24/7 UK-based support, BT Conferencing and BT Live Meet, which allows you to conduct meetings with customers or clients over the phone or internet.

DON’T FORGET THE DETAILS
Check with your house insurers and mortgage lender, as using your home for work purposes may alter the conditions of your agreements with them. You will also need to consider your tax situation, since you could be charged business rates rather than council tax or become liable for capital gains tax when selling your property.

GROWING YOUR EMPIRE
Basing yourself at home is not only a great way to start a business, but is also a great way to grow your company - By offering employees the opportunity to work from home, on a part or full-time basis.

GET THE RIGHT ADVICE
The world of British business is changing with hundreds of thousands of new businesses starting every year, many from home. However, going it alone is as much about finding the right help as it is about relying on your own knowledge. It’s important SMEs get the right support from the outset. The good news is, there is a range of expert support and information out there to ensure home workers get off on the right foot.

Small Business Week 2008 champions the 4.6million-plus small enterprises in the UK.  This annual campaign brings together national and local government, business experts, support services and owner-managers to provoke debate on the changing needs of small businesses and develop ways to further the long-term growth of this vital sector of the UK economy. 

To find out more information about events in your area or get free support and advice visit www.sbw08.co.uk