Getting ready for a work-at-home franchise is sort of like getting ready for a new baby: it needs its own space, preferably its own room, and how you set up that space is very much determined by what kind of home-based business it is. Firstly, the most repeated piece of advice on starting to work from home is to make sure that you set up a designated office area, and if it all possible, it should be its own room. Secondly, and more importantly for our purposes, in the same way that much of the designing and decorating of a baby’s room is determined by the gender of the baby and personal tastes of the parents, the most effective home office-space will be designed around the needs of the business that it serves and the needs of the person that uses it.

Quickly, let’s hit the basics of setting up a generic work station at home. The things that almost all businesses today need are as follows:
(1) desk (and therefore a chair)
(2) computer (with internet access)
(3) printer
(4) phone (cell or landline)
(5) fax
As we’ve mentioned, it is critical to the average person’s business success that these items are set in a part of the house that belongs exclusively to the business. A separate office room is best, but even a designated corner dedicated solely to work will suffice if it must. Whether you have children who are a guaranteed, and wonderful, distraction or you live alone and suffer the same adoration of television that most of America does, isolating a work region could make the difference in the success of your franchise.

Once that intentionally work-based environment is established, things get more specific and, in some ways, more fun. In your office, two things are going to collide and need space: you and your business. Because you and your needs are going to be fairly constant, regardless of what business you decide on, it may be good to start with you.

Some things are rather universal, like having a window to see the outside world: it has the natural tendency to improve spirits and is generally encouraged in an office setting. Other aspects of the business, however, will vary from person to person. What do you need in order to work best? Think about comfort. Some people recommend having a small couch or cushy chair in the office, so that you can periodically move away from desk and loosen up a little with your work. If you’re slightly narcoleptic or chronically tired, however, that might not be the best idea. There’s also sound to consider. I know that I tend to get through repetitive work best if I have background music to keep my mind from spinning off in circles. Does that sound like you, or do you need strict silence? Think also about aesthetics of your office. Vibrant wall colors and lots of pictures hanging on the walls are either going to make you feel more at ease or completely steal your attention from your responsibilities. Whatever works best to help you work best, go with that.

There are things as well that need to be designed into your office (often particular technologies) that are specific to your business, and these, too, will need to be taken into consideration. For instance, to successfully run an Adventures in Advertising small business, franchisees engage in web-based conferences. And depending on whether these are audio-only or video on any given occasion, the wise businessman will have to have direct access to microphones and cameras for his computer, something that a Vendstar franchisee will not have to deal with. Conversely though, that Vendstar owner is going to have to find storage space for his vending machines and products while they are not in active use, which is something that the Adventures in Advertising franchisee will never be concerned with. A business like Vehicle Tracking Solutions, in which the franchisee is often juggling multiple accounts at different stages with their unique GPS tracking systems, might benefit from the use of a PDA, whiteboard calendar, or other daily planning tool.

Outside of the office itself, it would be painfully unwise to forget necessary transportation for your specific business. A vehicle obviously doesn’t go in the office, but it is no less vital to the success of certain businesses. A good example is a franchise with Polar Ice Express. The vending station is a large trailer, requiring either the ownership or periodic use of a vehicle with the towing capacity to move it from site to site as business necessitates. As well, a business like this will also require a vehicle reliable enough to get the owner to and from the sales sight on a regular basis. Inside and outside the office, there is a wide array of factors to consider for the life of your potential business.

Getting ready to start your own franchise requires a large amount of preparation, most of which begins with franchisees having an awareness of both themselves and their franchise opportunities of choice. So really, physical preparation is predicated by mental planning. When you’re playing with the idea of any given business, run through all the steps of what it will require of you, your home, and your family, and decide whether that lines up with what you can give. While a business isn’t quite as big of a commitment as a baby, it’s still not something you want to jump into without complete understanding.


January 30, 2009