If you are like alot of people these days, you have probably thought about working from home at least once during your professional life. Maybe even more so on those days when everyone (primarily the boss) in the office is driving you nuts?

But what if you could work from home? Do you think you could actually do it? Do you think it would be easier than working in an office full of people?

Before you up and quit your day job, you need to look at many different things that can and will affect your ability to work from home.

1. Look at your take home salary now, and then add up all the expenses that you accrue just to get to the office. Add up the daycare costs (if any), gas mileage, parking fees, lunches/coffees. If you are spending over half your salary on these items, and benefits for you/your family aren't coming from your job, you should seriously think about working from home. You could very well make half of your salary working from home and not have all those added expenses, which is EXACTLY what you are making now before all those expenses are paid out.

2. Think about your social needs. If you CRAVE the office gossip/banter that goes on ALL the time at most offices, then working from home may NOT work for you. Solitude is great for concentration but some people thrive better in a "noisy" environment. If you think you can easily get out during the day, make time to see others, then you should be just fine.

3. Consider how organized you are. When you are working from home, it is ALL on you. You have to make sure your deadlines are met, that your advertising is done, that your PC gets fixed and has the right amount of security,etc. You are the one who is the contact person for ALL business transactions. So you NEED to be on the ball. This isn't something a person can do who has NO organizational skills at all.

4. Make sure that you have a separate space in your home for your office. Especially if you want to write off an at home business on your taxes. You should have a completely special place for your office - not the all encompassing "guest room/kids playroom that also has the PC in it"? Try to make a space that is conducive to working - comfortable yet not distracting. Check with your tax professional about write offs. Never assume that anything can be a tax write off.

5. If you are getting rid of your daycare/nanny, will you be able to work with kids running around you? Think about the times you would be working most. Perhaps you could work earlier in the morning, before they wake, and then at night while they asleep. Have a friend take them for a couple of hours every day, and you do the same for your friend.

Finally, if you can, start working from home during your spare time, if you have any. This way you can at least get the ball rolling before you quit your day job. You can also get a feel for whether this is something you can do long term.

Best Wishes in your quest to work from home!

S.W. Chadwick