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• Building Your Business
• Becoming an Owner
• Business Plans

How to Write a Business Plan for Your Home Business

If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Don't handicap your home business by not taking the steps to create a business plan.

Business Plan

A business plan is a written blueprint for your home business. Business plans are essential for getting a business loan, but even if you don't need outside funding, they are a valuable tool to helping you set goals in your home business, understand what you need to do, and anticipate future growth. 

Types of Business Plans

• Formal business plans : These plans are detailed documents, usually prepared for the primary purpose of securing outside funding for the business.
• Informal business plans : These plans are used primarily by the business owner as a road map to success. It might be so informal as to be handwritten notes, or a bit more comprehensive typed out plan.

Whether formal or informal, when properly written and maintained, business plans provide a means to help you stay focused on the tasks that build a profitable home business.

Do you need a business plan?

If you intend to secure outside funding for your business, you'll need a formal business plan. 

However, even if you're starting small or have your own resources to fund your business, a business plan isn't required, but it can greatly improve the chances that your home business will succeed. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as many as 30% of all small businesses fail in the first two years. Those statistics can be very frightening. After all, why would you want to spend time and effort, as well as risk your own money, when there is only one chance in ten your business will survive?

There are several reasons why small and home businesses fail, but proper planning can help overcome them all. A business plan can help you:

• Get clear on your goals 
• Develop a deep understanding of your market
• Organize the day-to-day activities of your home business
• Understand your current financial situation
• Make important management and financial decisions about your home business
• Set a starting point to measure growth

Writing a Business Plan

The answer to this question depends on two key factors.

Is the Business Plan for Internal Use or External Use?

If you're not using the business plan to get a loan or find investors, you can write it yourself. If you're trying to secure outside funding, professionals who write business plans for a living bring a lot to the table even if you only get outside help to review the plan to make sure your bases are properly covered in the document. Additionally, business plans need to be edited and proofread for grammar and good sentence structure. Well-written business plans increase the chances of securing needed outside funding.

How Are Your Writing Skills?

If you're a good writer you can probably write a business plan yourself, at least with some assistance. Software and samples are available to help prepare business plans. Additionally, the SBA is a terrific resource for guiding you through the process. If you haven't already, you'll want to take their online Develop a Business Plan Workshop to get started. While you can easily learn how to write a business plan yourself, you will still benefit from having someone else read through your plan and you may still need outside assistance, such as a CPA to create your financial documents and/or a market research firm to develop statistics about your markets.

Whether you decide to hire someone who writes business plans, write it yourself, or use software, you still need to take an active role in the process. Whoever writes your plan needs accurate information for each section of the document and a clear understanding of your business.

Gathering the information is also of great benefit to you because it helps you understand your business and what you need to do in order to succeed, and it gives you a clearer picture of your competitors and your market.

If the business plan's purpose is primarily for your own use you can follow a  simple home business plan  outline.While general guidelines are available, if the plan is being written primarily to secure outside funding, such as a small business loan, it's not a bad idea to see in advance if the financial institution has any specific requirements it likes to see in its loan applications and business plans. The basic outline of the business plan includes:

• Executive Summary – A high-level overview of the document that is placed first in the finished document but that needs to be written last.
• Company Description - A history and description of your company.
• Products or Services - Information on the products or services you plan to offer and how they compare to your competitors products or services.
• Market Analysis – A description of your market, your niche, and the demand for your product or service (supported by documentation). The percentage of market share you envision and conclusions of any marketing research data.
• Marketing and Sales Strategies – How you will promote your business, how you will get your product or service to your customers, the costs for distribution and promotion, and how you will measure the effectiveness of the methods you plan to use.
• Organization and Management – The legal structure of your business ( sole proprietorship , LLC , C corporation , S corporation , etc.), who your key players are, who is responsible for what and how much they will cost your business.
• Financial Data – Your balance sheet , a breakeven analysis, an income statement and a statement of cash flows . You'll want to include both historical financial statements and forward-looking financial statements.
• Funding Request – This is the section when you'll be requesting funding for the business. If you are not seeking outside funds right now, you can leave this section out.
• Appendix – Contains supporting information, such as resumes, details of market research findings, estimates, and all other documentation required to support what's contained in the body of the business plan.

What to do with the business plan once it's done?

Once you've completed the above information, you need to use your business plan as you organize you daily to-dos and make decisions about your business. Note that your business plan isn't a static document carved in stone. As you build your business, you may find that you need to make adjustments or changes depending on the market, your ability to reach your goals, and changing trends in the marketplace. As a result, it doesn't hurt to review and revise, if necessary, your business plan every six months or so.

Keeping your business plan current offers some important benefits, such as:

• If you ever need to apply for additional funding through either SBA loan programs or other sources of private funding, up-to-date information will already be available. When it comes time to submitting updated business plans, you'll save time and money.
• It helps you stay focused the important elements of your business, and avoid getting bogged down in busy work, or shiny objects. 

It can help you identify areas you need to improve in or can expand.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Table 7. Survival of private sector establishments by opening year ." Accessed April 16, 2021.

• 212 best farm names

How to Start a Home Business (in 9 Steps)

September 7, 2023

Are you interested in starting a home business? Today, working remotely has become increasingly popular, which provides an abundance of opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Starting a successful home-based business can be overwhelming for many people just beginning their journeys. Our guide will help simplify the process with the essential steps and advice from small business owners who have already launched their business ventures from their residences.

We focus on helping you by discussing the following topics. Just click on a link to jump right to the home business information that interests you.

What are some advantages of a home-based business?

What are some disadvantages of a home business, factors to consider when starting a business at home, decide on a home business idea, write a home-based business plan, name your home-based business, get an llc for your at-home business, get business licenses for your home business, get a home business bank account, set up your home office, market your home-based business, serve your customers, what business can i start in my home, how do i start a small home-based business, can a tenant run a business from a rental property, what are the three general rules for qualifying your home office as a business expense, what percentage of utilities can i deduct for home business, what insurance do i need to run a business from home, home business faqs, balancing work and life at home.

• Expanding and scaling your home business

Ready to start your own business?

Get ready to start a small business at home.

Short summary

• Start a successful home-based business by carefully considering the type of business, creating a comprehensive plan, obtaining necessary permits and licenses, setting up an ergonomic workspace, marketing your venture effectively, and delivering quality products or services.
• Identify and focus on specialized market segments to help ensure success in any home-based venture. We show you how.
• Learn from inspiring success stories of individuals who have turned their ideas into thriving home businesses with hard work and the right strategies.

What is a home-based business?

Home-based businesses can be any size as long as the primary office is in the small business owner’s home. Small business owners have lots of options to choose from, including:

• Local service businesses
• Online and dropshipping businesses
• Freelance business ventures

Cristobal Mondragon started Queen Bee Cleaning Services as a home-based cleaning business. Now it makes over $1.5 million annually.

Check out Chris Mondragon’s FREE training to kickstart your own cleaning business. You can learn more about his inspiring journey by watching the interview below.

Read on for all the info you need to decide on a profitable home business idea that will work for you based on your skills and interests in combination with the resources available to you.

A home enterprise has several advantages over other small business ideas. Some of the best benefits of a home business include:

• Flexible schedule
• Lower startup costs
• Lower overhead costs
• Increased productivity
• More opportunities
• Less risk than renting a space
• More room for personal growth
• Tax deductions
• Great creative outlet
• Reduced personal expenses

When starting a small business from home, many business owners struggle with aspects like:

• Self-discipline required
• Paying attention to daily tasks
• Lack of privacy
• Separating work and home life
• Lack of space
• Not taken as seriously
• Lack of coworkers to collaborate with and learn from
• Feelings of isolation
• Procrastinating or overworking

Many small business owners will attend networking groups that help them overcome these common challenges. Start practicing good habits early to give your home-based business idea the best chance of success.

Starting a home business can be a huge advantage or disadvantage to a business venture. Ask yourself the following questions before starting your own business from home:

• What type of business suits your skills, interests, and resources?
• Do you have the space for your new business?
• Does your neighborhood have rules against certain small businesses?
• Will your family be supportive if you start a small business at home?

UpFlip Cautionary Tale

Many local business owners will find that their neighborhood has rules about running small businesses from home. I have lived in neighborhoods that don’t allow local service trucks, ones that won’t allow any small businesses, and ones that will only allow online businesses.

Make sure you understand the rules for your area before you start a service-based business from home.

How to start a home business

Successful home business ideas will normally follow a nine-step process for the best odds of success.

• G et an LLC for your at-home business

Keep reading to find some of the best home business ideas.

The first step in starting a home-based company is choosing a business idea. The best small business ideas from home normally fall into the following categories:

• Online Business Ideas
• Service Business Ideas
• Professional Services

We’ll provide you with some home business ideas for each of the three categories next.

Online business ideas

Many successful business owners choose to start an online small business. These make a great new business from home because they don’t require a lot of space and can be started with just the internet and a computer. Consider options like a:

Dropshipping business

This business idea requires creating an online store, finding dropshipping suppliers, and marketing their products. Learn more about dropshipping .

Affiliate marketing business

Small business owners can make a great living through affiliate marketing. You’ll need a marketing and sales plan because you’ll be paid on commission for selling other companies’ products.

Social media business

A social media manager uses digital marketing skills to help other businesses with marketing on social media. Make sure you don’t forget to build your own social media presence, too. Check out our interview with a successful social media manager.

Online store

Whether you have a subscription box business or a dropshipping business, you’ll need an online store. You could even buy an existing eCommerce business.

Check out more online business ideas .

Service business ideas

Check out some of the most popular service businesses that many small business owners run from home.

Car detailing business

Start a small business at home in the car detailing industry. You’ll be washing cars all day. This profitable business can make a ton of money.

Find out how Alan Tursunbaev turned an idea for a summer into a small business that brings in $50K per month.

House cleaning service

You can make a great living when you start a small business that’s a house cleaning service. Just ask Chris Mondragon, who started Queen Bee Cleaning, which makes nearly $2 million per year.

Dog grooming business

There are lots of businesses involving animals. You could start a pet-sitting business, a dog-walking business , or even a mobile grooming business.

Professional services

You can start a professional services small business at home. Consider one of the businesses below.

Renting commercial real estate

Real estate agents can make a great living and work from their own homes. Check out how Thach Nguyen has built a $100M real estate empire.

Consulting business

Whether someone needs a freelance writer, help with social media, inventory management, or financial projections, consulting is a great business.

Learn more about consulting businesses .

Perform market research

Once you have identified the best home business idea, it’s time to research how to make your small business idea work in more detail. This could involve conducting:

• Target market research
• Competitive analysis
• Research on barriers to entry
• Opportunities research

Once you’ve selected a small business idea, you should write a business plan.

Did you know a well-written business plan can help a company grow 30% faster than one with no business plan?

A detailed business plan is essential to any home-based venture’s success. It functions as a roadmap. Plus, the business plan details your goals, strategies, and financial outlook.

Check out our blog about business plans to download a business plan template and learn how to write your business plan.

Next, you’ll want to name your home-based business. Your business name is the foundation of your brand identity and will inspire your logo, marketing, and customer service.

Your unique business name should be easy enough to remember yet reflective of the values held by you and the company. Try our business name generator . You can find a small business name you love and check the availability on Name Cheap .

Setting up a limited liability company (LLC) for your home-based business is an essential step in safeguarding yourself and preserving your individual assets.

An LLC provides its owners with restricted liabilities, meaning you won’t be personally liable for any debts or duties of your organization. They’re easy to create and manage and offer tax benefits for successful businesses.

Establishing an LLC for your at-home business requires registering with the Secretary of State.

By forming this type of legal entity, you protect both your small business and your personal assets. You might also consider a different legal structure like a sole proprietorship or a corporation.

When starting a home-based business, it’s vital to acquire the essential licenses and permits. Depending on where you’re located and what kind of business you’re running, there will be various requirements for

• licenses such as general enterprise approvals
• sales tax documentation
• professional credentials
• any local requirements

Check local and state laws for any rules that might apply to your business. You may receive harsh penalties if you do not follow them. Make sure to keep track of your records and renewal periods, too.

All this needs to be done so that your company remains legit during its operations. Complying with legal requirements helps you avoid issues. Just ask Cristobal Mondragon:

For any home-based business, it is essential to open a bank account to separate business finances and personal ones. This simplifies tracking profits and expenses for bookkeeping purposes like tax filing.

To establish such an account, you’ll need your legal paperwork like your LLC registration, Tax ID, business licenses, and EIN (Employer Identification Number).

A dedicated credit card may be beneficial so that you can cover costs while your business builds credit history. All these play into managing your business finances. The better you manage the finances, the easier it will be to identify opportunities for improvement.

A dedicated home office is essential for managing your work and keeping up efficiency. Designate an area that provides privacy and limits disturbances so you can focus on running the business from your house. Comfort should be of utmost importance. Get an ergonomic chair and make sure the lighting facilitates whatever type of work you’ll be doing.

You’ll also want reliable, high-speed internet and software that will help you manage your business. The software you need will vary depending on the type of company you’re starting. Check out our HR blog for human resource provider reviews. Other software we suggest is:

• Google Workspace: Get a free 14-day Google Workspace trial .
• Quickbooks: Get 50% off Quickbooks and manage all your business expenses.
• Customer Relationship Management Software: There are a ton of options. Research the ones best for your industry. Two of the best are Monday.com and Asana .

You need an effective marketing strategy to launch and grow a home-based business. It’s essential to have insight into your target audience and research the competitive landscape. Reach potential customers on social media platforms, websites, or by partnering with related service providers.

Track and measure your promotional efforts using key performance indicators (KPIs) like web traffic or customer inquiries to decide where to allocate advertising dollars. Google Analytics is the tool most small businesses use to monitor their success at getting people to their websites.

Most importantly, marketing is a long-term game plan that requires consistency and dedication. Be patient and you’ll stand out from other home-based business owners.

Successful home-based businesses rely on providing their customers with stellar service. Depending on the type of business you start, this could be anything from offering personalized attention to delivering high-quality products. Practice operating on the old adage “Under-promise and over-deliver.”

Every happy customer will help build strong relationships that lead to loyalty and often positive word-of-mouth referrals. These can help you grow your at-home venture even faster.

Most businesses can be started from home as long as there are no homeowner association rules or local government prohibitions. You probably won’t be able to start home-based manufacturing or energy companies, for example.

Beginning a small, home-based business can be achieved by following the essential steps we’ve outlined. First, consider potential ideas and determine if they are suitable for working from your residence.

Consider profitability by creating an organized blueprint of how to move forward. Pick out the right company configuration, give it an apt name, register it with your state authority, and attain an applicable tax ID number and licenses to pave the way for a successful at-home venture.

You may be able to start a home business if you rent. You’ll need to:

• Check your CC&Rs or lease.
• Talk with your apartment complex manager, HOA, or landlord.
• Research zoning laws.
• Check for other laws prohibiting home businesses.
• Get a landlord permission letter for home business activity.

You may need a signed letter of authorization (see our sample) giving permission to use the property for business purposes.

According to the Internal Revenue Service , you have to meet three main criteria to claim a home office as a business expense:

• Exclusive and regular use : Your home office must be used exclusively for business purposes on a regular basis. It should not be used for personal activities.
• Principal place of business : Your home office should be the primary location where you conduct substantial administrative or management activities for your business.
• Meeting clients or customers : You must use your home office to meet your clients, customers, or patients, or the office space must be a separate area used exclusively for business purposes.

As long as your home office is exclusively used for work and is where you consistently do admin work, you will normally qualify to deduct 100% of direct business costs and a percentage of indirect but relevant household costs.

According to the Internal Revenue Service , you can deduct utilities using two methods:

• Simplified Method : Up to 300 square feet at $5 per square foot for a total of $1,500.
• Actual Expenses : This method allows you to use the same percentage of the home you actually use for business. Keep reading to find out how to calculate it.

Using actual expenses, you can either use the percentage based on square feet that are used exclusively for your business, or, if the rooms in your home are approximately equal in size, you can use the percentage of rooms used.

For instance, my office is approximately 15×15 feet or 225 feet out of 1,600 square feet in my home, which equals 14%. I can’t use the rooms method because they are not approximately equal. That calculation would suggest my office space is 33% of the home, which is not a fair representation.

My utilities are around $12,000 per year, which means I can claim 14% of that or $1,687.50 of my utilities. Given my mortgage is $1,700 monthly, 14% of my annual mortgage is $2,856, making my total home office claim $4,543.50—a far better deduction than the Simplified Method’s $1,500.

A home business will normally want a business owner policy (BOP) that bundles together three important coverage types:

• General liability insurance
• Commercial property insurance
• Business interruption insurance

It’s typically cheaper to buy a BOP compared to buying each policy separately and you can add additional coverage types as needed. Simply Business is a great place to get your business insurance because it compares rates from 16 major insurers.

While running a home-based business provides advantages, work-life balance may be compromised. You’ll want to create good rules for yourself to balance your personal time and work time. Here are some rules people suggest (and I wish I followed):

• Create a schedule for yourself with regular breaks and start-stop times. This helps keep your work from infringing upon personal time. My wife wishes I’d listen to this one.
• Maintain a separate space for your work so you can avoid being in it during personal time. This one is the easiest to follow.
• Schedule personal activities including exercise, hobbies, and dates. I try to do this one, but only exercise works flawlessly. My dog and I go for a mile walk every morning.
• Send your kids to boarding school if they start plying in your home office (jk).

Expanding and scaling your successful business

Once you start a small business at home, you’ll operate the business. As you build success, your business entity will likely need to hire more people, automate systems, or diversify income streams. Careful planning and research are essential for a successful business idea to grow. Some of the best ways to scale a business include:

• Introduce new services and products .
• Add another market segment .
• Explore partnerships .
• Upgrade technology .
• Add staff members. (This might mean you need to change the legal structure or move the business out of your own home.)
• Add new locations .
• Create a franchise .
• Increase the budget for your marketing and sales plans .

Now you know how to choose a business idea, create a business entity and legal structure, and some of the unique features of a home business. It’s up to you to take the time to create a solid business plan, build your business model, and market your business.

What business will you start from home?

80% of businesses fail... Learn how not to.

Learn from business failures and successes in 5 min or less. The stories, frameworks, and tactics that will make you a 10x better founder.

Brandon Boushy

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How to Become an Airbnb Cleaner (And Make $600K/Year)

What Is Airbnb?

• Airbnb Plus

What Does Superhost Mean on Airbnb?

• 4.8+ star rating
• 10+ stays or 100 nights over three stays
• No more than 1% of reservations are canceled by the Airbnb host (That means no canceled reservations in the first 100 bookings.)
• 90% 24-hour response rate

What Is Airbnb Plus?

• Exclusive renting through Airbnb
• Rentals to have their own bathroom or full-space options
• The location to be where Airbnb Plus is being offered
• Participants to maintain a 4.8 rating over a year
• Acceptance of 95% of requests over the previous year
• No cancellations by the rental owner
• Greeting every guest personally 
• Spaces to be well-designed
• Hospitality guidelines to be met
• A walkthrough of the space
• Fun places to go nearby
• An Airbnb customer service phone number for emergencies
• Anything else to delight the customer
• Manage subcontractors

Airbnb Owners Need a Professional Cleaning Company

How much money can you make as an airbnb cleaner.

What Does an Airbnb Turnaround Service Include?

• Reporting any damage to the Airbnb Host
• Dusting furniture, fans, window sills, and other surfaces
• Changing sheets or making beds
• Cleaning inside the refrigerator, oven, microwave, and other appliances
• Doing the dishes
• Washing windows and cleaning mirrors
• Cleaning counters
• Sanitizing door handles and light switches
• Sanitizing showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets
• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Taking out the trash before you leave
• Leaving a piece of candy on the bed with a note to the customer

Create an Airbnb Cleaning Business Plan

Create a Checklist of Airbnb Cleaning Services 

Create a budget for airbnb cleaning.

• Based on your available funds
• Based on what you’d like to make
• Licenses and permits : $1,000 per year (if you don’t already have them)
• Software : $100 to $1,000 per month
• Insurance : $1,000 to $3,000 per year
• Cleaning supplies and equipment : $300 will get you started unless you already have everything at home.
• Items unique to Airbnb cleaners : Pricing varies for towels, linens, and refills for soap, shampoo, and conditioner. (Buy these as you get clients.)
• Marketing : 2% of revenue for cleaning business advertising, but companies that make the most money spend about 8% of revenue.
• Travel to the Airbnb rentals : Assume $60 in wages plus $.625 per mile. Let’s assume $100 is the cost of getting to and from each job.

Create a Pricing Structure for Airbnb Cleaning

• The square foot : Look up the address to find the square feet of the vacation rental property, then multiply by the cost per square foot. This works in most scenarios.
• The job : Each task takes a certain amount of time, and most Airbnb hosts aim for small manageable properties because they are less likely to be rented out for massive parties. So if you know how long it takes to clean a space, you can charge a fixed price for a two-bedroom, one-bath vacation rental. Clients prefer this.
• The hour : This prevents losses from underestimation but forgoes gains from quick cleaning jobs. Plus, Airbnb hosts don't like this billing method because it’s harder to forecast their earnings.
• Revenue sharing : If you are cohosting, many hosts will be willing to agree to a revenue share of between 10% to 15% of the revenue. You’ll get paid directly from Airbnb and manage what you agree to in the cleaning contract.
• A combination of the pricing models: There may be times when an unusual request is made. In that scenario, you may want to charge for your normal services plus an hourly rate.

Become a Professional Cleaning Company

• Business formation
• Licenses for an Airbnb cleaning business

Business Formation

• C-Corp : These companies protect against personal liability and are taxed on personal and corporate income. If you are trying to create a massive company, a C-Corp is the way to go. It also has the easiest time getting financing.
• Sole Proprietorship : This offers no liability protection, but it’s the cheapest option to start a business and start taking Airbnb cleaning jobs.
• Partnership : This also offers no liability protection, but if two or more people want to start Airbnb housekeeping, it is an option.

Cleaning Business License 

• Commercial Auto Insurance : Cleaning businesses drive more than employees, and personal auto insurance will reject a claim if you were using the vehicle for commercial purposes.
• Business General Liability Insurance : You’ll need $1M per occurrence and $2M lifetime liability insurance. It will probably need to cover all host properties and Airbnb, too.
• Property Insurance : You’ll need insurance to cover damaged property.
• Workers Compensation : Covers worker injury. Any company with an employee needs to have workers' compensation.

Prepare to Offer Cleaning Services

Get cleaning products.

• Glass cleaner (Windex or similar) 
• Vacuum cleaner 
• Microfiber mop (optional) 
• Regular mop
• Toilet bowl brush
• Bags for dirty rags 
• Bags to carry clean rags
• Booties for shoes
• Neutral floor cleaner (Bona or similar) 
• Disinfectant cleaner 
• Cleaning bucket 
• Mini grout brush 
• Spare sheets 
• A deal with a local laundromat
• Conditioner

Software for Airbnb Cleaning Services

• Laptop or PC
• Business phone number
• Point-of-Sale machine or credit card reader

Professional Cleaners Need Software 

• GoDaddy : Domain and hosting
• Booking Koala : Chris uses this for online booking and I like how simple it makes calculating his cleaning fees.
• Credit Card Processor: Quickbooks, Square and, Stax offer this service.
• Payroll solutions: You can use Gusto or Quickbooks for payroll.
• AirDNA : Chris uses this software for monitoring rental prices of Airbnb units.
• Accounting solutions: Quickbooks , Freshbooks, and Xero are all used by small businesses .
• Scheduler: Monday.com and Calendly are commonly used for scheduling.
• TurnoverBnB:  Airbnb cleaners connect with property owners on this platform.
• HighLevel : Use this for marketing automations .
• Google : Google has a large techstack that helps small businesses including Business Profile, Local Ads, Analytics, Search Console.
• Facebook : Business page, Instagram business page, Pixel, Facebook Ads.
• Business profiles : There are a variety of sites that you can create business profiles includingLinkedIn, Siri and Apple Maps, Angi.com, Yelp for Business, Thumbtack , Alexa, and Blanket.
• Search Engine Indexes : The major search engines are Google, Bing, Baidu, Yahoo, Yandex, Ask.com, and DuckDuckGo.

More on AirDNA

More on business profiles, market your airbnb cleaning service, business website.

Social Media

Google local service ads .

Cleaning Service Business Cards

Write airbnb-related blogs.

Offer Long-Term Cleaning Contracts

Ask for reviews.

• Backstory : Positive or negative experience you had with other Airbnb cleaning services.
• Where you found us : Paid ads, Facebook groups, referrals, search engines, etc.
• Our cleaning quality : Did our Airbnb maid service meet your expectations?
• Airbnb cleaning service cost : Was our pricing strategy higher, lower, or about the same as another maid service for Airbnb?

Provide Professional Cleaning

Track performance.

How Much is Airbnb Cleaning Service?

How to add a cleaning service to an airbnb account, add a cleaning fee.

• Add a Co-Host

• Select “Pricing & Availability.”
• Select “Fees.”
• Select “Edit” under the cleaning fee.
• Enter the amount to bill the renter.
• Push “Save.”

How to add a cleaning service to an Airbnb account as a Co-Host

• Select the where listing you want to add a Co-Host. 
• Choose the option for “Co-Hosts.”
• Select “Invite a Friend.”
• Enter their email address.
• Press “Invite.” 
• Once they accept, set the terms of the agreement. 

Become an Airbnb Millionaire!

The 19 Best Service Business Ideas for 2024

Looking for service business examples to give you the inspiration to start a service business? We’ll provide you with the best small service business ideas to start.

We spent thousands of hours interviewing business owners and analyzing businesses to help identify the best service to sell. You won’t believe which services make the list.

• The Most Profitable Service Business Ideas
• Services That Are In-Demand
• Service-Based Business Ideas Online
• Small Business Service Ideas From Home

What Is the Most Profitable Service Business Idea?

#1. car detailing , car detailing pros:.

• High demand with lots of potential customers
• Low startup and overhead costs
• High profit potential
• Doesn’t require any specialized skills or knowledge

Car Detailing Cons:

• Business can vary depending on the season
• Work schedule is dictated by customer needs

What Services Are In Most Demand?

#2. cleaning services, cleaning service pros:.

• No training or specialized skill sets required
• Low startup costs
• Wide variety of niches that are in high demand
• Can be start and run from home as a solo entrepreneur
• Easy to scale revenue by growing a team

Cleaning Service Cons:

• Work can be unpleasant or labor-intensive 
• Your schedule depends on when customers need you

#3. Automotive Repair Services

Repair services pros:.

• Increasing customer demand
• High revenue potential 
• Variety of niches and types of work you can do
• Ideal for people who like working with their hands

Repair Services Cons:

• Relatively high startup costs compared to other service-based businesses
• Will need training in automotive repair  

#4. Accounting and Tax Services

Accounting and Tax Pros:

• High revenue and profit potential
• Variety of services you can provide in the niche
• Can be run from home by a solo entrepreneur
• Work is usually independent and flexible 

Accounting and Tax Cons:

• Requires training and knowledge in financial management
• Can be difficult to build customer trust as a new firm 

More Ideas For Small Business Owners

#5. consulting business.

Consulting Pros:

• Profit from your unique expertise
• Affordable to start and run
• Can be run from home or online
• High revenue potential and scalability

Consulting Cons:

• Some niches are very competitive
• Can take a while to build a reputation and attract clients 

#6. Construction and House Painting

Construction pros:.

• Low initial and ongoing costs
• High demand and profit potential
• Great new business for people who like physical jobs
• Variety of projects and work you can take on

Construction Cons:

• Work is physically demanding 
• Will need a contractor license for full home construction

#7. Landscaping and Lawn Care

Landscaping pros:.

• Easy and affordable to start
• Consistent demand in warmer months and regions
• Work outside 
• No specialized training or education needed

Landscaping Cons:

• Is a seasonal business in many locations
• Physical and tiring work

Online Service Business Ideas

#8. graphic design business.

Graphic Design Pros:

• Work hours and location are flexible
• Low upfront and ongoing costs
• Variety of work that you can do 
• Steady demand 

Graphic Design Cons:

• Less creative than some think since you’re designing to a client’s needs
• Can be a competitive industry

#9. Virtual Assistant Business

VA Business Pros:

• Can work from anywhere that you have a reliable internet connection
• Easy to start and run from home

VA Business Cons:

• Lots of competition for the best-paying roles
• May need to work on the client’s schedule 

#10. Digital or Content Marketing

Marketing Pros:

• Cheap to start and run
• Work is independent and flexible
• Can scale revenue by expanding into an agency
• High demand 

Marketing Cons:

• Can be difficult to build client trust if you don’t already have a big online presence 
• Need to stay current with marketing trends

Home Service Business Ideas

#11. photography business, photography pros:.

• Can be run out of a home or as a mobile service
• Wide variety of work available
• Make a living from your artistic talents
• Meet and interact with a lot of new people

Photography Cons:

• Photography and videography equipment can be expensive 
• Schedule and workload are dependent on your clients

#12. Dog Walking Business

Dog Walking Pros:

• Make a living hanging out with animals
• High and increasing demand
• Stay active while you’re working 

Dog Walking Cons:

• Less scheduling flexibility than other service businesses
• Work can be physically demanding or in unpleasant conditions

#13. Personal Fitness Trainer

Personal trainer pros:.

• Help others improve their lives while building a successful business
• Multiple ways to provide services to clients
• Very low to no initial investment required

Personal Trainer Cons:

• Can be physically demanding and exhausting work
• Often need to adjust when you work based on client needs 

#14. Event Planning

Event Planning Pros:

• Low upfront investment 
• No specialized training or certifications needed
• Meet lots of new people
• Work is varied and interesting

Event Planning Cons:

• Can be a high-stress business 
• Often need to work evenings and weekends

#15. Handyman Business

Handyman pros:.

• Easy to run from home as a one-person operation
• High demand for services
• Doesn’t require licensing or training
• Work when and how often you want to

Handyman Cons:

• Physically demanding work 
• Work can be inconsistent

4 More Unique Service Business Ideas

#16. personal chef, personal chef pros:.

• Less hectic than a restaurant
• Doesn’t require formal licensing or training, but is helpful

Personal Chef Cons:

• Less demand than a restaurant
• May have scheduling conflicts if you serve multiple families

#17. Life Coach

Life coach pros:.

• Build-once-sell-to-many business model
• Multiple streams of revenue
• Great for charismatic people

Life Coach Cons:

• Differentiation may be challenging
• People become immune to strategies
• Many social media platforms will cancel people’s accounts

#18. Mobile Veterinary Services

Mobile Vet Pros:

• Lower cost of doing business than renting or buying stationary space
• People love the convenience
• Premiums can be charged for non-traditional hours

Mobile Vet Cons:

• Less space to work
• Inclimate weather
• Mileage costs 

#19. Fingerprinting Business

Fingerprinting pros:.

• Crime never stops
• Some businesses require fingerprints

Fingerprinting Cons:

• Working with criminals is dangerous 
• Businesses will need less fingerprinting during recessions

Start Your Own Business

How to Buy a Franchise: Ownership in 9 Steps

What is a franchise?

How is a franchise different from a chain, where can i find the laws governing franchising.

• Promises to provide a trademark or other commercial symbol 
• Promises to exercise significant control or provide significant assistance in the operation of the business 
• Requires a minimum payment of at least $500 during the first six months of operations. 
• The laws franchises must follow.
• The items included in the Franchise Disclosure Document
• The items included in the Franchise Agreement.

Pros and Cons of Owning a Franchise

• All the systems in place
• Less to figure out
• Built-in mentors available
• More defined profit expectations
• Might have built-in customers
• Higher startup costs
• Requires less creativity
• Business strategies might not work in your area
• Annual or monthly franchise fees
• Service area is often dictated by the franchisor

How to Buy a Franchise You Love

• Research Franchises.
• Request the Franchise Disclosure Document.
• Go to Discovery Day.
• Apply for Financing.
• Review and Return the Franchise Agreement.
• Buy or Rent a Location.
• Get Training and Support.
• Prepare for the Grand Opening.
• Operate the Franchise.

Step 1. Research Franchises

Typical franchise qualification requirements.

• Credit score: Most franchisors will require a minimum credit score. If you have a 680 or better, you shouldn’t have an issue. Use Credit Karma to check your credit score.
• Net worth: Most franchise owners will require a minimum net worth of at least $100K, but estimates suggest that a new Mcdonald's costs $2.3 million . It’s gotten so high, they only let new franchisees buy an existing franchise.
• Liquid assets: You have to have enough liquid assets to pay the franchise fee without financing unless you are approved by franchise financing. 
• Other income: If you want your own franchise, you’ll need outside income. It can take six months to a year without revenue. During that time you have to be able to cover the costs of opening a franchise.
• Industry experience: You may need experience in the industry. If you don’t have it, you might want to go work in the industry before buying a franchise.
• Management experience: Franchise owners may want prospective franchisees to have management experience because it improves the likelihood of becoming a successful franchisee.

Check the International Franchise Association

• Industry : There are 15 choices including cleaning, business services, senior care, and food-related franchises.
• Location : Global or any continent other than Antarctica.
• Investment amount: $0 to $1 million. Make sure to reduce the highest amount unless you have $1 million to invest.
• Opportunities for the military: Some franchise business opportunities offer benefits for Veterans.
• An established brand: Look at the number of followers on social media accounts and the reviews on sites like Google and TrustPilot.
• Oversaturated: Do they have too much competition in your area?
• Disclosive about their fees : Some will openly disclose their initial fee, royalty fees, marketing fees, and other costs on their site. Others won’t.
• Offering training and support: Most franchises offer some business training and support to new franchise owners. It will normally be governed by the company culture and age of the franchise.

Easiest Franchises to Buy

• Home and Business Cleaning: Maid Pro , The Maids , Maid Simple
• Lawn Care: Augusta Lawn Care: Augusta Lawn Care ,
• T-shirt and Sign Printing: Big Frog , Fast Signs

Step 2. Request the Franchise Disclosure Document

Necessary Elements in a Franchise Disclosure Document

• Company history, predecessors, parent companies, and affiliates.
• Officers’, directors’, and executives’ professional history.
• Current and past litigation involving the company and major players in the organization.
• Franchisor and management bankruptcies if any.
• Initial franchise fees and what impacts their costs.
• Ongoing costs such as royalty fees or marketing fees.
• The initial investment to get the franchise fully operational (in table form).
• Purchasing restrictions for equipment and supplies.
• List of franchisee’s obligations including a table showing where each obligation is in the Franchise Agreement.
• Terms and conditions of financing through the franchisor (if any).
• Any assistance the franchisor will provide including advertising, computer systems, and training.
• Description of the geographical territory the franchisee receives and whether it can be modified.
• How the brand’s trademark(s), service and trade names may be used by the franchisee.
• How the franchisee can use copyrights, patents, and other information.
• What, if any, participation requirements are expected of the franchisee. 
• Restrictions on products and services the franchisee may participate in.
• How to renew, transfer, and terminate the business arrangement. Also how to dispute conflicts between the franchisor and franchisee.
• Public figures that are employed by the franchisor and how much they are paid.
• Optional unit financial performance information.
• Location and contact information of all existing franchise locations.
• Audited financial statements for the past three years. 
•  Franchise Agreement
•  Non-Disclosure Agreement (maybe)
• Non-Compete Agreement (likely)
• Supplier Agreements (common)
• Confirmation of receiving the FDD.

Step 3. Go to Discovery Day

• Personality clashes
• Cultural differences 
• Corporate office being unprepared for the business owner
• Statements that are not in the Franchise Disclosure Document
• Not answering questions directly
• Failing to address concerns
• Pressuring you to enter a franchise agreement

Step 4. Apply for financing

• A business plan
• Documentation of personal finances
• FDD to show lenders the average annual income and financial risk of the franchise
• Proof of any assets you want to use for a secured loan
• Liquid capital: Using cash, stock, and bonds to finance your business
• Secured loans: Using assets like a home, stocks, or crypto to secure a loan.
• Business partners: The franchise contract might limit this option.
• Business line of credit: Revolving credit that lets you borrow as needed and pay interest only on the amount outstanding. Great for preventing cash flow issues involving inventory and payroll.
• Equipment financing : For large purchases like kitchen equipment.
• Traditional business loans : 3-5 year loans to buy a business.
• SBA loans: We’ll discuss using an SBA loan to buy business startups and franchises below.

Apply for Small Business Administration Loan 

• (7)a loans : Up to $5 million for working capital, refinancing debt, and major purchases.
• 504 loans : Up to $5 million for construction projects, land, and equipment.
• Microloans : Up to $50,000 and cannot be used for construction or debt.

Step 5. Review and Return the Franchise Agreement

• Location or territory : What are your territory boundaries and exclusivity clauses? These will impact where to implement your marketing strategies and where you can do business.
• Operations: What operating procedures do you have to follow to own a franchise? The operations policies are a major portion of why people consider buying franchises. These are the best practices that take time and money to develop when starting from scratch.
• Training and ongoing support: What training and ongoing support is provided, who pays for it, and how much does it cost? Each program may be different, but the goal here is for you to be capable of running the business when you open the doors.
• Duration: How long is the contract valid? 
• Franchise fee or investment: What is the upfront cost and what does it cover? You should probably calculate the payback period based on other franchisors' experience.
• Royalties or ongoing fees: What are the terms of ongoing fees and what do they cover? 
• Trademark, patent, signage: How are you allowed to use the franchisor's trademark, patent, logo, and signage?
• Advertising, marketing: What advertising does the franchisor pay, and what advertising does the franchisee pay? If they require more than 8% of revenue for marketing, you might want to be cautious.
• Renewal rights, termination, and cancellation policies: How is the franchising contract renewed or terminated by each party? How are legal disputes handled?
• Exit strategies: Does the franchisee have the right to put existing franchises up for sale? Does the franchisor have to approve the sale of a franchise? Does the franchise have to let the franchisor offer a buyback? Is the only way to sell the franchise through the franchisor?

Step 6. Buy or Rent a Location

Step 7. get training and support.

• Where to find resources
• How to perform the customer-centric functions of the business
• Introduce you to the software they use
• Walk you through the accounting process
• Train you on any machines that are unique to the company
• Marketing tasks

Step 8. Prepare for the Grand Opening

• The location
• The inventory
• Marketing and advertising

Step 9. Operate the Franchise

Buying a franchise faqs, should you buy an existing franchise.

• Why are you selling your franchise?
• How long have you owned the franchise?
• Why did you originally buy the franchise?
• What’s the annual gross revenue? Is it growing or shrinking?
• How much profit have you made over the years? Is it growing or shrinking?

What investment costs and franchise fees should I consider?

• The franchise fee
• Forming an LLC or a Corporation
• Business licensing
• Buying or renting a location
• Purchasing equipment
• Purchasing inventory
• Software not provided by the franchisor
• Furniture for the franchise location 
• Travel costs

What if I want to buy a franchise without money?

• Liquid assets

How much does it cost to buy a McDonald's franchise?

How much money can i make by owning a franchise, how should i prepare to buy a franchise, how does buying a franchise save money.

• Created a business plan.
• Created branding.
• Conducted market research.
• Conducted product research.
• Created the business systems.
• Created a successful marketing plan.
• Proven the business model successful.
• Created the processes to follow.

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How to start a business from home

Learn about different ways of starting a home business, with a step-by-step guide to make your home business a reality.

What kind of business can you start doing at home?

Past research has shown over two-thirds of new business start off in the home. Whether you’re looking for a side hustle, a full-time job or to become an entrepreneur, there is a home business idea for you.

Popular businesses to run from home include creative fields (copywriting, content writing, graphic design), IT (web design, developing apps) and ecommerce (handmade products, drop shipping , selling products on marketplaces such as Etsy).

A home-based business is any business where your own home is the principal place of business.

You may need to check the laws in your location for starting a home business, as some places control this via zoning regulations. If you’ll have business visitors in your home, you may also want to familiarise yourself with laws about safety and liability insurance.

How to start your own business from home: a step-by-step guide

• Develop your business idea
• Write a business plan
• Create a financial plan
• Decide on a name, business entity and legal structure
• Set up the business licence and bank account
• Set up your home office
• Set up small business accounting
• Create a marketing plan

1. Develop your business idea

The first step is to determine what type of business you want to start. If you don’t have any obvious ideas, try the following:

Choose a home business idea that fits your talents and skills

Do you have years of experience or qualifications to use to your advantage? Do you have a special talent? For example, if you are good at baking, you might consider a home baking business, or you might be specifically interested in making homemade cookies.

Find ideas you are passionate about

Does the business idea excite you? If you are wildly excited about your business, you’ll have more energy and focus.

Make sure your idea is viable and that you can make money from it

Not every talent or skill can become a successful business idea. You’ll need to make a plan to turn your idea into revenue. You can begin by researching the market – and your potential competition.

Consider if you can run your idea from home

You'll need to think about zoning laws. For example, if you want to run a catering business, you may not be allowed to, but you may be able to run a home baking business. Home bakeries are cottage industries and are permitted to make low-risk foods; catering businesses can produce high-risk foods and require more regulation and facilities that may not be allowed in a residential area.

When you’re brainstorming ideas, don’t discard anything. Your ideas are allowed to be wild or simple.

Once you’re satisfied that you can pour your energy and skill into it and make a financial return from it, you’re ready for the next step.

2. Write a business plan

Small business experts like accountants and bookkeepers say it really helps to have a plan. Even if it’s a really short one.

Your plan will describe your product or service, identify who will buy it and why, and explain how those purchases will filter down into profits for you.

Start with a one-pager

Begin with a simple one-page business plan. Keeping it short will help you focus on what’s important – plus it'll help make sure you actually finish the plan.

Besides answering big questions about your product and how it fits into the market, a plan will also cover practical things like funding needed, sales goals, marketing plans, and who your team will be.

Download a one-page business plan template .

3. Create a financial plan

A financial plan will help you understand how your business will make money. Hint: it probably won’t be profitable straight away so definitely budget for a lean beginning.

Your budget will estimate costs and income to help you understand when the business might become profitable. It'll also help you see if you need to borrow some cash to make things happen.

Learn about small business budgeting .

You’ll need to strike a balance between affordability for the customer and profitability for you.

Get the scoop on common pricing strategies .

How will you pay for everything? Do you need a loan (or investment) to start up your business?

Find out how small business finance really works .

How to pay yourself

Work out what you can afford to pay yourself. And learn how to do it without getting a surprise tax bill. Quick reality check: most small business owners only take modest pay to begin with.

Figure out how to pay yourself.

4. Decide on a name, business entity and legal structure

After you’ve written your business plan, you will want to name your business. That’s if you’re not going to operate under your own legal name. When deciding, it’s a good idea to make it memorable and something that makes it clear what you do.

Check that your chosen name is available. Start with a simple Google search to see if the name is taken. And also check the intellectual property office .

There are several different ways to make your business name official:

• Trading name: This allows you to trade with a name other than your own. This doesn’t give you legal protection, but can help distinguish different areas of your business if you want to sell certain products or services under a separate name.
• Trade mark: This protects your business name, goods and services at the national level.
• Domain name: This protects your business web address.

You'll also need to choose a suitable business structure. This can affect how you’re taxed and how much you’re personally liable for the business.

There are four main types of structure to consider:

• Sole trader
• Partnership
• Limited liability partnership
• Limited company

The government will automatically assume you’re a sole trader unless you choose to be something else. To choose the correct entity for your business, consult with an accountant.

Related articles : Types of business structure explained and Registering a business

5. Set up the business licence and bank account

You’ll need a UTR number from HMRC. This is a tax number that will identify your business with HMRC. Depending on your business status, you might have a UTR number as an individual, as well as a separate UTR number for your business entity. You may also have to apply for VAT registration with HMRC .

After you have completed your business and tax registrations, you may need to apply for a business licence depending on your industry. These are generally issued by local authorities. Some common licences include:

• Home occupation licence: If you’re planning to get lots of customers or deliveries or advertise outside your home you may need to get permission with your local council.
• Alcohol licences: You’ll need to check what local licences apply to you if you’re planning to sell or supply alcohol. It’s likely you’ll require a premise based and personal licence.
• Food business registration: If you’re planning to prepare and sell food you’ll have to register for this licence for each of your outlets, with the corresponding local authority.

It’s a good idea to review your home-based business insurance needs. Typical insurance includes home coverage, public and professional liability, key person and shareholder.

Related article: Registering a business and VAT guide for business

6. Set up your home office

Designate a specific area or room that will be your home workspace. Consider if you need any extra room for inventory or work tools.

Try to keep your workspace as distraction-free and roomy as possible. Being stuck in a noisy spot or a cramped corner will diminish your productivity.

Once you have your space, invest in suitable furniture, tools and technology. You may not be able to afford everything you’d like all at once, so rank things in order of priority.

Related article: Practical tips for a mobile office

7. Set up small business accounting

Once all your registrations, licences and permits are arranged, you should open a dedicated business bank account. This is crucial for bookkeeping and tax filing because it prevents confusion between your personal and business finances.

Record receipts for all your business purchases as you may be able to deduct them from your taxes. Also keep records of all your sales. List all of these incomings and outgoings together in one place so you can see how the business is doing.

Get a tax advisor onboard as soon as you can. They will help you claim all the deductions you’re entitled to and submit an accurate return. Plus they’ll do things like estimate your tax bills so there aren’t any nasty surprises.

Related article: An intro to small business accounting

8. Create a marketing plan

Writing a marketing plan can help you define your marketing strategy and identify the best channels to market your products or services.

To create your marketing plan, you should:

Analyse the market

Do a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis to determine where your business fits in the market.

Set your goals and objectives

Make them SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, time-bound).

Outline your marketing strategies

Choose marketing activities to suit your target audience. For example, will you reach them online ?

Set your marketing budget

Knowing how much you have to spend is critical to the success of any marketing campaign.

Keep your marketing plan up to date

Analyse your campaigns and tweak or change your plan as needed. Track how much business you get in return for each pound spent. When you see something isn’t working, invest your money and energy in other ideas.

Useful marketing tools for home-based businesses include setting up social media accounts and a website.

How to start an online business from home

Starting an online business is easier than ever. They generally cost less to run and are easier to run as a side hustle. Plus, online businesses give you the flexibility to work from anywhere and access to a worldwide market.

Learn the pros, cons and how-to’s in the guide to starting an online business .

Overcoming possible barriers to setting up a home business

All new business owners face barriers. Resilience and planning will help to solve many problems that you'll face. Some common barriers include:

• Lack of financial resources: Be sure you can afford to start a business and meet your regular expenses. Consider taking a loan or partnering with someone if you need to.
• Regulations and red tape: Ensure you obtain the correct permits and licences to run your business from home. Consult with experts to help you understand requirements.
• Interruptions from family and friends: You need to establish boundaries so that your family or friends know not to interrupt you during business hours . You also need to avoid working around the clock just because you happen to live in your office.
• Feeling isolated: You may feel lonely working on your own. Join some professional groups and try working in a shared space or café occasionally.

Resources and tips for running a successful home business

Setting up a home-based business is difficult. The following resources can help you run a successful home business.

• Business plan template – download this free template (with a how-to guide) to help put your idea together.
• Cash flow forecast template – use this free template to track expected costs against your cash reserves to help see if you need a loan.
• Small business trends – check out this stat-packed report on the issues affecting small businesses around the world.

Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice. This guide has been provided for information purposes only. You should consult your own professional advisors for advice directly relating to your business or before taking action in relation to any of the content provided.

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Home Business Ideas: 40 Remote Jobs to Explore in 2022

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Working remotely and starting businesses from home have grown in popularity over the past decade. Currently, in the United States, millions of self-employed individuals have acted upon home business ideas and work regularly from their home.

There are plenty of compelling reasons to want the flexibility that working from home can offer. If a change in lifestyle is what you’re after, then you’ll want to take a close look at your skills and interests to figure out which of the many work-from-home jobs suits you. To help you in your exploration, we’ve gathered this list of 40 of the best home business ideas.

Home business ideas

Any office worker can probably tell you that they've had a daydream about quitting their job and starting their own business. Luckily, in this technological age, this dream can more easily become a reality. If you have a computer and internet connection, there are home business ideas aplenty, including those with low startup costs (if any) and flexibility for stay-at-home parents.

Here are 40 of the best home business ideas to consider:

1. Freelance writer

If you’re a great writer, then you could make a great freelance writer. And best of all, freelance writers work from all over the world. Whether you want to sit in your neighborhood cafe all day or country-hop all year, this job could apply to you.

Of course, successful writers need to have a firm grasp on grammar and tone, superb editing chops and the ability to do their own research and synthesize content that they might be unfamiliar with. It could help if you become an expert in a few different fields, like technology or small-business finance, and it’s always important for all freelancers to know how to market themselves and network with potential customers.

You might be asked to write anything from a blog post series to an industry white paper, website copy or email newsletters. The more you’re familiar with, the better off you are.

And finally, don’t forego the possibility of writing your own e-books to sell on Amazon and similar websites. With basically zero publishing costs and low design costs, this is another way your writing can benefit your bank account directly. (You could even write an e-book about freelance writing — the possibilities are endless.)

2. Virtual assistant

If all of your friends know you as “the really, really organized one,” then being a virtual assistant might be the home business idea for you.

When busy executives reach a point in their careers where they can't manage all the calls, emails, appointments and smaller responsibilities on their plates, that’s where you come in. As a virtual assistant, you would use your phone, email, computer skills and any number of online tools and applications to handle their online calendars, schedule appointments and meetings, make reservations, purchase tickets, set up reminders, organize events, file documents and more.

If this kind of work isn’t your thing, then it might sound a bit unglamorous. But if you’re the type of person who color-codes their planners and sends out Google calendar invitations for coffee dates, then being a virtual assistant could be a fun and fulfilling job — that you can do from home.

How much do you need?

with Fundera by NerdWallet

We’ll start with a brief questionnaire to better understand the unique needs of your business.

Once we uncover your personalized matches, our team will consult you on the process moving forward.

3. Researcher and fact-checker

From perusing old academic essays or case files to analyzing bibliographies or carrying out some market research, you can establish yourself as a professional researcher and fact-checker. Various types of businesses within several different industries need researchers and fact-checkers. Establishing a niche may help you better market your services.

You need to be organized, meticulous and skilled at communication. If that sounds like you, then add this to your personal list of home business ideas.

4. Social media manager

Today, every business, brand and public figure needs social media to engage with their audience, stay relevant and boost brand awareness.

And as it turns out, many companies pay pretty highly for people to manage their social media accounts well. If you can stay on brand, share content appropriately and reply to customers intelligently — while getting those precious likes, hearts, retweets and upvotes en masse — then you could be a killer social media manager.

5. Blogger and affiliate marketer

While managing a blog in and of itself won’t net you any money — in fact, it’ll cost you to purchase a domain, upgrade the appearance and run marketing campaigns — there are a few ways for you to monetize your blog. You could offer up advertising space, which is a useful but typically minor revenue stream, but a lot more money is often found in sponsorships and affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing, a sort of product placement, will let you receive payment from companies in return for advocating for their goods and services. Although this might sound a bit iffy, if you truly do recommend that your readers try out these products, then it doesn’t need to come across as sales-y or insincere. Readers will understand that you need to make money somehow, and many will appreciate your recommendations if they’re accurate.

6. Freelance designer

If you’re more of a visual person, then the freelance lifestyle can still work wonders. Try your hand at designing posters, flyers, or online advertisements for companies that don’t have the time or talent to do this work themselves.

As a freelance designer, you’ll build an online reputation and eventually have control over the projects and timelines you manage. Try out Behance and other freelance design sites to check out your options.

7. Freelance coder

Becoming a freelance coder is an especially great home-based business idea since it’s already a very commonplace gig. Whether you want the flexibility of being your own boss, enjoy taking on a wide diversity of projects rather than working with a single company, or prefer to travel instead of staying in one place, you've got many reasons to pursue freelance software development — even though technology companies and startups offer their own perks as well.

8. Online thrifter

Have a unique eye and the salesman’s pitch down to a science?

If so, you might want to consider running your own online thrift shop. Whether you focus on fashion specifically, another category of product, or prefer to amass collections of interesting items from all over the internet (but especially eBay), there’s always a strong demand for items with a story .

Give your store a compelling, memorable identity, and it will be seen as much more than a simple consignment store.

9. Data entry guru

It might not be the most lucrative or stimulating job in the universe, but data entry can certainly give you the funds you need to work from home or abroad. Plus, data entry jobs rarely require a lot of time or attention, unlike many on this list of home business ideas. You can listen to your favorite podcasts or audiobooks as you work your own hours.

Moreover, since all you need for data entry is a computer, this is certainly a home business idea with low startup costs — if you already own a laptop and have a reliable WiFi connection, you're pretty much all set.

10. College consultant

If you’re a top-notch editor with a deep understanding of how college admissions works — including standardized test preparation, personal statement requirements, supplemental essay requirements, applicant statistics and even financial aid — then you might be able to snag a rather well-paying job as a college consultant. Some families are willing and able to pay, and pay well, to make sure their kids submit the best possible applications to their dream schools.

This is by no means an easy job, as it requires a lot of knowledge and skillsets, but it can bring in a lot of cash for a home-based business.

11. Online tutor

Whether you’re an expert in a certain subject matter, like calculus or biology, or you’ve secured top scores on standardized tests, like the SATs or MCATs, you may be able to share that knowledge with current students looking to get an edge.

So if you have a passion for teaching, are up to date on the formats and policies of the tests you plan to instruct students on, and feel comfortable handling the content, then it might be time to start an online tutoring business.

And just like with the rest of these online home business ideas, you can easily service customers over the phone or, in this case, a video conferencing program like Skype or Zoom.

12. Translator

If you know multiple languages, then this is the home-based business idea for you. As a translator, you can service businesses and clients in a number of different ways. You can translate articles, press releases, e-books or other written work. You might also translate videos, podcasts or contribute to international closed captions for a variety of visual products. Moreover, you might connect with international businesses to serve as a translator for meetings or phone calls.

With experience in more than one language and access to the internet, you'll be surprised about how far-reaching your home translating business can extend.

13. Cybersecurity consultant

With even the biggest businesses around the world being subject to data breaches, cybersecurity is more important than ever. If you have experience with software and IT, a remote job as a cybersecurity consultant might be one of the best home business ideas for you.

From the comfort of your home, you can work with different companies to test their programs, software, backups, firewalls, encryption and generally assess potential threats to their network and advise them on the best cybersecurity practices. Although this may be one of the home-based business ideas on our list that requires the most training and education, it can be a highly lucrative position if you already have the knowledge, or are willing to work to obtain it.

14. Transcriptionist

Can you type extremely quickly while listening to someone talk? If the answer is yes, you might consider transcription services. Like data entry, this might not be the most exciting of our home business ideas but is certainly low-cost, flexible and you can get started very easily. There are all kinds of companies out there who hire freelance transcriptionists, as well as specific services that employ individuals to transcribe audio for various clients.

15. Travel planner

If you frequent websites like TripAdvisor and Yelp and are well-traveled yourself, you might extend your travel expertise to others as a home-based travel planner. You can use your experience to plan and book trips for your clients — manage hotel reservations, flights, excursions, create itineraries and offer tailored recommendations.

For families looking to go on a two-week vacation or couples planning their honeymoon, hiring someone to handle the details, big and small, of their trip, can be invaluable. Plus, in working with different hotels, resorts and vacation attractions, you'll start to build relationships with the staff — and possibly, receive discounts or perks that will make traveling on your own even easier (you might even start a travel blog while you're at it).

16. Fundraiser

If you have any prior experience managing campaigns and events, or simply have an electric personality, you might consider starting a freelance fundraising business. As a fundraising consultant, you'll have the opportunity to market for a business or cause and talk to prospective donors about how and why they should contribute to your campaign.

This home business idea is great for individuals with a background in nonprofit or government work, as well as former marketers or salespeople. If you have excellent people skills and a drive for meeting goals and getting results, this can easily be the right business for you.

17. Medical billing and coding

Although this job may require some form of medical background or schooling, it can be easily profitable and sustainable. Medical billing and coding connect health care providers, patients and insurance companies. As a medical biller and coder, therefore, you would work with patient records to determine the correct codes that are then verified by doctors and sent to insurance providers.

This career is a great business idea for nurses looking for a change; they can easily utilize their prior experience and relationships to succeed in this kind of self-employed role.

18. Video producing

With the prevalence of video in social media and marketing, the need for video producers and experts has only grown in recent years. Even if you don't have prior experience cutting and editing video, this is an online-based home business idea that you can easily learn and teach yourself with classes, tutorials and general guidance from the online video community.

Moreover, video production can transcend a number of different industries, styles and goals. As a video producer, you'll not only have the flexibility of working from home on a variety of projects, but you'll also have the ability to utilize your creativity on a daily basis.

19. Publicist

Looking for a way to combine your public speaking, communication and writing skills? You might consider serving as a freelance publicist or public relations consultant. You can greatly appeal to smaller businesses or individuals who can't invest in full PR teams or staff, but still need this kind of assistance for their organization.

As a freelance publicist, you may handle press releases, emails, social media — essentially, assisting with all facets of your clients' public-facing presence.

20. Customer service representative

Many companies now outsource their customer service to home-based representatives, so you should have no shortage of potential clients in this field. After all, any service- or product-based organization is more than likely going to have some kind of customer support need.

As a customer service representative, you'll be able to work with individuals online or over the phone and talk them through any issues they're having. If you have a communicative and approachable personality, this could be a great option for you.

21. Pet sitter or dog walker

As a pet sitter or a dog walker, you'll get to spend time with other people’s animals while they’re at work or on a trip. Simply follow your client's instructions, as well as your own experience and expertise, to provide care and comfort to these pets. It’s an easy way to get paid, especially if you’re an organized and trustworthy individual with a reputation for or history of animal care.

22. Arts and crafts master

Consider putting your knack for arts, crafts and design to use as the manager of an online store. So long as you believe your creations can find a market and sell at a profitable price, there’s very little stopping you from signing up as a seller on a site like Etsy and carving out your niche. While it might be a tough business, there’s plenty of wisdom out there to learn from.

23. Accountant

If you’re currently an accountant, transitioning to remote work might be as simple as letting your clients know that you work remotely now for reasons of convenience or perhaps hanging your own shingle out to start your own firm. On the other hand, if you’re looking to enter the industry (virtually or not), you should be aware of the training and certifications necessary.

24. T-shirt designer

The U.S. apparel industry is a $225 billion dollar market, and as it turns out, the T-shirt business is relatively quick, easy and painless to get into.

So if you’re interested in entering the eclectic and diverse T-shirt business with an idea or brand of your own, rejoice: This is certainly one of the best business ideas for setting your own hours and calling your own shots.

25. Cleaning service

If you love — or just don’t mind — cleaning up after others, then starting a cleaning business could give you the flexibility you want without forcing you to sit at a computer all day long.

However, this is an endeavor that could certainly grow into a much larger company if you’re successful, meaning that, eventually, you’d probably have to get an office and hire staff.

26. Massage therapist and wellness expert

Over the past decade, the massage therapy industry has grown nearly 20% with no indication of stopping. If this statistic interests you, then you might want to consider entering this burgeoning field.

After getting your massage therapy certification, along with the business license and massage equipment needed to work from home, you can turn your house into a local massage parlor for clients to come to, relax and improve their health and wellness. Plus, you could combine your massage therapy with a more holistic wellness practice or a nutritionist practice — but make sure to check your state’s licensing laws before offering dietary advice or supplements to customers.

27. Personal trainer

As a personal trainer, you could make house calls, visit a gym or let clients come to you (if you have the necessary equipment). You need to be very knowledgeable about everything from proper exercises for different body types to how to motivate people who want to get healthy. You should feel comfortable getting close to your clients in order to learn what works best for them.

Although a certification may not absolutely be necessary, it’s not a bad idea to find out if you can get one in your state before starting up, just in case.

28. Interior decorator

If you have an eye for composition, organization and feng shui, think about starting an interior design business . Partner with local furniture stores and design businesses (with your clients’ knowledge) to get good deals, help decorate public spaces and business interiors as well as houses and apartments, and let everyone in and outside your network know that your services are available.

29. Event planner

Everyone plans events — but not everyone lives and breathes it. Do you love coordinating food and drinks, invitations, scheduling conflicts, music, gifts, goody bags and every other aspect of the parties or events you’ve set up?

From birthdays to weddings, corporate get-togethers and local conventions, the world is your oyster when it comes to events to plan. If you’re passionate about logistics, then this could be the home business idea for you.

30. Caterer

If nobody you know can stop talking about your cooking, then maybe it’s time to charge for your services and talent and start a catering business .

While you won’t necessarily be able to do all of your catering work from home — you may need to use a commercial kitchen and will likely have to hire some part-time employees to help during events — much of the organization, planning, marketing and actual business work can be done wherever you like.

31. Bed-and-breakfast manager

This idea is for the folks who live in popular tourist locations, or would like to move to one. With some preparation, planning, tidying, cooking and a dash of advertising (made easier by services like Airbnb), you can convert your home into a bed-and-breakfast for weary travelers to rest in.

Keep in mind that you need spare bedrooms or a guest house for your customers, and you might want to invest in your cooking and decorating skills to leave a lasting positive impression. Good reviews go a long way in booking out your house for the future.

32. Florist

With a green thumb and a knack for crafts, you might consider opening a floral business to sell flowers and floral arrangements. Depending on your location, you could grow your own flowers, sell and arrange them at home; or, you can outsource the flowers, but still manage the whole of your operations from your own house.

33. Day care manager

Provided you have space, you can start a day care business by supervising a few children during the day — and expanding with staff to accommodate more kids as your business expands.

A day care can be an important business in a local community, especially if your town doesn't already have one. Plus, if you have any experience with teaching or kids, getting into this business will be quick, easy and rewarding.

34. Rideshare driver

Although not home-based per se, becoming a rideshare driver, with Uber or Lyft can offer the same flexibility and freedom as a business that's physically based in your home. As a rideshare driver, your business will more or less be based in your car, and you'll be able to choose your own hours and be your own boss. With the popularity of ridesharing apps continuing to grow, there's no shortage of clients looking for rides, especially if you live in a tourist area or near a big city.

35. Photographer

By starting your own home photography business, you can manage the operational side of your endeavor right from home and travel as needed to meet clients. If your home is particularly picturesque, you might even consider bringing clients there to take photographs or set up a home studio for portraits.

If you want to venture into event photography, you can market your services and look for clients who need professional photography for weddings, graduations, engagements or other events.

36. Landlord

If you have an extra room or guest house on your property, you might consider renting the space — or even investing in a separate property that you can market to renters. As a landlord, you'll be responsible for the upkeep of the property and dealing with any issues that arise with your renters, but you'll generally have flexibility in your business and be home-based.

37. Hair stylist or makeup artist

Are you the person that your friends come to for help with hair and makeup? If so, you might decide to start a home-based salon or makeup artistry business. You can set up a small place in your home with good lighting and the tools you'll need to service your clients, as well as create an on-the-go kit to offer hair and makeup in your clients' homes.

You may find that your hair or makeup business is particularly busy during prom and wedding season, which will be the perfect time to continue to market to new customers. If you have downtime during seasons, you might consider starting a hair or makeup blog or YouTube tutorial channel as well.

38. Eldercare

If you're passionate about helping people and have any experience in personal care, you might consider starting an eldercare business. Nursing homes can be expensive and people are often hesitant to put their family members in full-time care facilities. Therefore, you might decide to offer freelance care, traveling to your clients' homes and caring for them as needed. Keep in mind, you'll want to make sure you have any certifications and the proper training you need.

With the growing popularity of craft and local beers, you might consider brewing beer in your own home. Although this home business will require research, training and equipment, it can be sustainable if your properly market and sell your product.

Or, if you're particularly attracted to the brewing process but don't want to get involved in all of the other areas involved in selling beer, you might look into contract brewing, where you help beer companies make and package their beer. Either way, this can be a great hands-on business, especially if you like experimenting and figuring out how the best beer is made.

Even with all of the different brands and clothing stores out there, people are still going to have those moments where they need a piece of clothing fitted or repaired. If you have any skill with a needle or sewing machine, you might want to open up your own home tailor shop. As a tailor, you can perform fittings and alternations for dresses and suits, as well as repair damaged clothes.

Moreover, you might find there's a market for sewing personalization that you could capitalize on as well, especially for sports teams uniforms, wedding gifts, company swag and more.

Start Your Dream Business

Tips for starting a home-based business

Owning a home-based business is a dream that many people have. The good news is, the process is much more straightforward than you might think. If you're already working from home, contracting or freelancing, you may be able to turn your marketable skills into your own home business. Consider the following steps:

1. Craft a business plan

All businesses are born from a solid plan. Your home-based business is no different. Decide your company's purpose, figure out what service or products you will offer and set measurable targets and goals. You should also determine business financing options if you need initial capital to get started. Your business plan may adapt as your company evolves, but it's the foundation your company will grow upon.

2. Carve out a dedicated workspace

If you're new to working from home, you may think the kitchen table or couch makes for a perfect workspace. Unfortunately, when you're running your own home-based business, you may need a designated space to manage your business. This space does not have to be large and can always grow with time, but it should be separate from daily distractions in your home. If you don't have a second room to utilize, consider setting up your workspace in a spare bedroom or another less-trafficked room. You'll appreciate the privacy when you're taking work calls.

3. Choose a business entity

When planning home business ideas, you need to decide what type of business you want to form. Each business type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so make sure you do thorough research before deciding on one.

You don't have to form your own business to work from home, but doing so can be beneficial when filing your taxes and separating personal and business expenses.

The bottom line

If you're exploring small-business ideas from home to find the one that will be cost-effective, fit your skills and inspire you—we hope you found the right idea on our list; or, if not, you at least came up with a brilliant home business idea of your own.

The market for working from home (and home-based businesses) continues to grow, especially in small communities and niche markets. If you're intent on shifting to a home-based career, then, the opportunity is out there to start, sustain and even grow your own business.

On a similar note...

Office Technology | Tip List

8 Best Home Office Setup Ideas for 2024 (+ Productivity Tips)

Published May 2, 2024

WRITTEN BY: Marianne De Guzman

This article is part of a larger series on Unified Communications .

1. Find an Ideal Work Area

2. choose the right equipment for your workflow, 3. get reliable internet service.

• 4. Invest in Ergonomic Furniture
• 5. Optimize Lighting
• 6. Use the Right Communication Tools

7. Personalize Your Space

• 8. Keep It Tidy

Bottom Line

The best home office setup strikes the balance between comfort and functionality in terms of equipment, furniture, and design. With your needs and preferences in mind, invest in ergonomic furniture, keep your work area clutter-free, optimize lighting control, and choose the right equipment for your workflow. To get you started, here’s a compilation of the best ​​home office setup ideas for work-from-home professionals:

The desk location is the most important consideration when deciding the best home office layout, as this is the same place where you work and join video conferences. We recommend placing the desk in a spot where you can look at something pleasing, such as your house’s garden or near the window of your mini library.

Set up your office in such a way that makes a good background for your online meetings. Your background should be tidy and void of personal items. A neutral background for video calls is ideal so it doesn’t distract others during the meeting.

Your home office should be a great spot for virtual meetings.

The lighting and sound will also affect your meetings’ image and audio quality. If you live near a busy street or have kids or pets at home, soundproofing your office with wool or foam can help absorb the sound.

Creating a home computer setup requires proper tools to make managing tasks easier and improve comfort while accomplishing to-dos. Since modern work involves long hours sitting in front of the computer, the right equipment should promote efficiency and align with your current workflow. Below, we covered the must-have office gadgets for your home office .

With most of our work done online, a fast and reliable internet is essential in completing your office setup at home. If your job involves frequent collaboration and high bandwidth usage, it’s even more important to have high-speed internet.

There are two options to consider: upgrade your internet service or reconsider the router placement. If your home office is far from the router or blocked by walls, there’s a good chance of encountering internet problems. If you cannot rearrange the router, one way to improve internet speed is to use Wi-Fi extenders or repeaters.

4. Use the Right Communication Tools

With the rise of remote work, software solutions for project management, messaging, and video conferencing are critical to team collaboration. These tools include a wealth of features that enable distributed teams to synchronize work and stay connected amid geographical constraints.

If you’re working from home, having a dedicated business phone number separates your work and personal calls. A VoIP provider like Ooma lets you choose between a free home phone service or a premium office plan with a local or toll-free number included. Check our in-depth Ooma review to get a closer look at its budget-friendly VoIP offerings.

Ooma lets you make calls directly from your desktop. (Source: Ooma )

To reduce the amount of app switching, unified communications (UC) providers bundle voice, chat, and video capabilities into one platform. This integrated solution provides a single workspace where teams discuss projects and share files within a single screen. If you plan to invest in a UC solution, here are some noteworthy providers to consider:

5. Invest in Ergonomic Furniture

The best office setups aren’t complete without ergonomic furniture. Depending on your needs, options range from adjustable chairs, height-adjustable desks, and footrests to laptop stands.

Ergonomic chairs are a home office staple, allowing users to sit comfortably for hours while working.

An ergonomic desk allows you to adjust the surface at elbow level when seated.

If you want some movement, a height-adjustable desk lets you switch between sitting and standing with the push of a button. Those looking for a budget-friendly ergonomic option may consider a laptop stand that raises the laptop to a certain height, preventing users from hunching over the screen.

6. Optimize Lighting

An ideal working-from-home setup offers great visibility of the task you’re working on. If your home office doesn’t have access to natural light, use lamp shades to create a diffused type of lighting that’s easy on the eyes. Task lighting is ideal if you’re working on documents.

Bring natural light into your home office to improve the ambiance and aesthetics of the space.

As much as possible, maximize natural lighting. Aside from keeping you more productive at work, natural light drastically enhances your appearance on video calls, especially when facing a window. The light fills the sides and helps project accurate skin tones during video meetings.

The overall design of your home office influences mood and motivation. Picking the right hues for your home office creates wonders for your productivity. Colors are not just home office decor elements—they evoke an ambiance that affects your state of mind when working. Color therapy suggests that green is calming, yellow improves concentration, and orange enhances moods.

The most amazing home office setups feature an abundance of greenery, as plants help relieve stress and improve concentration . Studies show that people who have plants in their workspace tend to perform better . If you’re looking for low-maintenance greenery, snake plants, aloe, and English ivy are some great choices.

Plants add visual appeal to a home office and relieve work stress.

In terms of furnishings, you can go for simple, streamlined pieces. You can also incorporate artwork or photos that motivate you. Get inspiration from home office ideas online if you’re unsure how to incorporate certain hues or decors.

8. Keep the Work Area Tidy

The desk easily fills up with stuff when you’re busy working. If left unchecked, you may end up surrounded by a mountain of files reminding you of things to address. A study reveals that clutter negatively affects work satisfaction and increases the risk of burnout. In this case, make it a habit to clean your desk and be organized as you work.

The level of neatness will either improve or dampen work efficiency. For a clutter-free workspace, here are some office setup ideas to consider:

• Use a filing cabinet for important files and place it near your work desk so they’re easy to reach.
• For books and other materials worth displaying, put them on floating shelves.
• Unsightly items like wired electronics can be placed in bins and baskets.
• Store office supplies like notebooks and sticky notes in desk organizers with different compartments.
• Hang a pegboard on the wall to hold items like headphones and pens so they’re easy to reach when needed.

Productivity Tips for Work-from-home Professionals

While a home office sets you up for better productivity, it takes good habits to maximize its benefits. In this section, we tackle the best practices to maximize time while working from home.

• Treat your home office like a “real” office: In the same way you condition yourself to get the job done when reporting to the office, your mind and body should be in work mode as soon as you step inside your home office. Remove everything that steals your focus, like pets and television.
• Create a schedule for the day: It’s easier to manage tasks and stay committed to finishing them when you have a schedule. This way, you’ll feel more motivated to follow through with your to-do’s for the day. monday.com, Trello, and Todoist are some of the best task management apps worth using.
• Work during your most productive period: Everyone has different times for productivity peaks. Figure out yours by observing your alertness, energy level, and productivity at different hours of the day. Once you determine that, schedule your most important tasks for that specific period.
• Do more than the minimum: Tasks often take longer to finish than you initially expected. As a result, you usually accomplish less than you planned to cover. Rather than sticking to the minimum number of deliverables for the day, plan to do more so you can work harder. If you fail to meet your target, you’ll still see more tasks finished at the end of the day.
• Use the Pomodoro technique: The Pomodoro technique is a productivity hack that involves breaking work into intervals. Set your timer to 25 minutes, and then take a short five-minute break. After three or four sets of 25-minute work, take a longer break for about 20 to 30 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What factors should i consider when buying an ergonomic chair.

When shopping for a chair, choose an adjustable seat height, lumbar and arm support, back tilt tension, and a headrest. Go for those made of comfortable materials with enough padding so you can sit comfortably for hours. The seat width must provide ample space for thigh support. At the same time, the chair must be deep enough that your back can lean against the backrest comfortably.

How do I safely manage multiple cords & outlets in my home computer setup?

It’s worth buying a power strip for additional office equipment such as a printer, dual monitor, and fax machine. When shopping for one, consider the number of outlets, cord length, and safety features like 15- or 20-amp circuit breakers. A great tip is to choose power strips with USB ports.

What are some budget-friendly ways to design a home office?

An inspiration wall is one of the most affordable home office setup ideas to enhance your space’s visual appeal. Turn an empty wall in your office into an inspirational corner where you hang beautiful photos, favorite brands and quotes, and different illustrations that motivate you. When curated well, this also makes for an excellent background for video meetings.

To maximize the benefits of remote work, setting up a dedicated office at home is necessary. It should have the right tools, promote a comfortable ambiance, and make it easy to get the job done. When done right, the best home office setup provides cost savings, promotes greater flexibility in scheduling, and prevents commuting stress, contributing to greater job satisfaction and productivity.

About the Author

Find Marianne On LinkedIn

Marianne De Guzman

Marianne is a staff writer covering business phone systems, unified communications, and contact center platforms. She started her career as a freelance content writer, producing hundreds of content for global clients. From there, she built her expertise in writing about software as a service (SaaS) content.

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Starting A Home Organizing Business: Turn Chaos Into Cash

Hi, I’m Ryan

As an avid minimalist, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the best and most effective way to organize a home. I’ve learned many tricks of the trade over the years when it comes to professional organizing!

Is Starting A Home Organizing Business Right For You?

The idea of starting your own home organization business may feel like a pipe dream, but with a little passion and a lot of planning, you can turn that dream into a reality. When I was beginning my own tiny house business , I was starting something brand new: turning my dream into a business.

You don’t have to be a seasoned entrepreneur to make your dream work. If you have the right tools, the skillset, and the focus to take all the necessary steps, you’ve got this in the bag!

Is There A Good Market For Home Organizing Businesses?

Home organizers are in higher demand than ever before, and for good reason! As people have begun to use their house for more than just day-to-day living, the need for structure and home organization has risen. The increase in minimalist living trends has also encouraged more people to get their homes and lives in better order.

Will A Home Organizing Business Be Successful Where You Live?

If you’re wondering whether or not a home organization business will be successful where you live, your best bet is going to be to research the local home organizing industry. Find out what type of home organization services are needed most in your area, so you can determine whether your niche is a good fit.

If you want to go the extra mile, reach out to one of the business owners in your local area to see what advice they have about staking your ground in the city you live in! You’ll find it’s even helpful to talk to friends or acquaintances who are in different industries or lines of work. So long as they’re local business owners, they’ll have some valuable insight for you.

Types Of Home Organizing Businesses

There are a variety of home organization businesses out there, but the type of home organization business that you choose will dictate how you navigate everything in your business plan, from which clients you serve to how you run your organizing sessions.

Examples of different organizing businesses and specialties include

• General home organizing
• Household management
• Move management
• Paper management
• People with disabilities
• Memorabilia and collections
• Space planning and design
• Storage units
• Task and time management
• Children / Students
• Chronic disorganization
• Closets or closet design
• Clutter control
• Digital organizing
• Eco-organizing
• Estate management
• Garage, attic, or basement
• Garage or estate sales
• Hoarding behavior
• Home offices
• Home staging

It’s important to choose a niche that personally suits you, so you can really put your heart into your work. Do you love working with seniors to downsize their space , or enjoy creating workable home systems for busy moms? Your organizing business should be a reflection of who you are and what you do best.

Is A Home Organizing Business Profitable?

Whether a client needs help organizing their house, office, or studio, a professional home organizer is always a sensible way to go.

12 Steps To Starting A Home Organizing Business

If you’re ready to begin your own home organizing business, you’ll need some tools to help you get started. Quality marketing strategies, an effective business model, and a catchy name are just a few musts to get your own home organization business up and running as soon as possible.

Define What You’re Selling

It’s important that your specific home organization niche is clear both to you and the clients you serve! The first question you need to ask yourself before planning any other aspect of your business is what type of services you plan to provide.

When defining your product, be as specific as possible. You want to make your clients aware of the exact skills and services that they’ll be getting when they hire you.

Determine Your Pricing, Costs, and Profit

After identifying the specific services you want to offer, you’ll need to figure out what to charge your clients, what your supply costs will be, and your estimated profits.

To do this, make a list of each of the individual services you will offer in your business. From there, think through all of the needed supplies to achieve that service, and write down the cost of those needs. This will help you create an accurate estimate of your supply costs.

You should also account for how much time each service will take. After all, time is money ! Knowing how much time a particular project or service takes on average will help you to determine what services you can offer within a specific time frame. Which tasks will require just a single day of work, and which projects might take several days or weeks?

Potential Costs For A Home Organizing Business

• Cleaning supplies
• Storage bins, baskets, and other containers
• Label maker and labels
• Gas and transportation
• Computer, supplies, and business equipment
• Office or desk space
• Digital tools (web domain, software, apps, social media)
• Marketing tools (graphic design, business cards, logo)
• Legal services
• Hiring and paying employees

Once you have a general idea of what your supply costs will be, you’ll be able to create a rate that makes sense for you and your business. You might assume that a flat rate is the best way to go, but there are many different ways to charge clients as a home organization business.

Home Organization Business Pricing Guide

Package rates can offer better deals for your clients the more often they book you, which can be a smart business strategy. An hourly rate can be financially wiser, as projects that take longer will earn you more money. Using a fixed rate can be easier when it comes to budgeting and keeping track of your finances .

Overall, there isn’t one way to go that’s better than the other. It really just depends on what makes the most sense for you and the way you want to run your business.

Determine Which Tasks You’ll Need To Outsource

It’s unlikely that you will be able to handle every aspect of your business entirely on your own. One of the business strategies I always lean on is hiring others to do the tasks I either don’t have the skills to do or really don’t want to handle alone.

Then, make a list of the skills you don’t have and the tasks you absolutely do not want to handle, and think through the type of worker you’ll need on your team to fill in these gaps.

Payroll and accounting are some of the most common tasks that small business owners choose to outsource. It also might be a smart idea to hire out for marketing or graphic design so you can focus on what you do best: organizing your clients’ homes.

Validate Your Idea With A Business Model Template

Developing a successful business model is key for any successful business venture. Especially in this kind of business, you want to make sure you have all of your ducks in a row. Being prepared and put together for a client is crucial to establishing a positive relationship, especially in the business of organizing.

Using a pre-established business template is a wise move when starting anything new. It’ll help you keep your ideas in order and figure out the exact plan you should follow to make your business a success.

A Business Template Should Include The Following Items

• Potential or established partnerships
• Cost structure
• Value propositions
• Revenue streams
• Customer relationships
• Customer segments

Develop A Savvy Business Plan

After filling out your home organization business template and creating a preliminary plan, it’s time to lean into developing your own business plan and identify your goals . The purpose of the business plan is to iron out the concrete details to support the higher brow concepts that you’ve already identified in your business template.v

A Successful Business Plan Should Include The Following Elements

• Business summary
• Company description
• Marketing plan
• Products and services
• Strategy and implementation
• Financial plan and projections
• Policies and procedures

A business plan for a home organizing business will likely look similar to any other business plan, but with the specifics geared toward your niche. Your business plan should help you define the intricate details of your business like how much to charge, how to track your clients, and more.

Come Up With A Name That Sticks

Every business needs a catchy name. Your company name is the first thing potential clients will associate with you and your product. It’s the backbone of your reputation as a company — no pressure!

Be sure to look up whether or not your business name has already been taken by checking with the United States Patent and Trademark Office .

Create Your Own Website

Good news: you don’t have to be a tech wizard to create a website. Your website doesn’t have to include all the bells and whistles, it just needs to be effective at communicating what you do and telling customers how to get in touch or schedule a service. You can use a website builder and set yours up in an afternoon.

Small Business Website Builders

• Squarespace
• Google Sites

Consider creating your own domain name to pair with your new site. Websites with URLs like thetinylife.wix.com or thetinylife.wordpress.com look significantly less professional than thetinylife.com, so buying a domain name is money well spent.

Where To Buy A Domain Name For Small Business

• Google Domains

Once you’ve officially made your business an online home, don’t forget to add or claim your business profile on Google , so searchers can easily find you.

Get Your Finances Straight For Your Home Organizing Business

It’s important to have a firm grasp on your finances when starting a small business of any kind. I won’t claim to be an expert on financial management, but I do think I’ve learned a ton over the past decade about what to and what not to do when managing money for a small business.

Go In With A Plan

The Rule Of Three

One rule of thumb that I always work by when it comes to calculating and keeping track of my own profit is the rule of three. When broken down, the rule of three is a pretty simple one to follow.

Be Smart About Your Budget

A Budget Can Help You With The Following

• Spend wisely
• Manage sales
• Understand true costs of your business
• Plan cashflow
• Handle payroll
• Make appropriate tax deductions
• Avoid or reduce debt
• Create a rainy-day fund

Gather Supplies For Home Organizing

Before you kick things off, make sure you’re fully equipped with everything you’ll need. The list of tools and supplies that most home organizing businesses needs isn’t a terribly long one, but it includes things for cleaning, creating an organizing system, and taking care of yourself.

  Bags And Storage

Bags and various storage solutions are the cornerstone to home organizing. Large storage bins, clear bins, and assorted bag sizes are going to be crucial. The bins will help you create places for all items to live in an organized fashion, while the bags will be perfect for both storing and hauling away items.

Storage solution stores and big box stores are the best places to buy bins for a home organizing business. You’ll be able to buy your supplies in bulk, at the best prices.

  Labeling Supplies

As you’re sorting, organizing, and putting everything in its place, labels are going to be your best friend. Not only will they help you keep track of what you’re working with, but they’ll also help create a system that’s easy for the homeowner to keep up with. Markers, labels, and a label maker are must-haves.

  Simple Tools

Scissors, screwdrivers, pliers, and box cutters are going to help you cut through mess and put the world back together as you organize.

  Personal Protective Equipment

Start Building Your Client Base

Creating a business alone is not enough to make the clients flood in. In fact, the reality is, no one is going to use your home organization services unless you find strategies to make them notice you. No matter how big or small you’re starting, these are some good ways to start building clientele.

Lean On Friends And Family

Ask people close to you if you can organize a space in their home or office for them and use the experience as a resume builder. Don’t forget to take high-quality before and after photos!

Collect Good Reviews

Those organizing guinea pigs can also leave you honest reviews on Google, social media, and your website. As you go forward, always ask your customers to write reviews. Whether you’ve been in business for a week or five years, good reviews keep your business looking relevant and active.

Create Content

Create some content that shares organizing strategies that you’ve used in your own home or with friends and family. This content can be anything from social media posts to blog articles to organizing tip sheets.

Showcase your skills and that portfolio of before and after photos on your social media and website to attract potential customers. A strong and active social media presence is a must for home organizers, because it’s the best way to show off the before and after photos of your freshly clean and organized homes. Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok are all popular platforms for home organizers.

Share The Love

Market Your Home Organizing Business Strategically

The approaches that work to help you establish your client base can also keep it growing. But once you’re established, there are a few other ways you can market your home organizing business.

Ways To Market Yourself As A Small Business

• Encourage word-of-mouth referrals
• Offer discounted services to early or regular clients
• Post signs or flyers around your neighborhood or community where allowed
• Get featured in local media, showcasing your service
• List your business on referral sites (NAPO, Find my Organizer, Angie, Thumbtack)
• Host organizing workshops in your community or online
• Attend networking events
• Pay for online ads

Turn Your Organizing Business Into A Legal Entity

Filing your business as a legal entity is one of the best ways to not only make your business official but validate your credibility within your trade. Deciding how or whether to register your home organizing business is complicated, and depends greatly on where you live, how big your business is, and how serious you are about growth.

Most small business owners file either as a sole proprietorship or a limited liability corporation (LLC) .

You’ll likely want to open a small business bank account so you can accept payments and keep your business finances straightforward and easy to track. One notable downside to filing as a sole proprietorship is that you aren’t able to separate your personal assets from your business liability.

In contrast, if you file as an LLC, your business liability is entirely separate from your personal assets (and you’ve got to prove that to the IRS). An LLC also provides more flexibility when you’re ready to scale and grow your business in the future. However, filing as an LLC is more complicated in terms of keeping up with paperwork and taxes.

When establishing your home organizing business as an LLC, each state will have different individual requirements, so make sure you read into the specifics of your state. It’s also a wise move to look into getting business insurance as an LLC.

Make Your Business Stand Out With Certification

Bonus: Define Professional Partnerships To Achieve Your Goals

Now, here’s where I’ll make my pitch! At the end of the day, any small business is far more successful when it has established professional partnerships.

Working with The Tiny Life as part of your marketing can help promote your business, bring new clients to your door, bring credible awareness to your company, and get you to your sales goals faster.

We’ve done it time and time again with our partners to great effect. I love helping new business owners promote their passions. Please feel free to reach out so we can talk about how we might work together!

Tips For Starting A Home Organizing Business

At the end of the day, your integrity and the way you handle challenges and obstacles as a business owner will matter a lot more than having a fancy logo or catchy title. The most successful businesses are the ones with good leaders, and any tips I have to give about business management stem from strengthening your leadership and thus, strengthening your team.

Know Your Strengths And Limitations

Understanding the strengths and limitations of your team is crucial to being an effective leader. The best way to lead a business is to recognize the strengths of the team that you already have and place them in positions that cater to those strengths. It’s equally as important to recognize the initial weaknesses of your team and have compassion and understanding for them, while also helping them work to improve.

Welcome Failure, Then Get Back To Work

If you’re new to the small business game, it’s likely that you might feel a sense of pressure to be perfect at what you’re doing from the get go. However, I encourage you to welcome failure. In my experience, failure is a more productive tool for the success of a business than nailing everything on your first try.

Don’t Forget To Enjoy What You Do And The Impact You Make

I have come across far too many business owners who forget why they started doing the work they do in the first place. You should continue to find joy in the work you do , even as your business grows and challenges arise. The entrepreneurial path won’t be all sunshine and rainbows. However, it’s crucial that you remain in tune with the reason you started your business in the first place.

Books That Can Help You Get Started And Stay Motivated

There are books and other resources than can help you successfully kick start your home organization business. Below are some of the books that I would recommend.

Starting A Home Organization Business Books

Home Organization: The #1 Guide To Organizing Your Home

by Nigel Francis

The No-Nonsense Home Organization Plan

by Kim Davidson Jones

Organized Living: Solutions and Inspiration for Your Home

by Shira Gill

The $100 Startup

by Chris Guillebeau

The 1-Page Marketing Plan

by Allan Dib

Profit First

by Mike Michalowicz

• What strategies will make your home organization business flourish?
• What long-term goals do you have for your business?

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• Government efficiency, transparency and accountability
• Home Office Outcome Delivery Plan
• Home Office

Home Office Outcome Delivery Plan: 2021 to 2022

Published 15 July 2021

© Crown copyright 2021

This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected] .

Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.

This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/home-office-outcome-delivery-plan/home-office-outcome-delivery-plan-2021-to-2022

Secretary of State for the Home Office: The Rt Hon Priti Patel MP

Permanent Secretary: Matthew Rycroft CBE

At the Home Office, we are committed to realising our vision for a safe, fair and prosperous UK. This Outcome Delivery Plan underlines our commitment to the British people. We will restore confidence in the criminal justice system and protect homeland security. Having taken back control, we will attract talent and advance Britain’s place in the world. We will work tirelessly, in open engagement and collaboration with the public and our partners across government and beyond.

The Windrush Lessons Learned Review continues to act as a catalyst for deep and genuine change across the Home Office. We are working hard to support those affected by the Windrush scandal and transform the culture within the department. Our work and our relationships will be underpinned by our values: being respectful, compassionate, courageous and collaborative.

Building on these foundations, we will create One Home Office, which is trusted by the public, where every one of our people can fulfil their potential, and where all of us can be proud, not just of the work we do, but also of the organisation to which we belong.

We will take forward the lessons we have learned during the Covid-19 pandemic, in which the Home Office has demonstrated its incredible ability to adapt, and we will build back better and safer. We will take full advantage of the opportunities that exiting the European Union brings. Right across the Home Office, from crime and policing and counter-terrorism to the border, citizenship and immigration, we are implementing new systems and technology and making better use of data and analysis to reduce crime, enhance our security, make better decisions, and provide more efficient services.

We are confident that through this plan we will lay the foundation for the Home Office of the future; a Home Office that delivers on our key priorities, keeping people safe while also ensuring the UK remains prosperous and an attractive place to live, work and invest.

A. Executive summary

Our vision is for a UK that is safe, fair and prosperous, where people live and work together productively, feel secure in their homes and communities, and make the most of the opportunities afforded by a great, independent UK. By safeguarding our freedoms and protecting vulnerable people, we create the conditions for a prosperous global Britain where people across the UK live full, productive lives and have the best possible opportunities.

Together, we are creating One Home Office, learning the lessons from previous treatment of the Windrush generation and earning the public’s trust. We are making a Home Office where every one of our people can fulfil their potential, and where all of us are proud of the work we do and the organisation to which we belong.

Our priority outcomes

This delivery plan sets out in detail how we will deliver our priority outcomes [footnote 1] , how we will measure our success and how we will ensure we continuously improve to:

• Reduce crime
• Reduce the risk from terrorism to the UK and UK interests overseas
• Enable the legitimate movement of people and goods to support economic prosperity
• Tackle illegal migration, remove those with no right to be here and protect the vulnerable

As a further element of our work to keep the public safe, we are committed to preventing fires and reducing their harm so that a tragedy like Grenfell Tower never happens again. Together with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, wider government and fire and rescue services we are responding to the recommendations from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.

In addition, we are supporting the delivery of the following priority outcomes led by other departments:

seize EU Exit opportunities, through creating the world’s most effective border to increase UK prosperity and enhance security (Cabinet Office)

support the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people through high quality local services so that no one is left behind (Department for Education)

end rough sleeping through more effective prevention and crisis intervention services, and reduce homelessness by enabling local authorities to fully meet their statutory duties (Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government)

deliver swift access to justice (Ministry of Justice)

Strategic enablers

To deliver our priority outcomes - and reinforce the ambitions of the Declaration on Government Reform - we will focus on four key enablers:

• workforce, skills and location
• innovation, technology and data
• delivery, evaluation and collaboration
• sustainability

B. Introduction

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen profound changes in demand on the Home Office, from police enforcement of Covid rules through to a shift online creating greater opportunities for cyber crime, extremism and terrorism. The recovery from Covid-19 in 2021/22 is uncertain; some crime types such as acquisitive crime may revert to previous levels, whereas others linked to greater online activity may have changed permanently, along with working patterns of our staff.

Having left the EU, 2021/22 offers opportunities to attract the brightest and best to the UK through a new immigration system, improve our border processes and implement an extensive programme of work to improve the way we interact with all the communities we serve in response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review.

Governance and delivery agencies

We have new organisational structures that will enable us, as One Home Office, to deliver better outcomes for the public. Our Science, Technology, Analysis, Research and Strategy (STARS) team sets and maintains strategic direction for the department. Our three mutually supporting Missions lead the end-to-end delivery of our core outcomes, working in conjunction with our five Capabilities to provide best in class services.

• Public Safety Mission: principally reduces crime
• Homeland Security Mission: reduces the risk to the UK from terrorism, state threats and economic crime and cyber crime
• Migration and Borders Mission: principally enables the legitimate movement of people and goods, tackles illegal migration and protects the vulnerable
• five cross-cutting capabilities are integral to delivering these outcomes: Borders & Enforcement; Communications; Corporate Enablers; Customer Service and Legal
• STARS is our strategic centre that informs, sets direction and coordinates cross-cutting priorities, including international and data capabilities
• we work with 30 agencies and public bodies to deliver this work

Overview of strategic risk

In delivering these outcomes, we have identified the following key opportunities and risks.

Opportunities

• recruiting 20,000 additional police officers will enhance our capability to tackle crime and protect the vulnerable
• building a new, strong and secure border and immigration system will enable us to keep the public safe, promote prosperity and protect the vulnerable
• our Windrush reform programme will support our commitment to rebuild public trust; listening to community voices, we will earn the confidence of the public we serve and deliver reforms such as greater transparency
• more effective use of data, research and analysis will inform decision making; innovative use of technology and automation will deliver effective, reliable and secure public safety, immigration and border services
• embracing remote working and technology will improve efficiency and diversity and support the government’s ambition for ‘levelling up’, including Places for Growth
• developing bilateral and multilateral relationships will enable us to share information, mitigate threats and enhance trade
• unemployment, poverty and income inequality could lead to upward pressure on crime and increased support for extremist groups or political parties; both factors are heavily influenced by the duration and scale of impacts from Covid-19
• an increasingly online and connected world is more vulnerable to cyber attacks and changing patterns of criminal behaviour; law enforcement agencies are in a technological arms race with organised crime groups and hostile states
• police and support services need to be ready to respond to additional demand that could arise from increased reporting of crimes that have been traditionally under-reported, like modern slavery, violence against women and girls, and domestic abuse
• departmental income from visa and immigration services is uncertain and may decrease

Our resources

Our finances in 2021/22.

• Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL): £13.73 billion (excluding depreciation, non-cash)
• Resource DEL: £12.8 billion
• Capital DEL: £0.89 billion
• Annually Managed Expenditure (AME): £2.32 billion

Control totals included in this document are in line with those presented in the Main Supply Estimates 2021. Any changes arising from the Parliamentary approval process will be reflected in due course.

Source: Main Supply Estimates 2021/22

In this environment, the importance of our work has never been greater. We need to have the resources to do our work effectively and respond to new priorities as they arise.

As of 31 March 2021, the Home Office had 32,716 permanent civil servants.

Source: ONS public sector employment data

Release schedule: quarterly. This figure does not include temporary employees.

Breakdown of resources allocated by work as of April 2021

*Customer Service is made up of areas of the Home Office that attract income - HM Passport Office and UK Visas and Immigration. This income offsets the significant expenditure to run these and associated operations.

C. Delivery plans for priority outcomes

1. reduce crime.

Lead minister: Kit Malthouse MP, Minister for Crime and Policing

Senior sponsor: Rachel Watson, Acting Director General, Public Safety Mission

Outcome strategy

Clear evidence shows crime has a common set of drivers: drugs, alcohol, opportunity, profit, vulnerability, and the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. Every department is using the tools at its disposal to reduce crime. In addition to leading a cross-department delivery plan, we are investing directly in law enforcement, recruiting 20,000 additional police officers and funding evidence-based programmes in high-crime areas.

We are doubling investment in tackling county lines and drugs supply and a range of other initiatives to tackle the causes of crime. We are developing a strategy to combat violence against women and girls as well as domestic abuse. We are increasing the number of effective trials for child sexual exploitation and abuse and rape, so that cases reach court and justice is served more quickly.

Departments supporting the outcome delivery

• the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is reducing young people’s vulnerabilities associated with being victims or perpetrators of crime and makes the UK the safest and fairest place to be online
• the Department for Education is supporting the most disadvantaged and vulnerable children and young people through high quality local services so that no one is left behind
• the Department for Health & Social Care is reducing health vulnerabilities associated with offending and improving the healthcare for victims
• the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government is reducing crime risk factors in vulnerable families, improving the built environment to deter offending and supporting families with complex needs
• the Ministry of Justice is ensuring criminals are brought to justice and reducing reoffending
• the Law Officers’ Departments are working with the police to ensure that cases progress more effectively and efficiently through the criminal justice system
• the Department for Work and Pensions is providing employment support to individuals at risk of involvement in crime

Our performance metrics

The following metrics are key indicators of progress in delivering this outcome, but they do not reflect everything we do. Recent figures may have been influenced by the pandemic.

Police numbers, including progress in increasing to an additional 20,000 warranted officers in England and Wales

Source: Home Office: Pre-uplift statistics and uplift statistics released monthly.

Homicide – rolling 12-month total

Source: Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics . Figures apply to England and Wales. Release schedule: quarterly. Year ending June and year ending September 2020 include 39 homicide victims whose bodies were found in a lorry in Grays, Essex in October 2019.

Number of drug related homicides

Source: Appendix tables: homicide in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics . Figures apply to England and Wales. Release schedule: annually.

Serious violence – rolling 12-month total, under-25s hospital admissions for ‘sharp object assault’

Source: NHS data. Figures apply to England. Release schedule: monthly.

Neighbourhood crime – year to date total for robbery, theft from the person, burglary and vehicle crime

Source: Crime in England and Wales: Appendix tables - Office for National Statistics . Figures apply to England and Wales. Release schedule: quarterly. The figures show broad trend only. The face-to-face Crime Survey has been temporarily suspended, so figures from June 2020 onwards are taken from the telephone operated Crime Survey for England and Wales, which is not directly comparable.

Key supporting projects and programmes

The following projects and programmes support this outcome:

The Police Uplift Programme is delivering an additional 20,000 police officers in England and Wales by the end of this Parliament. Surge funding will be available for forces to bid into, supporting them in their efforts to reduce crime.

The National Law Enforcement Data Programme will replace the Police National Computer with a new joined-up information system, on-demand and at the point of need, to prevent crime and better safeguard the public.

Continued support for violence reduction units brings together police, local government, health and education professionals, community leaders and other partners to combat serious violence; Project Adder protects communities from crime caused by illegal drugs, through increased resource and co-ordination of enforcement activity alongside diversionary interventions and treatment and recovery provision. The Safer Streets Fund prevents neighbourhood crime and other priority crime types through an evidence-based focus on crime hotspots.

Implementing the Domestic Abuse Act and new strategies on domestic abuse, violence against women and girls and hate crimes.

Outcome evaluation plan

Evaluation is already taking place on projects to tackle drug supply and county lines, child sexual exploitation and abuse, neighbourhood crime, serious violence, and violence against women and girls. Further evaluation plans will build on this.

How our work contributes to delivery of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The Home Office shares responsibility with other government departments for supporting delivery of the UN SDGs. This outcome contributes to the delivery of the following goals:

Reduce crime - link to SDGs

2. reduce the risk from terrorism to the uk and uk interests overseas.

Lead minister: Rt Hon Priti Patel MP, Home Secretary

Senior sponsor: Chloe Squires, Director General for Homeland Security Mission

Our overall strategy is set out publicly in the cross-government counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, which comprises the workstrands of Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare. The workstrands each reduce an element of the risk from terrorism and collectively provide a balanced and comprehensive response.

The Prevent pillar uses a variety of levers to stop individuals from becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism, for example support through Channel. The Pursue pillar aims to stop terrorist attacks happening in this country, or against UK interests overseas, using the capabilities at our disposal across all partners.

The Protect pillar reduces vulnerability to a terrorist attack in the UK, or against UK interests overseas. Finally, the Prepare pillar aims to save lives, reduce harm, and aid recovery quickly in the event of a terrorist attack.

• the delivery of Contest is supported by 22 government departments and agencies, the three devolved administrations, the UK’s posts overseas and UK local authorities
• the Contest Unit, a cross-government team based in the Home Office, oversees strategic delivery on behalf of the Home Secretary and the National Security Council
• the National Security Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, oversees Contest
• the Cabinet Office National Security Secretariat sets strategic intelligence gathering priorities and leads on the delivery of strategic intelligence assessments
• the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the armed forces and defence’s contribution to counter-terrorism including specialist assets and teams, and delivery of counter-terrorism training and capability programmes overseas
• the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office is responsible for international delivery of the government’s counter-terrorism strategy

The following metrics are key indicators of progress in delivering this outcome but they do not reflect everything we do. Recent figures may have been influenced by the pandemic.

UK threat level

Source: UK threat level, set by Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, from MI5 website. Release schedule: threat levels do not have any set expiry date but are regularly subject to review.

Charging outcomes following an arrest for terrorist-related activity, 9 quarters to 31 March 2021, Great Britain

Source: Operation of police powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 and subsequent legislation: Arrests, outcomes, and stop and search Great Britain, year ending March 2021

Statistics are published quarterly.

Outcome of terrorism-related trials under TACT and non-TACT legislation, year ending 31 March 2021, England and Wales

Percentage of prevent (anti-radicalisation) referrals discussed at a channel (anti-radicalisation) panel.

Source: Home Office, Individuals referred to and supported through the Prevent Programme. Figures relate to England and Wales. Release schedule: annually.

Counter-Terrorism Operations Centre – unites partners from counter-terrorism policing, the intelligence agencies, the criminal justice system and other government agencies in a major overhaul of our response to the terrorist threat.

Legislation – includes the Counter-Terrorism and Sentencing Act, covering sentencing and release through to monitoring in the community. The government has also introduced the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill to provide new powers to support the management of terrorist risk offenders and plans to introduce the Online Safety Bill, which will set standards for safety online.

Domestic nuclear security – major enhancements to nuclear security capabilities.

The government’s counter-terrorism strategy, Contest, includes a mature, well-developed performance framework underpinning our strategic aim of reducing the risk from terrorism. This assesses performance against 13 Contest objectives, which in turn feed the strands of Prevent, Pursue, Protect and Prepare.

Reduce the risk from terrorism to the UK and UK interests overseas - Link to SDGs

3. enable the legitimate movement of people and goods to support economic prosperity.

Lead minister: Kevin Foster MP, Minister for Future Borders and Immigration

Senior sponsor: Glyn Williams, Director General, Migration and Borders Mission

The vast majority of people applying to come to the UK, and of goods, cross our borders and enter the country legitimately. Ensuring that this process is as smooth as possible is central to what we do and is linked to our work to tackle illegal migration and maintain border security. Implementing the Future Border and Immigration System (FBIS) programme and the new points-based immigration system is key to delivering those outcomes.

In addition, we will be investing in data and technology infrastructure capabilities at the border and continuing work to prevent the illegal import of controlled or illegal items such as Class A drugs, firearms, counterfeit goods, smuggled animals, and protected commodities.

Percentage of visa applications, for each route, processed within service standards

Full details of the various visa routes can be found in ‘Visa and Citizenship data’ in migration transparency data on gov.uk

Release schedule: quarterly.

Border Force revenue protected

Tax revenue that is protected through detecting goods where excise duty has not been declared. Source: full details can be found in ‘Border Force transparency data’ in migration transparency data on gov.uk

Release schedule: quarterly (reported as calendar years). Figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand.

Percentage of passengers crossing the border within service standards

Source: full details can be found in ‘Border Force transparency data’ in migration transparency data on gov.uk

Release Schedule: quarterly (reported as calendar years).

Number of EU Settlement Scheme concluded applications

Source: full details can be found in EU Settlement Scheme quarterly statistics on gov.uk. Release schedule: quarterly (covering cumulative and monthly performance, reported as calendar years).

Our Future Border and Immigration System (FBIS) replaces freedom of movement, introduces a new points-based system, and digitises the border.

Digital Services at the Border transforms our technology at the border.

Digital Passenger Services upgrades and expands the use of e-passport gates.

This outcome is also supported by a number of smaller but important projects and programmes underpinning the overall migration and borders systems.

FBIS is a key programme and the aims of its evaluation are to understand how we are: attracting migrants who will support the UK economy; saving money; simplifying the customer experience; improving compliance; and understanding longer-term impacts of migration on the labour market together with wider economic and social benefits.

Enable the legitimate movement of people and goods to support economic prosperity - link to SDGs

4. tackle illegal migration, remove those with no right to be here and protect the vulnerable.

Lead minister: Chris Philp MP, Minister for Immigration Compliance and Justice

We are strengthening our overall system, protecting the vulnerable, preventing illegal migration and asylum abuse and reinforcing a strong and secure border. Using robust analysis and intelligence, we will continue to target and disrupt the organised immigration criminals who facilitate illegal migration, intervene upstream along high-risk migration routes and reduce the incentives behind illegal migration, including by preventing crossings by small boats.

We will reform our asylum system, work to tighten our asylum policies and improve the quality of our decision making whilst we continue to offer protection via our resettlement work, including helping protected individuals integrate into the country and secure employment.

Number of people within asylum intake, asylum work in progress, and on asylum support

Full details can be found in immigration statistics .

Release schedule: quarterly (covering previous 12 months).

Number of returns of foreign national offenders (FNOs)

FNO returns includes all types of return. Reported as calendar years.

Number of enforced and voluntary returns

Full details can be found in ‘Returns’ in immigration statistics quarterly release on gov.uk .

Release schedule: quarterly (covering previous twelve months, with data normally one quarter behind; reported as calendar years).

Total number of people resettled under the UK Resettlement Scheme

Full details are in ‘Asylum and Resettlement’ in immigration statistics quarterly release on gov.uk

Our New Plan for Immigration delivers the legislative, policy and operational changes to reform our immigration system and tackles illegal migration and abuse of the asylum process.

Asylum System Transformation improves efficiency and outputs.

As part of our New Plan for Immigration, we will take forward an evaluation workstream to understand the impact being achieved.

Tackle illegal migration, remove those with no right to be here and protect the vulnerable - link to SDGs

D. strategic enablers.

To deliver our priority outcomes, we will focus on four key enablers:

Workforce, skills and location

Our Home Office values will guide how we deal with each other, with our partners and with the citizens we serve – these are being: respectful, compassionate, collaborative and courageous. We are committed to embedding these values in our culture.

As an employer of choice, we will continue to attract, develop and retain great people; we will invest in talent and reward expertise in areas such as data science and customer service. We will strengthen our reach and impact across the UK by developing regional and specialist hubs across a wider geographical base, building a diverse workforce which brings us closer to the communities we serve.

We will continue to develop our capability to identify and reduce security risks so that our people and citizens are safe and secure.

People survey engagement score

Source: Civil Service People Survey

Release schedule: annually.

Representation of minority ethnic, disabled, female, and LGB staff

Figures above refer to the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. Source: Home Office workforce diversity statistics 2019 to 2020 .

Note: The Home Office’s previous reporting system recorded people as only either “heterosexual, straight” or “LGB” or “prefer not to say”. In 2020 the department introduced a new reporting system which provides a much broader set of categories; a person can choose to self-identify as to their sexual orientation. Future reporting will reflect this.

Innovation, technology and data

We will create a culture where innovative ideas are encouraged, where the best ideas can thrive and those which don’t work are quickly stopped. We will build efficient, digital-enabling environments where colleagues can use data, intelligence and analytics to work more flexibly and collaboratively to make better decisions. We will use new technology to fight crime, for example through the National Crime Laboratory.

We will equip our people with technology which maximises efficiency and improves customer experience. We are enabling digital interviewing and will minimise duplication by re-using information that customers have already supplied to the government. We will design workplaces and systems which can adapt to teams based in multiple locations, encouraging collaboration.

To encourage our people to be more innovative.

From the Annual People Survey: “I have the opportunity to contribute my views…” and “My manager is open to my ideas”.

Delivery, evaluation and collaboration

We will develop our ability to use evidence and data from across the organisation to deploy our resources where they are needed most, to inform policy and to evaluate our effectiveness. Through expanded automation and machine learning, we will improve the quality and efficiency of decision making.

We will improve our performance and risk management to become better at tracking risks and recommendations, such as those from the Windrush Review. We will continue to work with suppliers to further strengthen our supply chains. We will augment our robust, multi-layered approach to security.

To improve our major projects portfolio confidence rating.

Delivery confidence of the Home Office’s projects in the Government Major Projects Portfolio.

Sustainability

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges of our times. The Greening Government Commitments (GGCs) 2020-2025 provide challenging new targets for reducing carbon emissions, reducing water use, reducing waste and increasing recycling, and increasing environmental capital.

Achieving net zero by 2050 will be crucial; the Home Office is committed to contributing to this target. We will embed sustainability in policy and operations and place greater focus on social value through our commercial activities.

Greenhouse gas emissions

Please note that this is against a 2009/10 baseline.

Source: Greening Government Commitments annual reports

Ensure we can meet our Estates Greening Government commitments and continue to track delivery (through MoJ, which has responsibility for HO Estates procurement).

• Reduce carbon emissions from energy used to heat buildings eg from gas and oil (33% of all emissions). Proposed target for 2025: non-traded (heating) should see a 25% reduction
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from energy used in buildings. Proposed target for 2025: all emissions 25% reduction
• Reduce water use from buildings and site. Proposed target for 2025: 8% reduction

Ensure that our business activities and HR policies are sustainable and work towards net zero by 2050.

• Reduce waste collected from buildings. Proposed targets for 2025: less than 5% of waste to landfill; 75% of waste recycled
• Reduce paper use by at least 60% from 2017/18 baseline
• Meet the government fleet commitment for 25% ultra low emissions vehicles by 2022
• Eliminate ICT waste to landfill by 2025

Deliver Social Value.

Incorporate the social value model into procurement through 2021.

Strategic enabler - Link to SDGs

E. our equality objectives.

We have set objectives to help us advance equality, particularly in response to the Windrush Lessons Learned Review and the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report on the development of the Compliant Environment. We are taking positive steps to ensure that we take into account all the communities we serve.

We have committed to:

• Implement our comprehensive Windrush improvement plan by September 2021
• Extend the reach of our Community and Stakeholder Engagement Hub
• Deliver Public Sector Equality Duty training to immigration and policy officials and analysts, with all Home Office civil servants trained by spring 2021
• Deliver our internal Race Action Plan to improve the experiences of black, Asian and ethnic minority staff and introduce a revised Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
• Deliver increased representation of black, Asian and minority ethnic, disabled, female and lesbian, gay and bi colleagues by 2025
• Co-create a values-based leadership and management strategy and framework; Leadership and Management Strategic Approach to be signed off by end summer 2021, with Leadership and Management Qualities to be launched by September 2021
• By 2023, implement the Action Plan we have agreed with the Equality and Human Rights Commission to embed understanding of the Public Sector Equality Duty
• Work to ensure that public appointments made by the Home Office contribute to realising the ambition that, by 2022, 50% of all public appointees are female and 14% of all public appointments made are from black, Asian and ethnic minority candidates
• Implement the Domestic Abuse Act and publish new strategies on domestic abuse, violence against women and girls and hate crimes
• Set up and support the Independent Review of Prevent.

Provisional priority outcomes and associated metrics will be adjusted through the next Spending Review as necessary, including to deliver the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy.  ↩

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27 Small Home Office Ideas That Deliver Big on Style

By Amelia Mularz

While the home office used to be something of a luxury (just picture someone referring to their “study”), it’s become a necessity for many. Small home office ideas are crucial for those who are short on space and in need of creative design tricks to make tight spaces work for work-from-home life—like cleverly appointed closets, concealed working quarters, furniture that magically transforms from a TV console, or cabinetry that comes complete with a personal workstation. These small home office decor ideas—from interior design pros around the country—are especially geared toward those with a lack of square footage to help you get the job done in style.

How do you make the most of a small home office space?

The good news is that in the digital age, work areas don’t always require as much square footage as the home offices of yesteryear. “Gone are the days when an office space needed lots of storage and paper filing,” says Brad Ramsey of Nashville’s Brad Ramsey Interiors . “In today’s digital world, with files accessible on the cloud from anywhere, an office space needs to provide a quiet environment to set up a laptop and focus.” Additionally, choosing a compact or wall-mounted desk can make a difference, says Ginger Curtis of Urbanology Designs in North Richland Hills, Texas. “Use vertical file organizers or wall pockets for documents and office supplies,” she recommends.

What’s the best way to carve out a workstation within a larger living space?

“If you don’t have a dedicated room for a home office, there are lots of alternatives that don’t have to sacrifice style for function,” says Ramsey. “Replacing a bedside table in a guest room with a small writing desk can be one option. Floating a table behind a sofa like you would a console is another attractive approach.” In both cases, he adds, “you can use a table lamp instead of a task lamp to make the vignette seem more decorative and connected to the rest of the room’s aesthetic.” Curtis agrees that intentional styling, as well as furniture arrangement, helps define a workspace. “In the dining room, put a desk where you would normally put a hutch or a credenza,” she says. “An alcove is another opportunity to place a small workstation strategically.”

Read on for a roundup of decor ideas to help make the most of small home office spaces.

Select a showstopping desk

When your workstation and office chair are your only furnishings, pick a home office desk with personality. In this room, designed by Betsy Burnham of Burnham Design in Los Angeles, a magenta desk with gold hardware sets the tone for a bold home office.

Integrate your workstation

“In tight quarters, consider consulting your local carpenter to tailor-make a desk and shelves that meld effortlessly with the available wall space,” says Cortney Bishop of Cortney Bishop Design in Charleston, South Carolina. Here, in addition to built-ins, painted trim and wallpaper match with an adjoining room to create the illusion of a larger space.

Make the most of millwork

“Try to carve out spaces that can serve different purposes; for example, a vanity that can double as a desk, or custom millwork with a desk-height counter that has a cutout underneath for a stool or chair,” says Megan Prime of Brooklyn’s JAM . “We’d also recommend incorporating task lighting, like a small lamp, to create a focused and well-lit workspace.”

Choose the right office chair

“I tend toward chairs with wheels for practicality’s sake,” says Burnham. “Wheels make a desk chair so easy to maneuver, and they often differentiate a desk chair from a dining chair.” But don’t forget to consider your chair’s arm height. “Some desks have such generous aprons and drawers that it’s next to impossible to fit chair arms underneath, and the last thing you want is an inability to pull up to your work surface,” she says.

By Michelle Duncan

By Erika Owen

By Sarah Archer

Craft a laptop-friendly desk space

There’s no rule that says an office desk must be six feet wide. If all you need is space for a laptop (as is the case for many these days), a simple office nook may be all you need. This home library , created by New York’s BHDM Design , doubles as an office and features a carved-out nook with custom shelving and a diminutive built-in desk.

Consider your chair’s fabric

Just as the desk can pack a punch of personality, so can your chair. And a fun fabric—whether it features florals , stripes, or an abstract print—adds visual interest. Burnham also stresses the importance of picking a durable material, pointing out that light colors and “nubby linens” aren’t always practical for maintenance and comfort. “Leathers, vinyls, and outdoor fabrics make much better choices, as does nylon webbing,” she says.

Create a calming space

“When we design for the average work-from-homer, we try to take advantage of a quiet space with good lighting, whether it be a dedicated office space or a small desk in a bedroom,” says Ramsey. “Of course, anybody can get some work done at the kitchen counter or breakfast table, but to put in a day’s work, you must be able to focus, be comfortable, and have at least three-to-four feet of space to spread out on.”

Pick space-saving seating

“Look for a chair with swivel or pivot capabilities to make the most of your limited space,” says Bishop. “Your chair can also go beyond mere functionality and be used as another canvas to express your creativity, complementing the overall design of your space.”

Go for multifunctional furniture

“Choose furniture that can serve multiple purposes, like a desk that can also function as a vanity or a dining table,” says Curtis. Add a tabletop mirror and the desk in this bedroom could easily double as a makeup table.

Utilize vertical space

When floor space is limited, designing up is the way to go. Rather than adding a freestanding bookshelf, mount floating shelves to hold books, plants, and decorative objects. In this office, created by Chicago’s DGI Design x Build , choosing wall-mounted shelves means there’s space to add a couch.

Make your desk pull double duty

Sometimes a desk is just a desk, but other times it’s both a workstation and a nightstand . In this home office designed by the Scottsdale, Arizona–based firm Living with Lolo , both sides of the bed get tabletop space for a glass of water and a phone charger.

Use art to center a work zone

Working with a small space doesn’t mean skimping on the office decor. Hanging a piece of art helps carve out a dedicated workstation within a larger space like a living room or dining room . That’s exactly what the aerial-inspired painting does in this otherwise minimalist office space created by Cortney Bishop Design.

Go for graphic wallpaper

You can still pick wallpaper with big personality in small quarters. A prime example: this room used to be a maid’s closet. “Since it’s a tight space, the client wanted to incorporate a little pop of color,” says Gideon Mendelson of New York’s Mendelson Group . “It was important to keep the space balanced, so we kept it simple and monochromatic and paired it with a graphic wallpaper to add some visual interest.”

Craft a covert office

New York’s PJCArchitecture created this cleverly designed closet office in a home on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The space, which is just off the kitchen, is easily concealed by two pocket doors that slide completely into the walls when opened and read as panel walls when closed.

Add storage below the desk

Make use of every square inch—even under the desk, which is the perfect place for a small file cabinet. Take a cue from this room, designed by Maestri Studio in Dallas, and go for a cabinet that adds a pop of color. Poppin makes three-drawer file cabinets in colors like orange, aqua, and pool blue.

Opt for a space-saving furniture combo

For an extra-efficient use of space, pick furniture that’s a bookshelf and desk all in one, similar to the Resource Furniture piece seen in this home office by DGI Design x Build. Pottery Barn makes a small unit, Design Within Reach has a piece with multiple desk-shelf configurations available, and Crate & Barrel has a bookcase with two desks for a kids’ room.

Pick a pull-out desk

“The intention of this custom solution was to create a piece of millwork that is flexible in its design and can transform to serve different functions: fireplace, art display, TV, pull-out desk, and storage,” says Philip Consalvo of PJCArchitecture . “Instead of creating several separate solutions, we consolidated them into one elegant object, a custom Birdseye maple unit with metal accents, that complements the modern aesthetic of the design.”

Conceal your cords

Hiding unsightly cords goes a long way in achieving a refined appearance for tight spaces, says Bishop. “Invest in custom outlets to discreetly hide cords and cables and maintain a clutter-free environment…. These small details contribute to an overall sense of polished elegance.”

Create “his” and “hers” office areas…

Home office design often needs to accommodate two workers. That was the case for clients of Melissa Lewis of Melissa Lewis Interiors in Chicago. The couple wanted to convert the top floor of their home, which had been used as a small playroom and a smaller guest bedroom, into his and hers offices tailored to each individual’s work needs and style. “For his office, we needed to have space to allow for multiple monitors, a dedicated server for privacy, and have it still be a place he’d like to sit and wind down in at the end of the day,” says Lewis. “Clean and concealed storage was key, as well as warm, masculine finishes.”

…that showcase personal style

“For her space, we didn’t have as tight of a technical leash,” Lewis says. “We were able to get a gorgeous free-standing desk custom-made to ensure any bits she did need had proper storage, while also integrating fun and poppy wallpaper and accessories,” says Lewis. Weaving in your favorite patterns, colors, and accessories will personalize your office and make you feel (aptly) right at home in even the smallest of spaces.

Maximize natural light

Even if your “office” is a desk placed on a landing or at the end of a hallway, the space can still inspire productivity, especially if the light is right—and the right desk lamp can be a game changer. Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors in Atlanta says, “Maximize natural light and lamp lighting so the office is an inviting place in which to work.”

Trick the eye with high curtains

Another tip from Williams: “Hang curtains high, just below the crown molding, to raise the eyes and create the illusion of a larger space.” She also recommends choosing a desk with drawers for plenty of built-in storage and using a desktop organizer to keep clutter at bay.

Go big on built-ins

This functional home office, created by LA-based Mandy Cheng Design for young adult author Maurene Goo, fully utilizes its wall space with custom built-ins. Not only are there built-in shelves, but even the desk gets its own built-ins with compartments on top and mounted to the side wall to keep office supplies organized.

Lean into clean lines

If a neat, minimalist space helps you do your best work, skip the patterned office chair and graphic wallpaper. Instead, take a cue from this Manhattan loft by RAAD Studio in New York that’s an exercise in soft lighting, simple forms, clean lines, and meticulous detailing.

Outfit a spare room with convertible furniture

For this home office–slash–guest room, the Brooklyn-based Brownstone Boys used a custom Swing Chaise wall bed with a built-in custom Flip-Down Desk from Resource Furniture to achieve their multifunctional goals. “Conventional, stationary furniture can make a room feel much smaller than its true potential,” says Challie Stillman of Resource Furniture. “Wall beds and folding desks can provide comfortable sleeping accommodations and a second function when the bed is not in use, like an integrated sofa, dining table, or desk for working from home.”

Leave room for lounging

If your work style is more about kicking your feet up with a laptop, there’s no rule against using the majority of your space for a lounge area, as RAAD Studio does here. Choose a compact desk—or skip it altogether in favor of smaller side tables.

Make the playroom double as a homework zone

You’re never too young to learn that design can inspire productivity. In this kid-friendly space by Living with Lolo, a simple table and stools placed in the middle of the room ensure the little ones have the perfect set up to work hard and play hard.

By Kathryn Romeyn

By Katherine McLaughlin

By Charlotte Collins

By Chelsea Hodson

25 Home Office Layouts (Illustrated Floor Plans)

• Pinterest 141

When I became a freelancer, I didn’t understand the value of dedicated office space. I figured that anywhere you can prop a laptop and use your phone qualifies as a home office- wrong. A home office is much more than that for a telecommuter or at-home worker: at times, it is the only way that working from home is possible! Think about your day-to-day needs when it comes to working at home and carve out your own dedicated office space.

Related:   Open Concept Layout vs. Closed Concept Layout | Home Office with Area Rug | Home Office Ideas | Small Home Office Ideas | Luxury Home Office Designs |  Desk Accessories for Office | Home Office Cost  

Consider these 25 office layouts and floor plan ideas for your home:

Cooperative Meeting Space 

This floor plan features an open-air feel that is conducive to meetings and group ‘thinks’, the keystone of teamwork. The seating against the wall and the casual way that chairs surround the desk or workstation make it clear that whoever works from this office is busy and rarely sitting in front of their computer. There is ample room to move around, which also is great for assessing, shipping, or organizing inventory or products, too.

Cozy Corner Office 

This cozy corner office space is all about providing you with the setup and solace needed to succeed. The workstation in the corner is expansive and offers plenty of room for spreading out and digging in. There is seating along the wall, but less floor space and room for groups; rather this is an ideal place to get things done. There is a sense of privacy that comes from the positioning of the door, though in the Feng Shui theory, you should never sit at your desk with your back to the door!

Smaller Space Solution 

This cozy configuration allows you to turn even a small or odd-shaped space into a functional and productive workspace. The side-chairs free up more room than a sofa, and the facing work surfaces are more compact and streamlined than a traditional desk. This is a great space to collaborate and the use of the room’s corners creates more floor space and flow, cleverly adding a sense of openness to an otherwise smaller, perhaps cramped area.

Take one for the Team 

This office layout is crafted for the team, and to get things done! There are different sectors within the space that allow for separate functions, yet solidarity among those you are working with. Don’t have the need for a team? The way that this workspace is positioned, you have segregated areas to work on different tasks. This would be an ideal home office for a crafter, artisan, or producer.

A Grand Entrance 

Want to feel like a big wheel at the helm of your ship? This office layout accommodates this- and more. The clear view of the door and ample work surfaces allow for a perfect partnership- this office has room for you and a first mate! This configuration allows for a clear view of the entire space, while also allowing you a peek out the door, which may be helpful for work-from-home parents or multitaskers .

Corner Control 

This office plan allows you to have sweeping space surrounding your chair, making use of corners for additional storage and seating. This opens up floor space in front of the door, also in the corner, giving you room to greet and engage guests or clients, as needed. The focal point in this room is the corner workstation unit, which gives you the perfect opportunity to show off a vintage desk or cool office furnishings.

Plenty of Room for Productivity 

The configuration demonstrated here allows for maximum seating, perfect for team meetings or small groups. The position of the desk allows for the facade of privacy when someone enters the space- or if there are others working in the room at the same time. If you have a window with a view, the position of the seating area makes for a great place to meet with clients or engage with family.

Large and Lofty 

The position of the door and the corner seating unit make this office space seem large and lofty. The sectional seating has retro flair, which you can complement with the right modern-meets-vintage furnishings. The simple workspace near the door is efficient and makes good use of space, though you are still sitting with your back to the door which is not ideal. If you don’t have a window over your workspace, add a mirror to make the cubicle seem larger and to give you a peek when someone enters the room.

Home Away from Home 

This configuration and design emphasize the ‘home’ in-home office; the comfy seating area would be a great place to meet with colleagues or to retire with family after a long day. Tucking the desk and workstation in the corner makes it accessible and semi-private from the rest of the room, yet still very accessible to other areas of the office. Bring in some plants, colorful pillows, and your office feels more like home than other schemes or layouts.

Optimal Office at Home 

This layout is a dream home office with optimal features, like a workstation for four and aesthetically appealing seating areas for clients or families. The simple configuration is traditional, and this would appear very regal and well-thought-out when replicated in the home. This is a space where things get done, congruent with productivity. Pocket-doors provide privacy and a semblance of segregation from the rest of the house.

Flexibility and Fun at Work 

Depending on what you do, you may want flexibility in your home office. That is, not everyone needs the traditional desk set-up and this configuration is empathetic to that. From the dual workstation to the built-in counter with seats and corner surface space, this office is ideal for those that want to spread out and get things done. This format works well in uniquely shaped rooms or spaces that may seem difficult to configure; creativity makes this a very convenient and work-friendly office idea.

Have a Seat 

When you swing open the door to this office space, you won’t believe you are at home. This has the feel of an actual waiting area with private meeting space behind it- which could make it a lot easier to get things done and keep interruptions to a minimum. The desk faces the door which provides a sense of control and makes it easier to manage who comes and goes. The entry flows to sofa seating which brings a comfortable and casual vibe to your workspace.

Control Central 

This office configuration puts you in a position of power with a dual control-style workstation, flanked by ample surface area for whatever needs to get done. A simple seating area separate from ‘control central’ makes the room have dimension and space that seems larger than it actually is. Windows contribute to this aura, and lots of open floor space gives the room an unhurried, relaxing vibe.

His, Hers, Theirs 

If you regularly share your workspace with someone else, this configuration and plan may be the perfect compromise. Two separate but equal work areas sit back-to-back, allowing the door to be unobstructed and affording each unit equitable privacy. A rather expansive common area unites the space, providing a comfortable and stylish middle-ground for both of you. Windows on exterior walls provide natural light that adds to the feeling of space.

Comfortable Clubhouse 

Copy This austere and sophisticated office design is ideal for those that work from home and occasionally have colleagues join them. The circular workstation creates an atmosphere of collaboration and cooperation- perfect for productivity among peers. The simple sofa for seating is flanked by additional surfaces that may prove useful during meetings or meals. There is a clubhouse-feel to this unique office that makes you automatically at-ease.

Designer’s Dream 

This pretty space really is a designer’s dream, with furnishings that are opulent and regal yet still completely functional. The star of the show is the pair of coordinative wing-back chairs that evoke a feeling of vintage class and elegance; the desk in the corner is discreet and stately. Add a funky or fun desk chair for a touch of whimsy in this lovely office.

Come on In 

This layout beckons visitors and pulls you in, with simple lines and a great sense of flow. From the desk facing the door, there is a feeling of calm control. Seating to the right is tucked behind the door, offering respite away from where work is getting done. A wraparound counter behind the desk provides ample surface space without being crowded or cluttered. The office is inviting, but also professional.

Very Versatile Vibe

This office space is versatile enough for whatever you do, with expansive work surfaces and multi-person workstations. Comfy chairs on casters roll from site to site, creating flow and leaving the room uncluttered by a lot of extra furniture. The walls anchor miles of surface space for spreading out materials and getting down to work. A wing-back chair in the corner provides a feature that could be a focal point of the space when chosen in a fun texture or unique print.

Crafting Collaboration 

The way the two distinct areas of this home office layout are positioned, it is perfect for collaborating. The seating space and the workstations are separate but flow into one another seamlessly. This would do in both large or small spaces, though there is an inherent feeling of intimacy in this particular layout. The facing workstations provide versatility when not in use, and simplify the looks of an office that two people could easily work in together.

A Wonderful Welcome 

The way the door opens in this configuration creates a warm and wonderful welcome to your office space. There is casual, homey seating to the right, and then the eye travels to the work area, off to the left, which is open and anchored by the wall. This provides a feeling of stability and makes the room seem larger. Keep a corner untethered by furnishings and add a plant or small tree for an eco-friendly focal point.

An Airy Aura 

The positioning of a full, lush plant in front of the door creates an airy atmosphere for this home office layout. Behind the plant is the end of the workstation that wraps around two entire walls, providing surface space for miles! The Murphy table and chairs provide the perfect space for two, as needed, without cramping, crowding, or taking away from potential space in the office.

All Systems Go 

This particular office design resembles a control room and all systems go; this is the ideal way to engage several individuals at the same time, without chaos or confusion. Surface space along a wall faces a wall with two empty corners- except for maybe a plant- to create the illusion of openness; it works! From team meetings to group projects, this configuration is convenient to work together but individually in the same space.

Step into Style 

The doors to this home office open to a grand, stylish sight; to the right is a sofa, flanked by coordinating chairs and ample surface spaces to complete whatever you are working on. To the left is a wraparound wall unit that accommodates two people, side by side, comfortably. The middle of the office is left open and creates a flow and openness that is aesthetically-pleasing.

To Each Their Own 

Here is the solution to a home office that will work for a whole team; this home office design creates four separate but mirror image workstations. The middle of the room is left open, and the door swings into space, creating the allure and impression of a lot of room. Each individual unit has ample space and surface area for whatever you do- and when not in use, these workstations are discreetly tucked along the wall, out of the way.

Hanging at Home 

Who wouldn’t want to hang out in this home office? The layout gives it a cool, airy vibe that is both comfortable and inspiring. Plenty of free space near the door gives you room to breathe and unwind after a long day or when you are facing an important task. The workstation easily accommodates two, and is compact along the wall, out of the way. A chill seating area and work surface provide a great spot to brainstorm, meet with colleagues, or hang out.

Related Posts

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13 Cleverly Small Home Office Designs

80 Home Office Design Statistics

27 Hygge Home Office Spaces That Blend Function with Farmhouse Comfort (Concept Interiors)

10 Homey Home Office Spaces

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Comcast unveils contract-free internet plans, starting at $30 a month - is there a catch?

Comcast has rolled out a new internet plan that supposedly won't lock you into an expensive and confusing contract. Unveiled on Thursday, Comcast NOW is a prepaid option that tempts you with no contracts, no data caps, no hardware fees (a free Wi-Fi 5 modem is included), and no prices that shoot up after the first year.

Comcast NOW is available in two flavors : 100 Mbps for downloads and 11 Mbps for uploads, priced at $30 per month, or 200 Mbps for downloads and 11 Mbps for uploads, priced at $45 a month. As usual, your mileage will vary based on your location, local internet traffic, and other factors.

Also: Comcast Xfinity is still offering surprise free internet speed boost to millions

There's another benefit with the new plan. Your average internet subscription does not include taxes and other fees, forcing you to pay more per month than the advertised price. Comcast NOW, however, includes local taxes in the price.

The catch? Speeds of 200 Mbps or even 100 Mbps aren't bad for normal internet browsing, but they may not cut it for activities like video streaming and online gaming. Beefier Xfinity plans from Comcast offer anywhere from 300 Mbps to 1.2 Gbps. Those plans naturally cost more and may saddle you with a contract. For example, my internet plan gives me 300 Mbps downloads, but I pay more than $45 per month.

Also:  4 ways to connect to the internet for less after the Affordable Connectivity Program expires

Once seen as an extravagance, internet access is now considered a necessity. We hop online to buy things, pay bills, manage accounts, find information, and consume entertainment. We use the internet to work and run businesses. Unfortunately, access can be expensive, especially for lower-income households.

To help more people get online, the US government kicked off the Affordable Connectivity Program in January 2022, offering financial credit for internet access. That program  is about to wind down , however, meaning that millions of people will need to find alternatives for affordable connectivity. Comcast is touting NOW as an affordable alternative, whether you're enrolled in ACP or not.

Comcast's initiative goes beyond internet access. Also on Thursday, the company unveiled  NOW Mobile , a prepaid mobile subscription priced at $25 per month per line. This plan offers unlimited talk, text, and data as well as nationwide 5G coverage and access to around 20 million Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots in the US. Each customer can get as many as five lines.

The main barrier here is that you must already be a subscriber of Comcast's NOW internet or one of its Xfinity broadband plans. If you do qualify, the only other fee you must pay is the one-time $25 setup charge. Otherwise, taxes are included in the stated price, just as with NOW internet.

Also:  How good is that smartphone deal really? Use this free spreadsheet to do the math

Comcast has been on a low-cost kick with its new NOW services. Other options available under the NOW umbrella include NOW TV, which includes more than 40 live channels and 24 integrated channels for $20 per month, and NOW Wi-Fi Pass, which gives you access to Xfinity Wi-Fi hotspots for 30 days for $20.

The best business internet service providers

4 ways to connect to the internet for less after the affordable connectivity program expires, the best live tv streaming services for cord cutters: expert tested.

2024 Work Trend Index: Learn how AI is reshaping work.

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Post Office scandal: New redress body rejected by government

The government indicates that major changes to the compensation process at this stage would not speed things up as the inquiry into the Horizon scandal hears a key legal figure say he was misled by Post Office and that he "stopped the prosecutions".

Business reporter @SkyNewsBiz

Thursday 9 May 2024 16:00, UK

A recommendation that a new body be appointed to handle financial claims by victims of the Post Office scandal, has been rejected by the government.

A report by the Business and Trade Committee of MPs in March had called for an independent intermediary to handle every stage of the sub-postmasters' claims amid anger over red tape and delays to payments.

It had described the current redress process as an "abject failure" and demanded too that the Post Office was removed from involvement in the three main compensation schemes altogether.

Money latest: Gordon Ramsay opening four new restaurants

But in its response to the report, the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said: "Setting up a new body to replace these arrangements would take months and cost millions which should instead be spent on redress for postmasters."

DBT, while pointing out that decisions in redress cases were already independent of the Post Office, also argued that removing the company from the process entirely would only add to delays.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted of stealing after bugs and errors in the Horizon accounting system, operated by Fujitsu, made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

More from Business

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There were more than 700 convictions in total, dating back from 1995 to 2015.

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Victims not only faced prison but financial ruin. Others were ostracised by their communities, while some took their own lives.

Fresh attention was brought to the scandal after ITV broadcast the drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, prompting government action that aimed to speed up the clearing of names and payments of compensation.

In the government's reply to the committee's report, business minister Kevin Hollinrake said: "As of 24 April 2024, approximately £196m has been paid to over 2,800 claimants across the 3 Post Office Horizon schemes."

The document also ruled out the prospect of financial penalties for a failure to meet a legally binding timeframe in the redress process.

The response said: "Claimants already receive compensation for the time taken to deal with claims, in that interest is paid on most aspects of claims in accordance with standard legal principles: the amount payable therefore increases over time."

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Read more on this story: Ex-Post Office ops boss admits 'missed opportunity' Govt 'would not have accepted ending Horizon software' Horizon IT scandal explained

It added: "The threat of penalties might unjustly penalise solicitors for issues out of their control."

The update on the compensation process was delivered as the statutory public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal heard from a key barrister for the Post Office.

Former senior counsel at Cartwright King Solicitors, Simon Clarke, told the hearing that senior Post Office staff had defended the Horizon system "out of an almost religious panic".

He claimed he was "misled and deceived" by the Post Office in respect of information not being disclosed to him for a review and in the high profile case of Seema Misra.

The former West Byfleet sub-postmistress was suspended in 2008 and later jailed, while pregnant, for 15 months in 2010 - a conviction that was overturned by the Court of Appeal in 2021.

In answer to a question from inquiry chair Sir Wyn Williams on whether he was misled on a wider basis, Mr Clarke responded: "Yes, the Post Office repeated their protestations that since day dot, there was nothing wrong with Horizon, when they clearly knew there were issues with Horizon."

He said of his role: "I was not a prosecuting barrister for the Post Office. I was never a prosecuting barrister for the Post Office. I was instructed to prosecute one case, the case of Samra. That case got to trial on 1st July and I stopped it, and I then stopped every other case from being prosecuted thereafter.

"So I was not a prosecuting barrister, I was the barrister who stopped the prosecutions."

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Trump’s hush money trial concludes for the week after more witness testimony

• Defense — and judge — want Cohen to stop talking about Trump
• Court has been adjourned for the day. Next week, of the two remaining witnesses the Manhattan...
• Trump’s attorneys try to depict a different leader in the White House

Here's what to know:

Here's what to know, live coverage contributors 15.

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