Are you longing to get your dream business off the ground, but your current living space will not accommodate the needs of your business and family? It might be time to start searching for a new home that will allow you to live and work comfortably. It could be an arduous task, but if you spend some time preparing for a move, you can set yourself up for success. Consider these tips from The Shannon Holmes Team for moving homes while building a business!
Handle Business Tasks Before Preparing for a Move
Before you start looking for the perfect home, make sure your business has a firm foundation from which you can launch. You will want to ensure that you have a deep understanding of your target audience and a thorough business plan that outlines your mission, goals, strategies, and needs. While you are at it, find out what licenses and permits you will need to operate your company in the new location.
Establishing a legal structure is another step you will want to complete before preparing for a move. If you form an LLC, you can have more flexibility with paid, limited liability, pass-through taxation, and many other perks. Learn about the regulations around LLCs and consider hiring a formation service to handle most of the heavy lifting when it comes to registering your entity.
Identify (and Land) the Right Home
When it comes time for house hunting, the first thing you will want to do is hire experienced real estate professionals like The Shannon Holmes Team who can help you navigate the entire process. Fill your agent in on all the details, such as your purposes for moving, the need for your new home to accommodate your life and business, and your need for a separate home office.
The amount of space you need for your home business will depend on the tasks and projects you will be working on each day. For example, if you are starting a freelance writing business, you may be able to get away with a barebones workspace complete with a laptop, desk, and chair. But you will likely need more space if you are an artist, computer repair service person, or plan on carrying inventory.
A separate space is ideal for a home office, no matter what work you do. That said, as long as you can focus on your daily tasks while leaving your family plenty of room to live comfortably, you are good to go. It will not hurt to look for homes with a detached garage or basement, but a spare bedroom or a primary living area with a partition can suffice.
Keep Your Work Close
You will have plenty on your plate while preparing for a move, but you don’t want to lose sight of your business responsibilities during this time. Make sure you have everything you need at hand so that you can take notes, review a statement, or send an email at a moment’s notice. Making use of small business payroll software can help ensure continuity during your business’s transition. The last thing you want to have happen during a move is that a ball gets dropped somewhere along the way resulting in your staff not getting paid on time.
Plan Out Your Home Office
Once you have found the right home, it is time to begin designing your home office. As previously mentioned, many home-based entrepreneurs get by by using a minimal workspace in a primary living area like the living room. The key is to figure out how to keep your home and work life separate so that you can “go home” after an entire workday.
Along with getting equipment to run your company successfully, think of how you can help your home office stand out and reflect your personality. This might include painting your favorite color walls, adding unique decor from local artisans, creating a comfortable seating area for clients, and hanging your kids’ artwork. Take time to think about how your workspace could inspire you and make it happen!
Starting a business and and preparing for a move are both exciting ventures in their own right. But when you’re taking them on simultaneously, it can quickly become overwhelming if you have not prepared. Consider the tips above to set the stage for a smooth transition into your family’s next chapter.
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