For many stay-at-home parents, starting a side business is both exciting and slightly chaotic. One minute you’re answering emails, the next you’re making lunch or sorting laundry, desperately trying to squeeze in some work before it’s time for school pick up.
While working from home offers flexibility, it also comes with some challenges, the biggest of which is finding a space to actually get some business done. When your home is already busy, creating a setup that supports both family life and a growing business can make all the difference.
Here are a few ways to make it work, without turning your whole house upside down.
Starting with What You Already Have
Most people begin their business wherever there’s a spare surface. The dining table or kitchen counter is easy to co-opt while the kids are out and can be set up with a laptop. It works for some jobs but as your business starts to grow, you can start to accrue more and more bits and pieces you need for work.
If you have a spare room, even a small one, it’s worth converting that into a dedicated area. It doesn’t have to be a full office, just a clear space where your work lives and doesn’t need to get tucked away in favour of making dinner. A desk and good lighting can go a long way in helping you feel organised and in control of your workload.
When the House Starts to Feel Too Full
As a side business grows, so does everything that comes with it. If you’re working in eCommerce, you’re going to have stock, packaging and paperwork to deal with as well. What started as a small setup can quickly take over cupboards and spare corners of the house with the essentials you need to run a business. And the more your business grows the more important it is to keep on top of things – which makes times like the summer holidays a real challenge. Suddenly, your office is being used as a play room or you hear a crash as those stacked packages lose to an errant ball being thrown indoors.
This is often the point where many people start to feel stuck. Your business has started to outgrow the humble beginnings and something needs to change.
That’s when looking outside can start to make sense.
Creating Space Outside the House
Adding a separate workspace in the garden can completely change how a home-based business feels day to day. More room is always welcome, of course, but the real benefit is that you get the benefit of “walking to the office” without having to actually commute.
Having a garden office is one option that works particularly well for this. It creates a dedicated workspace that’s close enough to stay connected to home life, but separate enough that you don’t have to worry about eternal distractions coming through your room.
For a stay-at-home parent, this kind of space can be incredibly helpful. You can step out to work during quieter moments, keep everything set up without needing to clear it away to cook or keep it safe from little hands and it helps you avoid work spilling into every part of the house.
It also helps with routine. Even a short walk across the garden can create a sense of starting and finishing the working day, getting the work/life balance right is tricky when you work from home and having a dedicated outbuilding is one of the best ways to get that balance right.
Finding a Balance That Works
Running a business from home alongside family life is a delicate balancing act and you’ll never manage to have the perfect set-up, life just won’t allow it, but finding something that fits your routine will help your business to really take off. Some people thrive with a spare room office and some find that moving work outside the house is what finally gives them the space they need. Once you know what works best for you, you’ll have much less stress and hopefully a more productive business too!
