Before setting up any time of home office, one should take the time to plan and strategize. The first consideration would be the location. This can be important for a number of reasons, not the least of which is functionality. There are a number of options depending on the structure of the home. Common choices for many are usually the basement or garage.

Home offices have the advantage of being functional in many ways. For example, lunch can be a working lunch. If one needs to relax for a bit or take a break, there is always the couch or bed for a quick nap. Furthermore, there are also advantages such as being able to handle household chores while also performing work related duties.

A home office also provides many different options for handling visitors. The kitchen and or living room can be used as a conference room or meeting room. Another added advantage is a fully furnished kitchen. One can have almost any type of meal and also cook during working hours. Appliances such as a Delonghi oven, blender, full size refrigerator, and utensils can make lunch time a delight.

However, there can be some drawbacks. Depending on the type of business one is involved with, home office storage space can be an issue. If one is in the manufacturing or supplier trade, then one must plan accordingly. Typically, service oriented type businesses function best in the home office environment because they require minimal space utilization.

Another added benefit of a home office is that it lowers cost and overhead. Instead of having to pay rent, maintenance, or utilities on an additional space, one can most likely tax deduct portions of certain home expenses. Also, additional expenses can also be considered business related. For example, if in the winter months extra warmth is required, the purchase of home space heaters can be considered a business expense.

There are certain tangential issues to consider, however, when deciding on whether or not to establish a home office. One important factor to consider are the needs and requirements of other family members or residents. Often times, if the spouse works in an office environment, it is more than likely that they would want to come home and not to another office environment.

Hence, there are many advantages and disadvantages to take into account prior to deciding on a home office. The physical, functional, and expense aspects are only part of the equation. The effects of a home office on relationships and psyche are of equal if not higher importance. Also, one needs to plan a strategy of being able to escape work while still at home. This can be important for one’s own sanity.