You’ve reached that point where you don’t want to work outside the home anymore – you’re ready to quit your job and work at home instead. There are many reasons why this can be tempting – the need or desire to care for young children or elderly family members, a too-long daily commute, a job that just really isn’t what you want. Whatever the reason, it’s rarely a good idea to just quit and hope a good work at home job comes along. You need to know what you’re getting yourself into first.

First, let’s look at some of the roadblocks you may face, some of the things that make working at home perhaps not quite as pleasant as you may think. If you’re considering working at home, after all, you’ve probably already thought of most of the positives. It’s the negatives that really determine whether or not you can successfully work at home, however.

Lots of Scams

This is the big one, and hopefully something you’re already aware of. It’s very easy to be scammed when looking for ways to work at home. You really have to be careful, and do your research when considering potential employers or business opportunities. The overeager and desperate fall for work at home scams all too easily.

This is why it may be safer to quit your job after you’ve found a legitimate work at home job. You won’t be so desperate if you still have money coming in.

While many work at home scams are easy to spot, others are more challenging. Sometimes you may not realize that you are in the process of being scammed until during the supposed job interview. Scammers will use the names of legitimate remote employers to hide their scams and build trust.

Anytime you apply for a work at home job, make sure that you’re communicating with the person or company you think you’re communicating with. A Gmail address is one of many signs that it may be a scam.

Benefits Aren’t Always Available

Not all work at home jobs offer benefits such as health insurance. If you’re the one providing coverage for your family, this is a really big deal. And it’s not just health insurance; it’s dental insurance, a 401k, paid vacations and so forth that aren’t so common when you work at home. If you need benefits, you’ve just cut way down on your potential employers. If you want to work for yourself, you’ll have to figure out deal with these things all on your own.

My husband gets the usual benefits from his job, so for us, health insurance isn’t a problem. Retirement savings in my name, on the other hand, are an issue we need to pay more attention to.

A part of why a company may not offer benefits is because they hire remote workers for part time positions only. Other times you may be considered an independent contractor.

That said, there are a number of remote employers who offer benefits. Make this a part of your search if you need benefits.

Isolation

Many people find working from home too isolating. You have no coworkers stopping by when you’re at home, only the other residents of your home. Many people find this far too difficult to deal with and eventually decide they’d rather go back to work outside the home. Others find it perfect. It’s not too bad for me – I’m more of an introvert, but even I sometimes feel the need for more interaction with other adults than I get.

There are a lot of things you can do to handle your feelings of isolation when you work at home. Social media can be a start, as can sites such as Slack. While you have to balance your use of these with having a productive day, they can give you a bit of that social time you would get if you worked outside the home.

Planning time out with friends outside of work hours can also help. It won’t always be possible to get together with people in person, but that’s true no matter where you work. Just do the best you can.

Too Many Distractions

There are a lot of distractions in your home, kids, pets, television, internet access, neighbors, etc. Quick distractions turn easily into longer term issues if you aren’t careful.

I found it to be a huge help when my kids went off to school. Suddenly I had hours of work time with no kids underfoot. It didn’t help with the other potential distractions, but every bit helps. There’s no stopping the cats, however. They love to be distracting.

Controlling distractions involves limiting social media, keeping the television and streaming media turned off, and enforcing boundaries with family and friends. It’s not always easy. But if you want to work at home successfully, you have to do it.

No Supervision

No one is checking up on you when you work at home, at least not directly. Your employer may pay attention to your productivity, or you may have a customer service position that requires you be on the phone at certain times, but there’s still no one right there able to see that you’re slacking off. Some people work well without supervision; others absolutely need it.

You have to accept the responsibility that comes with greater independence when you work at home. Many people find a to do list very helpful in making sure they get done all the things they need to do each day.

Flexible Hours

Yes, flexible hours can be a negative, a big one! It’s very easy to work too many hours or too few when you have complete control of your schedule. Be ready to keep control of your work hours as you follow this more independent path, for the sake of your income as well as your family time and free time.

Making an effective work at home schedule for yourself is vital. While your schedule may be set by your employer in some cases, other times it’s entirely up to you. It’s up to you to figure out how to make all this work. Experiment if you have to so that you find the most effective work at home routine you have.

Income May Not Be Stable

Depending on what you do, your work at home income may not be as stable as your outside the home job income was. Home business incomes are rarely all that stable, especially in the early days. Jobs may pay on production rather than hourly or salary, and can also be highly variable. If you need a more stable income, make sure the job you take can provide that.

In the years that I’ve worked at home, I’ve earned as little as a few hundred in a month, and as much as $10,000. If I relied too much upon a particular number, we could have a lot of problems. Fortunately, we have a stable income from my husband, and while it’s not sufficient on its own, it’s enough that mine can vary without hurting our financial position significantly.

Once You’ve Faced The Negatives…

If the negatives haven’t scared you off, it’s time to look at making things a reality. As with any other job hunt, you’re better off if you start searching while you’re still employed. You’re less desperate for work this way, less likely to fall for scams because you need the money so badly, and many people believe you look better to potential employers if you’re currently working when you apply.

There are a number of things you need to do when you want to get started working at home. Planning your job hunt out is a huge help.

The first thing you need to do is update your resume for your work at home job hunt. Remote employers look for some of the same things other employers do, but they also expect more independence and initiative from their employees. They’re looking for people who will thrive without supervision.

The best work at home jobs for you will usually be related to what you do right now. Sometimes making the switch to working from home requires a complete career change, but look for positions that relate to skills you already have. It will make your search easier.

If you don’t have the skills for the remote jobs you want, get them! This may be something you can do before you quit your job to look for a work at home job or something you do after.

Jobs such as medical transcription and medical coding, for example, require training. You have to pay for that training yourself – employers won’t do it for you. But with training and possibly some outside the home experience, these may be great career choices.

You will also need to set up a home office. How you go about this will depend on the kind of work you will do from home. Do you need absolute quiet and privacy, or can you have other people come in while you work? These things make a big difference.

Be Ready For A Long Job Hunt

Many people find the amount of time it takes to find a work at home job frustrating. What they forget is that it takes a long time to find an outside the home job too.

One common estimate for job hunting is to expect to take one month of job hunting for every $10,000 a year you expect to earn.

This isn’t exact, of course. It varies tremendously by industry, the timing of your hunt and many other factors. But it gets the point across.

Job hunting isn’t fast. You’re fooling yourself if you expect otherwise.

If you need things to get moving faster, you have options. You may not always like them, but they’re there.

The first is to get an outside the home job if you’re unemployed at the current time. Earning money is a necessity for most people. Don’t dismiss opportunities only because they aren’t ideal.

You can also take on freelance opportunities. The work may not be as steady as you’d like, especially when you’re just starting out, but once again, it’s better than nothing. And sometimes freelancing can pay better than working for someone else. That freelance business you start might just be your new career.

The post So You Want To Quit Your Job And Work At Home… appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned in the more than 10 years I’ve worked at home, it’s that it’s not always easy. Sometimes it’s pretty hard. Working at home isn’t all work when you feel like it, do other things when you like. It takes an effort to be productive despite all the distractions at home, whether or not you have kids. Here are just a few of the things that can make it hard to work at home, and tips on coping.

1. Kids

Kids are the reason many moms and dads want to work at home. It’s a chance to save on childcare while still earning an income. The only problem is that kids are distracting little rascals, especially when they’re too young to go to school. Babies, toddlers and preschoolers have very different needs, and usually need it right NOW!

If you take them to classes, it can be really hard to work. My youngest attends a three day a week, three hours a day, parent participation preschool that seriously cuts into my work time. It’s a great class, but doing this class with her means I have to be very careful with the time in the day that I have left. It’s lunch time by the time we get home, and not that long before to get my son from his running club. If I don’t watch it, that time gets away.

Not that it gets that much better when they go to school. School age children have homework they may need help with, plus there are requests for volunteers at the school, sick days (how the kids can bring bugs home, wow!), pick up, drop off, and time with their friends, sometimes at your house right when you need to work.

My first tip for dealing with kids as you work is planning.Figure out what times of day are best for your productivity. There will be some times that are better than others. Take advantage. The times you can work when kids are at school are obvious – when they’re gone, get the stuff that’s harder to do with the kids around done. Do the less focused work when they’re home.

That’s harder with kids who are home all the time. You may find it easier to work early mornings or late nights, when the kids are sleeping. Do whichever comes more naturally and effectively to you. I’m a night owl, and if I tried to get up early for some work hours, it simply wouldn’t work. I know other people who are just the opposite. Do what works for you.

Take advantage of any help your spouse, family or friends can offer. You may have to ask. I sometimes have to remind my husband to give me quiet work time, but he’s good at it when I say I need to work… although sometimes he comes to talk about things which could be discussed later in the middle of a good work session, and I have to give him that look that says “I need to work now.” Grandparents who want to babysit are handy too, especially if they’re up for overnights, and you can get time with your spouse out of the deal also.

Of course, you also need to make sure that you’re there for your kids when they need you. Make sure your days include time for them; otherwise you may as well put them in that daycare.

2. Pets

We don’t have any furry pets right now, but I know very well how distracting they can be. Fish, not so much, and that’s all we have right now. But I’ve dealt with cats and computers before, and I know well the distraction a cat wandering in front of the monitor, trying to stand on your keyboard, or wanting to purr on your lap. Dogs have been less distracting in my experience, if only because most of them are big enough that they have to stay on the floor.

Some ways, it’s harder to be firm with a pet than a child. They don’t understand why you can’t pet them right now. They may try repeatedly to get into a position you keep removing them from. Often enough, the best and simplest solution for a pet who won’t let you work is a closed door. It may not stop them from noisily trying to get in or get your attention, but they can’t get directly in the way.

For cats, you can also try having a nice perch for them near where you work. A carpeted shelf or tall scratching post can give your cat options for being near you without being right in the way. That’s not to say that they’ll always take it, but it improves the odds.

3. Household Chores

The house is calling. There are dishes to be done, laundry to fold, and toys everywhere. When you need to work, sometimes it’s all too easy to fall for the lure and do housework when you should be earning money.

This is one of those things you have to prioritize. A perfectly clean home doesn’t mean as much as having the money to provide properly for your family.

I prefer to clean when it’s more difficult to be productive with my business. Even toddlers can help with basic chores, and you can play with them a little as you do others. Taking potential work time to load the dishwasher? I’d rather not, unless clean dishes really need to be the priority at the time.

You may want to think about the best times for some chores. I prefer to do laundry all in one day, for example, while others prefer to do one load daily or every other day. Do whichever works best for you.

Of course, household emergencies mean all bets are off. The day I found out the pipe from the garbage disposal under the kitchen sink had disconnected was not a productive day in the business sense. I was far more concerned with getting a plumber out to fix it, and cleaning up the horrid, stinky mess that had been sitting since the night before. You do not want to see how fast food that has gone through the garbage disposal can go even more bad if it’s allowed to sit in water overnight.

4. Leisure

So many people think working at home means you get a lot of leisure time. In my experience, that’s really not true. There’s always something you need to do. No four hour work week or watching TV and eating bonbons. Rely too much on such notions, and you probably won’t succeed in whatever you’re trying to do.

Think about the leisure distractions you allow. Many people like having selected background noise as they work, but for most, music is less distracting than television. Have the TV on, and you’re too likely to watch it.

Then there are the distractions that are harder to get away from, especially if you work online like I do. Take control of your online socializing and other less than productive activities. Don’t fool yourself into thinking of all of it as a part of your work day; really think about what things you do that make a difference to your income.

You should absolutely take some leisure time, but don’t overdo it. Figure out how much time you need for you and your family. Odds are you’re working at home in part for the flexibility to be there for your family, so make sure you have it.

Start by accepting that there will be some times of day that you won’t be as productive as others. These, if they work with other parts of your routine, are good times to take it easy. Maybe there are too many distractions, maybe you just aren’t a morning person and it takes a while to get yourself going.

I like to include one day each week that is absolutely family time, usually a weekend day. This way we can all have fun together. Now, if a business crisis comes up, the leisure time goes away, just as work time goes away if a home or family crisis comes up.

The more you take control of the distractions when you work at home, the more likely you are to succeed at it. Are there any distractions you find particularly important to deal with that I haven’t covered here?

The post How Hard Is It To Work From Your Home? appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

Some days it’s really hard to get any work done, even with my husband home to help with the kids and a goal of giving me quiet work time. It’s getting cooperation from our preschooler that’s the problem. She’s holding tight to her “Mommy’s girl” phase and doesn’t like me to be out of her sight at all. Quiet work time suddenly turns into deciding whether or not it’s worth the fuss to keep her out of my work space or not.

This is one of those chronic challenges of working at home. The distractions. Admittedly, preschoolers are way cuter than many other distractions, but when you need to work, you need to work.

It’s worse than usual right now just because I’ve been dealing with a bug that had me completely worn out for a few days. Not only did I barely get any work done those days, but my preschooler didn’t get the Mommy time she wanted, and so has been extra clingy. Thank goodness she’s shown no symptoms of my bug, or I’d be looking at still more challenges for working.

Working at home is hard when a child, too big to be easily typed around, wants to be on your lap or leaning on you while you work. It’s also hard when she wants every game she plays to be with you and no one else.

On the other hand, these times are short, relatively speaking. It’s not that many years until she’ll be off to kindergarten, and she’s already wishing for the freedom to go out and look for friends to play with like her older siblings. So long as it’s not completely ruining your ability to work, you should enjoy these times at least a little.

Coping

There are ways to cope with extremely clingy kids and still get some work done. This time, my husband talked her into going to the pet store to visit the cats there. Can’t get one, but the opportunity to see and perhaps even pet a cat gets her attention, even when she wants me.

Encouraging her to “work” on her computer helps too. It’s not perfect, as she usually wants me to help her with the games on it, but she is then happier to simply be beside me. From there she’ll start playing with other nearby items, but heaven forbid someone try to take her away!

That’s the thing to remember. You can make it work even if things aren’t going entirely your way. It may be harder, especially if you need quiet for one reason or another, but it’s possible if you make it possible, impossible if you make it impossible.

I don’t mean that you’ll be able to work in all situations. Certain things will get completely and utterly in the way, and that include the behavior of preschoolers. You do, however, need to work at minimizing those times. You won’t earn much at most jobs or businesses if you don’t work hard at them.

The post Working at Home and the Preschooler of Doom appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

One thing I tell people who want to work from home over and over is that it’s not always easy. That’s because it isn’t, of course, despite what the home business opportunities tell you. Most of us are going to have to work really hard to work at home successfully. Today I decided to share some of the things that I find make working at home challenging.

Kids

Kids. I have three of them, and they all provide challenges in their own way. The two oldest have the usual sibling arguments, which can get loud at times. Even if I don’t interfere directly, the noise is a distraction. They also have homework, and sometimes need help with it.

Add in soccer practices for my son and art class for my oldest daughter. My husband and I alternate taking them to activities so that the entire load isn’t on either of us. These activities make for somewhat rushed evenings, as the kids are better off eating dinner before their activities, especially my son as soccer takes a lot of energy. That means dinner ready a half hour to an hour earlier than usual.

My youngest doesn’t go to school yet, but she’s very determined to be right by me much of the day. The time the other two spend in school isn’t all that quiet because there’s just one kid to take care of, and she wants a lot of it. If I spend too much time on my laptop, she starts telling me to move it so that she can sit on my lap. She’s only three, but most days she does not nap, and if she does, it’s usually after her siblings are home, so I wouldn’t call it quiet working time. How I miss when she took naps earlier in the day.

Family Time

We make sure to take some family time every week. Theoretically, my husband gives me one day each weekend where he does most of what the kids need and I work quietly on my business. In reality, it only works that way some of the time. That part gets really frustrating,  but we try to make it work when possible.

I don’t entirely mind that because family time is important. That’s why I only allow for one work day each weekend. If it has been a rough week in terms of productivity, I really hate having so little time, but I consider the balance more important.

It gets harder if the family time involves going off to see family elsewhere for the whole weekend. Laptop and WiFi or no, it’s just a lot harder to work while visiting other family members.

Still, family time has to be a priority or it wouldn’t happen enough. My husband and I try to pick an adventure for our family to do once a month, so it’s not all sitting around the house. It can be as simple as playing all day in the snow, or as involved as taking the train to Los Angeles to get somewhere interesting.

Online Games

I’ll admit it, sometimes I get sucked into one online game or another, and play way too much of it for a couple weeks. They’re really, really bad for my productivity and I know it. They’re fun, of course, and sometimes my kids like to share in the games, talk strategies and so forth.

Other Online Distractions

Facebook and email aren’t my biggest online distractions. Reading articles is. I’ve always been a voracious reader, and remembering to stop reading and start working isn’t always easy. There’s always just one more interesting link to follow….

Volunteering

I volunteer a lot at my kids’ school. This year I’m reading with the kids in my son’s first grade class. At about an hour and a half a day, 3-4 days a week, it really eats up the time.

I really enjoy this, however. It’s a different activity, a focus on something different. It has made a big difference for some of the kids who really needed help with reading, which is great to see. It’s also good for my youngest. I call it her “preschool in miniature” as she gets time with other kids, hears a lot of stories, and learns a bit about how to behave at school. Work time lost or no, it’s worth it too.

Household Stuff

I don’t keep anywhere near a perfect house, but even a somewhat messy house takes a lot of care, especially since I cook most meals on my own. Thank goodness the kids handle some chores and my oldest is learning a little bit about cooking. Having the kids do it isn’t always faster or easier, but it’s very necessary.

Still, three kids can make an incredible mess very quickly if you don’t keep on top of it. I usually don’t, so cleaning up is not that quick much of the time.

Despite the problems, most of my distractions aren’t things I’d give up easily. Certainly not time with the kids and other family members. Certainly not cooking meals for my family or letting my kids join a small number of activities they enjoy.

Other things I definitely would do better if I had better control of them. The extra online stuff is definitely an area I could control a lot better many days. Sometimes I do a bit better than others by remembering to comment on blog posts I read, so that at least I get a link to my site, but I really don’t do enough of that for the time spent, and I know it.

What are your work at home challenges, and how do you cope?

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One of the most frustrating things about working at home is getting hired. Many work at home job seekers apply for a large number of jobs before getting hired, and the process quickly gets frustrating. All that effort to avoid scams and find legitimate employers, and the employers don’t want to have anything to do with you. What’s going on?

It’s nothing sinister. It’s the reality of searching for work, even when you aren’t trying to work at home. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look at factors which might be keeping employers from hiring you.

1. There’s too much competition for the job.

If you’re applying for work with companies well known to hire stay at home workers, you’re likely to be lost in the shuffle. I’ve heard that some positions get thousands of applications for every opening. It’s not easy to stand out in that sort of crowd.

I don’t mean you should avoid these employers entirely. They’re easy to find and it doesn’t hurt to take a little time and apply for the jobs they have available. Just don’t hang all your hopes on these employers. There are more places out there willing to hire stay at home workers.

Look for fresh work at home job leads. Craigslist, Dice, Home Job Stop, Indeed and many more sites may provide fresh job leads rather than simple lists of employers who regularly hire home based employees, although not every site I’ve listed there focuses on work at home or telecommute jobs. Just be aware that scams can be posted on any site.

Also try networking on sites such as LinkedIn. Sometimes job openings are shared on these sites, and you aren’t going to find these any other way. Even Facebook and Twitter can be a help in finding job leads, although those last two aren’t much focused on job leads, as there are more ads for questionable home business opportunities than legitimate job leads. Don’t let too much of your job hunting time be sucked into the potential to goof off on these sites.

2. Your resume isn’t that good.

How much effort did you put into your resume? Is it good enough? Did you have someone else review it? Did you make it relevant to each job you applied for? Do you really know what goes into a good resume? Are there any spelling errors? Any mistakes in grammar? Is your email address professional?

If you think the problem might be your resume, you have a few options. You can pay a professional resume writer to go over it, and this may be worth the investment if it turns your job hunt around. You can also buy an ebook or physical book on resume writing, or get one from your local public library.

Taking some time to improve your resume can be one of the most effective ways to change the results you’re getting with your job hunt. A poorly written resume or one that doesn’t fit the job description, no matter how well written, isn’t likely to get you into the interview process.

3. You didn’t follow instructions.

One of the big frustrations companies that hire home based workers have is that too many people don’t follow the instructions they give on how to apply for jobs, such as sending their resume to the wrong email address. Some apply despite not meeting any of the qualifications. Some people call the company when the site specifically asks that you not call.

That’s not going to bring the right sort of attention to your application for work. It doesn’t show that you’re strongly interested, eager and ready to work. It shows that you can’t follow directions.

I know it’s frustrating waiting to hear when they’re going to start interviewing, whether or not your being considered, or if they’ve made a hiring decision. That’s tough. If the company says don’t contact them, don’t. Wait it out and look at other jobs while you wait, no matter how much you want that one.

4. You aren’t being realistic with your job hunt.

It’s amazing how some people view working at home. They assume it will be easy and that they can learn the job with no prior experience and that they company will just train them up. That’s usually not the case. Most employers strongly prefer employees who have the experience they requested in the job description, as good a match as possible.

If you’re looking for work, hopefully you know what kind of work you’re qualified to do. Stick to those jobs rather than applying for any sort of work under the theory that if you keep trying, someone is bound to give you a chance. With all the competition for most work at home jobs, that’s just not true.

You also need to be realistic about what to expect from the sorts of work at home jobs you’re searching for. Know what you can expect to be paid. Know if the work is likely to be flexible or not.

5. Are you prepared when you get an interview?

Interviews for work at home jobs are usually over the phone, possibly on Skype. Some of the basics are the same, you need to be prepared to answer the usual interview questions and have relevant questions to ask. You’ll also need to ensure that you will have no interruptions from family members or pets during your interview.

On a telephone interview, you’re presenting yourself entirely by voice. The confidence you project is important. Particularly if the work you would be doing is primarily phone based, how you sound over the phone is a big part of whether or not you get hired.

If you’re being interviewed over Skype, you need to project a professional appearance as well as sounding professional. Give some thought to your appearance and how you’ll look on Skype. You want good lighting, but too much bright light in the background can create glare. Take some time before your interview to figure out how you’re going to look. You can have a family member use Skype on another computer to figure out what issues you may have to deal with.

6. Keep on trying.

It doesn’t matter how well qualified you are, sometimes you won’t get the job. Keep trying to find the kind of work you’re after, and consider taking on some short term freelance projects if you need to keep the money coming in. Check out sites such as ODesk (now Upwork), Guru, eLance, iFreelance and so forth. The short term work you find may help to build your resume and give you something of an income.

The post Why Aren’t You Being Hired When You Apply For a Work at Home Job? appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

A legitimate work at home job is a wonderful thing. They’re often very hard to find, worth holding onto. Sometimes, however, working conditions change and you have to think about whether or not it’s worth the trouble anymore.

It may be the availability of work hours. It may be a decrease in pay. It may be a change in policy or a difficult manager. But the time may come when you start to question if a particular job is worth the trouble anymore. You need to think things through a little.

Figure Out the Problems

It really helps to define what exactly the problem is. Many jobs have problems, whether you work outside the home or at home. Knowing what the problem is can sometimes lead to a solution, or at least a way to cope.

Talk to Coworkers

If it’s possible, get in contact with coworkers and see if it’s a common problem. They may have suggestions or otherwise be able to help. This may not be a good idea with some kinds of problems, so think before you bring up any issues. There can be problems with disclosing inappropriate information, particularly if discussed on a public forum.

Can Changes Be Made?

Once you know what the problem is, it’s time to see if anything can be done about it. You probably searched long and hard for this job; you don’t just want to give up on it unnecessarily.

Sometimes you can handle the problems on your own. Other times you’re going to need to talk with management at the company you’re working for and see if anything can be done about the issues you’re facing. Talking about it is the only way you’re going to find out if the company is willing to work with you on their side of the issue.

Sometimes the problem can’t be solved. Then you have to think about whether or not to continue on with that company.

Do You Have Another Work at Home Job?

Working for more than one company when you work at home isn’t that unusual. It helps you to deal with those times when not enough hours are available. If you have more than one job, and one goes bad, you may be able to drop the problem company and try to increase your hours elsewhere.

Can You Afford the Loss of Income?

If you really, really need the money, you may need to continue working at a job that is making you miserable until you can find something new. That’s true even in traditional jobs. Grimace and bear it until you can get something better. Look hard.

If the income is just extra to you, you could drop the job and then start job hunting. You’ll have a lot more time to search for that next job that’s out there for you.

Hopefully you won’t have trouble with your job too often. It’s a real bear looking for something new. But not all jobs are worth the trouble.

The post When a Good Work at Home Job Goes Bad appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

Lots of people talk about the great things about running a home based business. And don’t get me wrong, it is mostly great for me. But it has its downsides too.

1. Long hours

Yes, long hours for most people who have home businesses. Sure there are some people who manage to keep really short hours, the whole four hour work week kind of deal. But that’s not the typical experience.

Most home business owners, especially in the beginning, work long hours. They get up early in the morning or stay up after everyone else is in bed. They work weekends, holidays, whenever they can get a moment.

It’s incredibly difficult for most people to completely put aside their business when they love it. Even on vacation you’re likely to want to check your email or make sure your sites aren’t down. If you want to get completely away you’re probably going to have to hire a virtual assistant to take care of things for you.

On the plus side, it’s time you’re managing. If you need to be there for your family, you can do it. If you need a break, you’re the only one you have to convince to take it. That’s not always easy, as you may find yourself to be a harsher taskmaster than any boss you’ve ever had. But do go easy on yourself sometimes, okay?

2. Uncertain income

There’s nothing so wonderful as earning an income you can live off from home. But when you have a home business, you have no guarantees that your income will be steady at any level.

Some ways that’s a good thing. Your income can go from “ouch!” to “wow!” very quickly sometimes. But it can go the other way too.

This makes it vital that you keep savings available for those times that your income just isn’t where you need it to be. You have to prepare for the bad times and enjoy the good.

3. Expenses

When you own a home business, you pay for everything. Your training. The costs of operating your business, such as hosting and advertising.

Depending on your business model, these can add up quickly or be pretty easy on your budget. But they’re all yours!

4. Feelings of isolation

This one gets a lot of people in the early days. You’re at home, with no immediate co-workers, unless you count any children around. You can easily miss adult interaction.

There are many ways to get virtual interaction during the day. You can join appropriate forums and make friends. Use Twitter, Facebook and other social networking sites. Just don’t overdo it or you will find that you lack time to get real work done.

Be sure you get out with friends you can see in person too. Virtual friends are great, they can be wonderfully helpful and give you great input, even be there for you in a crisis, but time out with people in person is good for you too.

5. Lack of health benefits

This can be a big one. If you don’t have a spouse with health benefits, you have to find a plan on your own. These can be expensive.

6. Always with the kids

This is one of the big reasons why many parents choose to start a home business, but kids are one of the challenges as well. Sometimes you need to get something done for your business, and the kids just aren’t cooperating. They need you, they start fighting, they get sick, they do something or other that makes it more challenging when you’re really trying to get a project done.

Good thing you love them so much, right?

They’re a positive also. You’re there when they need you. If you want to do something with them, you get to.

One of the most important things to remember when you’re running a home business is that you can turn many negatives into positives. The same things that make working from home so hard are also what make it wonderful and great. Don’t let frustration stop you.

7. Hard to get sick days

Sure, you can take a sick day any day you want when you work at home. The question is, will you?

Just as with the tendency to work long hours, many work at home business owners will keep working even when they’re sick. It’s a home office, it’s right there!

On the plus side, even if you do work when you’re sick, you have more control over the pace of things. You might be fighting to beat a deadline, but you can figure out how much work you are up for without a boss breathing down your neck or talking to clients face to face.

When you have a home business, it’s important to realize that while you have more freedom, you also have more responsibilities. This can lead to overworking, missing out on fun with your family and other problems. Even though it’s difficult, make sure you’re taking time off as necessary.

The post What Are the Negatives to Running a Home Business? appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.