Leaving your job to work from home can be a daunting decision, but one that can give you an opportunity to create the lifestyle and income that you always dreamed of. Sally Norman was one such individual, who decided to take her accounting career to the next level ” her own accountancy practice. As a single mother, with two children, Sally realized that she was missing out on quality time with her children since most of her day was spent at the office and commuting. The ongoing pressure of a demanding employer was causing her to lose her patience with her children and suffer from stress because she was simply too tired to cope. Sally decided it was time to make a change in her life, and give herself and her family the time they deserved ” she fired her boss and became her own!

There are many women like Sally who live in Australia who want the freedom of their own business and the ability to be a stay at home mum. As a professional, and a career-focused individual, you need to know that there are many things to consider when making such a big decision ” the most important of the lot is to plan carefully and think outside the box.

Plan: Planning carefully means that you need to create a business plan for your home based business. Whether you are planning to start an accountancy or internet marketing business, it doesn’t make a difference; you still need to ensure that your business is structured properly. You need a clear and concise plan that will help you to identify: - start up requirements - cash flow projections are - expected expenses If you need help with creating this plan there are websites that provide business plan samples that you can work with.

Insurance: You will need to ensure that you have sufficient insurance coverage to protect your new business. There are many new companies out there who have suffered as a result of not having the proper insurance in place. One type of insurance a contractor type business could require is Professional Indemnity Insurance a type of insurance coverage necessary for business professionals who advise their customers as part of their services. Businesses that provide a professional service (e.g. accountants, IT professionals, consultants, bookkeepers, etc.) are regarded by their clients as experts in their fields. In the litigious Australian context, clients will not hesitate to make a claim against these ‘experts’ when they believe they have had serious problems as a result of their actions. Business Insurance is also an important consideration ” this provides cover for public liability and office content.

Fun: What does it mean to think outside of the box? Be Unique! Although many professions can simila in nature, think of what can set you apart from your competitors, and what will keep your clients coming back for more. A newsletter that is witty & informative can set your business tone. It can customers insight into your personality and is a way to let them get to know you a bit better. If a customer likes you, theyll want to give you their business. People like to feel that businesses care about them, especially if you are handling their financial estates, wills, housing blueprints or anything personal and important to them. Sending an e-mail to thank them, or keep them informed is a great way of saying you care.

Service: Try and think of all the things your old company didnt do for your clients that you would have liked, and figure out how you can offer it instead. They key is to offer your clients more than what they are paying for, in terms of service, and you will ultimately reap the rewards as a work-from-home-business owner quickly.