DETROIT – Becoming an entrepreneur is a popular option for business-inclined individuals, and especially if they can start and run their new business from home. It’s an appealing choice for a dedicated career path which can see you having the flexibility of starting your new company from the comfort of your own space.

When setting up a new business from home, there are a few key areas to consider to make sure that the process goes smoothly and that you can start up your business effectively. Below are six fundamental steps for setting up a new business from home.

Step 1: Make Your Business Plan

Any new business requires a business plan, whether you’re working from home or not. This is a key starting point so that you can best plan what you need going forward. Formulate your business plan to understand what your business is going to be, its summary, its aspirations, and other key areas like your business budget.

Step 2: Decide Your Working Hours

If you’re excited about your new business, no doubt you’ll want to pool all your spare hours and energy into it. However, it’s important to still have quality downtime at home. Setting up a working schedule will help you to know your work pattern at home so that you know when clocking off time is.

If you live with other people, then having set working hours will be helpful for letting others know when you’re busy with work (and shouldn’t be disturbed) and when you’re free.

Step 3: Create Space

You’ll need space to be able to confidently work on your new business, whether it’s a workshop from home, a home office, or anything else your new business needs in terms of space. Getting space at home to separate your business from your personal home life can be difficult if you have a smaller property, but it can be done if you’re willing to reorganize. You may even want to consider clearing out a spare room and putting certain items into storage temporarily while you get your new business on its feet. Self-storage companies like StorageArea provide many options.

Step 4: Be Professional

It’s easy to get into a more relaxed mindset when you’re based at home, but to remain professionally-inclined, make sure to still dress and act as though you’re going to the office, and also make sure your home-working environment is suited for your business purposes. For instance, if you’re going to be making customer phone calls, be sure you’re not interrupted by home-related tasks.

Step 5: Have a Dedicated Phone Line

If you’re filtering your new business calls to a phone line you already use, it can be difficult to manage your inquiries in a professional way. If you do need to use a home phone line, make sure you’re answering it with your business in mind, but it’s a good idea to use your personal mobile if you can.

Step 6: Create a Business Bank Account

Working from home can bring outgoings associated with your business into the mix of home outgoings. Having a separate business bank account is crucial for understanding your business expenses but also making sure that you’re not overspending with personal funds.

These six steps can help to plan your home business success.

James Daniels is a freelance writer, business enthusiast, a bit of a tech buff, and an overall geek. He is also an avid reader, who can while away hours reading and knowing about the latest gadgets and tech, whilst offering views and opinions on these topics.