Running a business from home creates a range of unique, yet somewhat quite common, commercial problems – from poor, amateurish customer perception through to being unable to escape from the work environment or health and safety issues, there are numerous pitfalls awaiting the work at home entrepreneur running his own business. But what exactly is problematic about work from home businesses, and how can these common complications be turned around?

If you work at home, you will at one stage most likely encounter the problem of a lack of credibility. There is a feeling in some sectors of business that just because one is a work at home business with a residential street address, it is somehow less credible or less professional than any other business. This is a problem that must be surmounted if the work at home business is ever to become a more successful, larger enterprise. A common resolution to this is to opt for a mailbox or virtual address in a more commercial part of town – that way, you’ll no longer be associated with operating from a back bedroom, but instead be perceived as operating from prime local office space.

Another problem experienced by business people that run work from home businesses is that they find it difficult to switch off after a day’s work, simply because they happen to live in the same place that they work. This is quite common, given that at number of home entrepreneurs integrate their business habits into their lifestyle, which can make the difference between work and play less distinct. A good solution to this problem is to dedicate a specific room in the home to work – such as a study or spare room. After the working day is done, you can shut the door and shut out the distractions of work whilst you enjoy your home life.

Some other home-based entrepreneurs report more issues with working from home, in particular the fact that customers tend to show up at your door at inappropriate times, often well outside of office hours. Because customers will treat your home address as an office, don’t be too shocked when one turns up on your doorstep with a complaint or to ask you a few questions. This can be one sure fire way to destroy your private life and any privacy you might have otherwise enjoyed – particularly if your business starts to take off. Again the mailbox route may be an option in these circumstances, but it might also be wise to avoid advertising your address where possible.

If you work at home, you will most likely encounter one or more of these problems with your business at some stage, before electing to use an alternative address or office premises. Whether that’s right or wrong, it’s important to bear in mind these drawbacks of working from home as compared to running from an office, and remember that these may become factors if you elect to save costs on running a business without permanent offices or some form of alternative address.