Working at home as a sole trader may seem like a dream come true, as you get out of bed, make yourself a coffee and sit at the computer with your pet dog curled up at your feet. No time or money spent on commuting to work and no one to answer to but yourself and your customers. However, there are some aspects to working alone that can be challenging.
Loneliness can be a major issue, as you find the camaraderie you shared with co-workers is missing. Major decisions become more difficult to make without feedback from colleagues, and you find yourself searching for someone to talk to. A solution for this can be to join a business networking group. Members are often in a similar situation and can provide the support and advice you need. Either online or offline groups exist in many areas. Join one and surround yourself with a group of like-minded people.Another challenge of working at home can be the difficulty in separating work from home life. When you stay at home to work, distractions are at a maximum. If you want to have a successful business, you can't allow personal phone calls or housework to constantly distract you from your work.
It is important to separate your work from your personal time and space, possibly by scheduling your work hours so that family and friends don't interrupt, and creating a workspace apart from your living area, i.e. an office room. By sticking with your work hours, you will also avoid the trap of overworking and maintain a good work/life balance. Only you know how to find that tricky balance, and now you are your own boss, you can!
Several websites that offer some great advice on how to avoid the pitfalls of working alone are:
Australia’s solo and micro business community
D and B company All Business
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