Scaling Your Home for your New Business

By, Lucille Rosetti

Starting a business can be an exciting and fulfilling endeavor, and it's never been easier to run a business from your home. Unfortunately, your current residence may not be able to support your new venture. With the proper planning and care, you can smoothly transition between homes while getting your company off the ground. Here, Marin Real Estate offers this guide that explains how to make it happen.

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Rather than letting your current space dictate what sort of business you can start, let the company you want to create decide where you move. A custom apparel company, for instance, will need considerable space to store and process inventory, while a house cleaning service may only require a home office and a spot for the company van. If there's a specific market you wish to cater to, you'll of course need to relocate to that market's region.  

Studies have found that fewer and fewer home buyers have been conducting house inspections before signing. This is due to an increasingly volatile housing market and buyers doing whatever they can to secure a home before they're outbid. It’s wise to avoid this mistake. A professional inspection can unearth potential problems with the property before you commit to purchasing it. At the very least, research common prices and interest rates in your area to make sure you're getting your new home at a fair price. 

Get Your Financing In Order 

There are numerous home lending options available to potential buyers, and the best option for you will depend on a number of factors. If you have good credit, you may qualify for a traditional mortgage with a competitive interest rate. 

However, if your credit is less than perfect, you may need to consider other options, such as an FHA loan or a VA loan. These loans have less stringent credit requirements as well as lower down payment options, and you can eventually take advantage of streamline refinancing. Plus, when you apply for FHA loan preapproval, you can lock in a rate and show the seller you're a verified candidate for making a purchase.

Have a Smooth and Organized Move 

Since some of your focus needs to be monopolized by your new company, you should take early steps to make sure the move itself goes with as few hiccups as possible. Consider setting up a manifest detailing the contents of every box and which room they belong in. This will save you from needing to organize your entire home as you unpack.

 If you're on a tight budget, you may want to call in favors with family and friends rather than hiring professional movers. Lastly, do your best to declutter, donate good but unwanted items, and throw away trash before moving to ensure your total load is as light as possible. Remember that every bit of planning and organization you perform in these early stages will save you a headache later on.

Set Up Shop

With the move itself is in progress, you should now be taking steps to get your company off the ground. The first thing you need is a business plan detailing every aspect of your company, from what you're offering customers to what sort of funding you'll need. If you're able to make an educated guess, include what kind of profits your business can expect to bring in. This will serve as a roadmap as you build the organization, but it will also signal to investors that you have a viable idea worth taking a risk on.

 Unless you're building a one-person operation, you'll eventually need to start staffing. Before your first employee starts their first day, you should have a framework established for payroll. Software and services are available online which can set up recurring deposits, automatically account for tax and insurance, manage direct deposits, and even track time off requests and PTO balances.

Taking on the responsibility of running a business can be intimidating. Before starting your own business, you may want to consider pursuing an MBA degree. An MBA can provide you with the tools and experience you need to feel confident starting your own business. And upfront pricing and flexible scheduling mean working toward the degree can fit into your busy lifestyle.

Get Marketing Help

When you first start a business, it can be difficult to get your name out there. Creating a professional-quality logo with a free logo design tool can help your company become more recognizable. Having something iconographic helps your customers remember your business. You can also target your audience more effectively with digital marketing, making sure that your message reaches the people who are most likely to be interested in what you have to offer. Paid marketing services can also help you track your results and adjust your strategy as needed. 

Organize All Your Documentation

With this type of undertaking, keeping your documents filed correctly is crucial.. You need to be able to grab files on demand when your lender asks questions or if your business requires certain documents for permitting and licensing.

First, consider using an online PDF file merger tool. This will allow you to combine multiple PDF files into one, making it much easier to keep track of everything. You can also use PDF file mergers to split up large files into smaller ones, which can be helpful if you only need certain parts of a document.

Another great way to keep your documents organized is to use tags and keywords. This way, you can easily search for specific documents later on. You can also create folders and sub-folders to further organize your files. And finally, don't forget to back up your files! This way, you'll always have a copy in case something happens to the originals.

Conclusion

Moving into a new home while starting a company is a stressful process that can achieve two life goals simultaneously. But to pull this off, you have to be deliberate and methodical. This starts with finding the right type of house to fit your business, as well as choosing the right mortgage option for your budget. You also want to keep a close eye on packing and moving to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

Setting up your business will require different attention to detail, but being mindful of registering with the state, setting up payroll and having a marketing plan pave the way for success. When you take steps to keep your documentation for everything meticulously organized, you’ll have an easier time tracking down receipts or signed forms in a flash.

It will feel like a difficult mountain to climb, that’s no doubt. But in no time, you’ll reach the summit, leaving you a homeowner with a fledgling business that’s eager to take on the world