Making working at home work
by Kate BavelockWho needs to cross the bridge when you can put in a full day’s work from the comfort of your own home? Working from home, or telecommuting, is becoming increasingly common, thanks to more flexible workplaces and the options offered by technology and mobile computing. In addition, the Cape is fertile ground for entrepreneurs, many of whom start out in a home office. Working from home can be a good option, allowing for increased efficiency as well as more freedom and independence, but you need the right equipment and space to do it.
Does the space have adequate wiring?
According to Paul Johnson of Custom Installation Services in Dennis, you want a multimedia jack on every wall for phone, data, cable and electric. Right now you may know which wall you want for your desk, but the furniture arrangement could change and the wiring should be able to handle it. In addition, double the amount of outlets that code calls for from one every 12 feet to one every 6 feet.
Is your setup ergonomically correct?
An improperly set up desk could damage your hands, wrists and neck with an awkward computer keyboard position. Choose a desk and chair that give you proper support and alignment. Position the monitor so your neck is comfortable and you are looking straight ahead. Block glare to avoid eyestrain. Consider a headset if you spend more than 10 minutes at a time on the phone. Choose one based on sound quality, length of battery charge and a secure frequency.
Deciding between a laptop and desktop computer depends on how you use it.
Think about how much you travel and what you need to do when you are on the road. Smaller and lighter machines are great for lugging around but have cramped keyboards and small screens. While 17-inch screen laptops are a good replacement for a desktop while providing some portability, they really are not suitable for the frequent flyer. Don’t overpay for options, like graphics, that you will never use.
Choose the best printer for your needs.
Laser printers cost more up front, but you’ll save a bundle in the long run on printing. According to Staples.com, the cost of laser toner is about one-tenth that of inkjet cartridges in per-page printing. The all-in-one machines we compared (printer, scanner, copier, fax) ran $600 to $800 for laser, and $200 to $300 for inkjet, but saving hundreds of dollars a year on printing costs makes up the difference fast.
Picking an Internet provider: DSL or cable modem?
Right now DSL deals are so low they make dial-up very unattractive. It’s been an effective campaign to lure away the last holdouts who put up with the slow speed and a tied-up phone line for the savings of dial-up. But that could end if costs go back up. DSL is in turn slower and spottier than a T1 line or cable-based broadband that costs more. Speed and cost are up to you and your needs. Networking can be tricky; and sometimes hiring someone to install and connect everything makes sense.
What about protecting your data?
Backup your data. Make a plan and stick to it. Install and maintain a firewall, plus virus, spyware and spam protection. Richie Carey of Carey Internet Services said that bundled products sold by manufacturers are not always the best deal. He claims Spybot, Windows Defender, AVG Antivirus and Ad-Aware are the best and are free. They can all be found by Internet search. Carey also advises to set your computer to automatically download updates to stay as current as possible for protection. One more tip: Most people don’t realize that when they are using a wireless connection, anyone can pick up the signals. Changing a setting to encrypt signals is a simple solution that most people don’t use. Don’t forget paper security! Use a shredder for all financial papers.
Use e-mail effectively.
Keep an e-mail address for use that you know will generate spam, like signing up for information. Keep another address just for clients and close associates. Clean out your e-mail regularly. Be selective about what you keep. According to Carey, using gmail from Google is free and will give you a lot more storage capacity, and better ability to save and search your e-mails.
Set up a business voicemail box correctly.
Identify the name of the business being reached. Consider a longer message giving the caller your e-mail or Web site information and asking for the best time to return their call. If you opt for the longer message, be sure to give instructions for bypassing it.
Consider Broadband Voice, also known as Voice-over IP (VoIP).
This delivers voice communications over the Internet using your regular phone – made and answered just like you would any telephone call – at a substantial savings over phone company calling plans. Calls can be placed using your home or business phone, cell phone, even a pay phone. “The bottom line for VoIP is a company’s bottom line. Any business using VoIP services can save 50 percent or more. If a business is making long distance or international calls, then savings climb to 75 percent or more,” said Pat Murphy of Cape.Com.
Originally published in the Jan/Feb 2007 issue of Cape Business.
Cape Business Newsletters
Keep up with the latest issues affecting your business and your life! To sign up for any of the Cape Business newsletters, click here.