Investing in your own office space. What Has worked for you?

An office space does work really well from my experience, the important thing is as you have all ready mentioned "getting a formal seperation" I don't feel it's healthy to be stuck at home all day everyday. When i was working at home it was hard to tell the difference between work and after hours.

as long as you have a laptop you dont need to rent an actual office space. for me i would get bored working from the same room every single day. you can work one day at home then another day in a coffee shop and the next day in a library and then a different coffee shop and then back home etc.

Or you could hire a desk for the day.

Interesting thread.
I am considering converting my garden shed into an office space this year.
Its not like renting a separate space but think it will feel more like an office space and can cut off home and office and separate the two. It can be tempting to feel like you are always at work when you use an office at home

Hi,

Depending upon the money you can spend....

If you have enough money hire a office and if you don't have that much amount of money to spend in the rent go to thee coffee shot(it worked best for me)....

Some universities have office spaces that they offer quite cheaply to small businesses (sometimes the call the incubators and pods, fancy names like that). Sometimes, if you live in a "deprived area" there's special help available for individuals in the way of affordable shared office space and studios etc. Maybe have a look down that route?

What's wrong with setting up a special work corner for yourself away from distractions.
You will focus better by having your space, your routine and no distractions.

Its a better to have make improvement if have vacant space for lesser investment..

Many US cities have Government funded business 'incubators'. Basically you rent mid-quality office space at very affordable rates and you receive access to shared resources. There's usually a community conference room, fax/photocopier etc. Many are also staffed with a receptionist who provides basic answering services for all businesses in the complex.
Another concept gaining popularity is the 'open office' idea. They're usually a private enterprise where you get to lease a desk/booth in an open area shared by other 'entrepreneurs'. You get the usual HSI and other facilities but it's laid out in more of a community format. The idea is that it promotes interaction and networking opportunities with like-minded entrepreneurs and business pros.
They're fairly inexpensive but in some cases you do have to commit to a lease.

Getting out of the home at key stages of your business development can have REAL advantages.

That's a great idea. Off to jot it down.

I've always worked from home and never had a problem. At this moment, I don't see why I should pay an extra rent and commute to an office when I can do it all from my own desk at home.

In my opinion, the decision to buy or to rent an office work space may at times be really tough to make especially if you're just starting off. Although it can be difficult to fit into the budget at first, the benefits of having office space outweigh the extra overhead.

Absolutely its a good idea After working for 2 years from my office and apartment. I rented a office space recently and things are more corporate now.

Try a short term office let. Two months or so and measure it.

I've personally found success working at Panera while I have breakfast, and then out of the campus library for the rest of the day. I work very little (if at all), when I get home at night.

Don't use internet from any of these places though. I'd recommend investing in a mobile hotspot, keep yourself secure and all that.

My basement has a former kitchen table with my dual monitor Hackintosh that makes for a nice quiet office space separate from everyone in the house. It is warm in the winter, cool in the summer and my wifi works just fine connecting to the network router. I used to rent a large office for my previous business which needed a publicly accessible space, but for an online business, why add to expenses?

Years ago I rented a $500 a month shared office suite. They included use of secretarial services, conference rooms, and an upscale location. Even though it was to support my offline business, after a year I gave it up, as I found no benefits worth the costs.

Clients almost never visited me there and the lessor 'nickled and dimed' the tenants all the time.

For an online/offline business, a dedicated room in my home has been sufficient for years. My mobile office, if you will, is Starbucks, for a change of pace. ( and Starbucks rent is very cheap :-)
_____
Bruce

That sounds a good idea.

I work at:

Home
The Library
Dunkin' Donuts (where I am now!)
Other Coffee Shops
Local Vegan Restaurant with WiFi
Local Mall with Wifi
Barnes and Noble

I am at home 75% of the time. I do the other stuff about once a day around 2 or 3 PM because otherwise I'd be taking a nap. (I keep Mediterranean hours otherwise).

Maybe I would pay for office space down the line but I like chaotic environments so it seems like a quiet office would be a waste of money for me.

It seems like an unnecessary cost just for the sake of a mild psychological shift.

I'd just work on those distractions.

Have you tried a virtual office? This is a good halfway step between a full office and working from home. Many VOs allow you to work from their place on an ad hoc basis.

It is a psychological shift. But I think it's one worth exploring.

I just found out a buddy of mine leases in one of those university incubator sites for $400 per month. It's a nice building and office too.

I think the physical seperation of work and home is sometimes necessary but I've also considered that bad habits are meant to be broken.

Great idea finding your own work space. I would opt for a coffee ago approach. You'll probably spend $10 a day on coffee which will save you loads on utility bills. I love the buzz of coffee shops, great for creativity!

I have an office in my place ( separated ) I use it for my work only.

I found some of the interested thing is the places where you can pay monthly membership and have a shared work place.

Although my office is great place to work, I find myself always more productive in a coffee shop over a cup of coffee

I've tried it all (working from a bedroom, separate office room, the car, cafes, libraries, parks, shared workspaces, rented offices). What I learned I need to do the best work:

• Fresh air
• Absolute quiet when I need to concentrate for long periods to knock out some code
• A view of the sky -- absolutely critical for big-picture thinking like coming up with ideas

So I bought a house and I set up 2 workspaces. In the cold months, I have a home office; separate room from the rest of the house with a door and good window views (important to me) but still at home. Big desk, built custom shelving in the closets for office supplies and such, giant whiteboards, lots of screens to dock a computer to.

In the warm months, I work as close to outside as possible without being outside; actually going outside introduces too much screen glare. I have a custom built sunroom with giant windows that span the entire perimeter. With them all open, I can feel every breeze and see the whole sky. The critters are nice too (full bird and squirrel feeders make sure the yard is always active).

Not a great picture since it's night already, but... this is all it is. A popup table I take down when it gets too cold to work outside in Sep/Oct.

I never understood the people who say they go and work in coffee shops to get away from distractions. I don't possibly think you could have anymore distractions than the constant comings and goings of a regular coffee shop.

I believe it's an interesting consideration, but when you have ample of money. Or at least a reasonable regular revenue. Without it, it's better to focus on making more income and all these things will naturally come to you. If you think like I can't work because I don't have a separate office for work, that's not going to help. Be thankful to what you have and go ahead, live your life. It will soon create a positive mindset and make you successful like never before!

Are there any coworking spaces in your area? Look them up! Office space can be pretty costly.

Before you do something relatively drastic like that, why not do more to improve your working conditions at home?

Have a daily routine, set aside a space for work and nothing else, etc. Have you already tried that?

That is a good question, I had the same issue earlier. Working from your home is sometimes very difficult. There are different distractions at home and even sometimes it is even harder to focus on work. So I'd say that "Office" is the best option.

Coffee shops!!!??? are you serious???

Just a laptop and a desk at home. I need total privacy. I can't work in public places. People are too damn nosy.

Treat it the way you feed a snake: One tank for chilling around, one tank for food.

You have a location that is your "work" location. You have a location that is your "real life" location. You do not mix it.

This would be a major benefit to me - although I am the main earner. My wife still thinks because I am at home I should do the cooking and shopping, because my day is so much more flexible hehe you have to love the wife logic

From her perspective I am the old man working in the potting shed growing roses and the internet is just tinkering around

having your own office can add another expenses to your budget. if you have extra then consider it but if your budget is tight, you might also consider to think it twice.