Dreading the return to the office? Stay at home with a franchise
Whilst the novelty of working from home slowly starts to wear off, for some people, returning to the office is bound to instigate some initial jitters. Whether it’s the office politics, the dreaded commute or simply just workplace fatigue that you want to escape, there are a whole host of franchise models that come without any of that unnecessary baggage. Frank Milner, President of tutoring franchise Tutor Doctor, discusses how the new normal doesn’t have to be so daunting and lists some of the fundamental benefits of home-working that franchisees enjoy.
Lower start-up costs and overheads
Business ownership might not have been on the top of your list this year, considering we’re still in a period of economic uncertainty, but home-based franchises offer a great compromise. Starting your business from home will be considerably cheaper than renting office space or a retail unit. Your lighting, heating and floor space costs already form part of your monthly outgoings, and there are no hidden nasties to pay. The franchise fee for most home-based franchises is lower, and they usually require less working capital to get up and running.
There are a couple of other small things to consider though. You will need business insurance for your home office in addition to your personal contents insurance. You will also need to check that your internet capability and Wi-Fi are up to scratch, as we don’t want a repeat of 2020’s antics with a poor connection. A simple Google search will point you in the right direction for both.
Flexibility
Working from home for the last year might have opened your eyes to the possibilities of getting things done during lunchtimes and evenings. As your commute consists of a short walk to the home office, you’ll have noticed that your personal time has multiplied exponentially. For many home-based offerings, this too is available in bucketloads. Whilst the first year of any business will take a lot of time and hard work in getting the foundations set, once you’ve established a successful buzzing business, you’ll be able to reap the benefits.
For maximum productivity, it’s still best to set a working day and stick to it. That’s exactly how Tutor Doctor franchisees operate. However, as a home-based business owner, you have the freedom to allow yourself time off to run errands and attend personal appointments during the daytime. You just have to be disciplined that you can – and do – commit to a few hours in the office that evening to make up for it.
That same freedom also allows for accepting parcels, being around when the plumber or electrician visits or having the option to care for your children on those odd days off poorly or the school holidays.
Family life
You might wish to rename your spare time as ‘family time’, in which case, the freedom of your own business will do wonders for doing just that. Having the choice to take children to school, pick them up at the end of the day and attend vital events such as parents’ evenings and sports days are all entirely possible alongside your home-based business.
For non-parents, this extra time can be spent visiting friends or family members or going on a nice long walk with the dog. Whichever way you wish to spend your precious downtime, you can rest assured that there’s plenty of it to go around.
Say goodbye to the commute
The daily travel to the office is a huge stressor for many people nowadays. Whilst some of us have recently spent a significant amount of time working from the safety of our own homes, others have had to contend with strict social distancing policies on their route to work each day. The luxury of working from home eliminates that nightmare. Aside from the occasions when you might need to travel for meetings or events, your commute to your desk will be no longer than a quick trip across the landing, up the stairs or into a garden room.
Tax advantages
When you work from home, there are certain expenses that you can offset through your business. Use of your office space and a proportion of utilities, including internet and telephone costs, can be processed as business expenses. Whilst I’d advise consulting an accountant to ensure you get the optimum benefit out of the opportunities, you should also seek guidance from your franchisor on what is and isn’t allowed.
Money-saving
Over time, working from home will begin to save you money. If it’s not from claiming back expenses through your business, it will be through saving on other outgoings such as fuel, parking and rail tickets. A simpler, capsule wardrobe is usually all that’s required whilst you’re at home, so office clothing costs and dry-cleaning bills, both of which can be quite substantial in the corporate world, can reduce dramatically.
Frank concluded, “The beauty of a home-based franchise is that you can choose to build a lifestyle that works for you. Using 2020’s practice run as a catalyst for change, I believe that home-based franchises will be seeing an influx of attention as the trip along the roadmap gets underway. If you’re starting to feel the dread of returning to normal, now’s your chance to create your very own route to happiness.”