9 Important Home Office Items for Your Side Hustle
ocmblogger • October 19, 2017
With so many smart home owners looking into multiple streams of income, entrepreneurs are popping up everywhere. Currently 1 in 5 Americans working from home, with an additional 24% of employed folks doing all or part of their work from home. Not only that, set up and used correctly, you can make the IRS happy
and snag a home office deduction. Your office must be your principal place of business, or where you meet clients or customers in the normal course of business.
Besides a nice deduction at the end of the year, separating space from the rest of your home makes it feel more like an office instead of just “working off the kitchen table.” You’ll feel more professional and it provides you with the ability to shut the door. Create a welcoming space if you plan to meet with clients.
Try these pointers to get your home office up and running pronto!
- Choosing the right desk is still a matter of personal preference. With the spotlight now on DBS (Dormant Butt Syndrome) more office workers are taking advantage of standing desks. Many have the ability to collapse flat for those who wishto sit at various intervals throughout the day.
- If you prefer a chair and sitting at your desk, you have another important decision to make: a traditional or cutting edge chair? Executive chair, ball chair, Mogo seat or kneeling chair and dozens of option to choose from. Try them all. You want to find the seating that works with your desk and your personality.
- A computer is a must From maintaining your records to your website and marketing. If you take your work with you or travel a good bit, a laptop, Mac or Chrome book could be your best option. If you intend to work exclusively from home a desktop might be your most important office tool. Whatever you select, be sure to get one with the capabilities and software your side hustle requires.
- Depending on the extent to which you’ll use your computer, an Internet connection is your lifeline to clients. Shop around to fine an Internet provider with the right speed/bandwidth and good contract terms.
- Illuminate
your office with personality. Steam punk or banker lamp and hundreds of variations in between, your lighting
is limited only by your imagination or your budget.
- You may choose to go paperless, but it’s likely you’ll still have some important documents to store. A file cabinet to house them is another indispensable piece of office fixture. Choose from standard metal, wood grain and preferably one that locks.
- Depending on how much time you’ll spend on the phone , you may opt for a landline with a classic handset or additional cell phone. Synchronizing it with all of your business devices will make it easy to keep track of appointments, documents and emails. At the very least, change your incoming voice message to a professional tone sharing your website or email address.
- A home Printer & Scanner can be convenient if you get a lot of printing done. Great for contract duplication and storage and a multitude of uses.
- Personalize: hang up positive quotes, or make it uplifting so that you want to be in there to work. Add greenery to your office. It adds a psychological lift and freshens the air.
To get a nice deduction at the end of the year, and avoid potential problems, set up your office in compliance with IRS small business/home office guidelines. If you’re unsure about requirements, contact their office or your local SBA. We’d love to hear from you. Stop by our Facebook page and say hello or visit our website OhioCapitalMortgage.com.
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Although she makes this using eggs, she makes a vegan version using firm tofu with equal success. The recipe comes from Shaheen of Spoon Fork and Food.
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