Use your home as a workplace

Advantages and disadvantages of working from home

Guide

Using your home for business purposes is a common choice for people who just need a small office, or who spend most of their time working at client locations. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of working from home which you should be aware of.

Advantages of working from home

Working from home can have many benefits for you and your business including:

Saving you money 

Save on start-up costs, as you do not need to buy or rent business premises.

Saving you time

Save time that would be spent on looking for suitable business property.

More flexibility

Avoid becoming tied into long-term tenancy agreements.

Family commitments

Arrange work around family commitments.

Help from family

For example, they may help you with filing or general administration tasks.

Minimise travelling time

Save on time and money spent travelling to work.

Fewer distractions

Avoid the noise and distractions of the workplace.

Disadvantages of working from home

However, there are challenges to working from home too. You may find there may be disadvantages such as:

  • difficulty separating home and work life
  • the initial expense of setting up your business at home
  • domestic distractions and interruptions
  • isolation/loneliness

See advantages and disadvantages of employees working at home.