As a home based businessperson of 30 years, I understand why you want to go into business for yourself from home. I totally get it. But before you make the flying leap home, you might want to hear from someone who has been doing it for a long time, and even when it wasn’t popular to do so.

Now the grass isn’t always greener, and sometimes it really is! I am in the process of writing a book on this subject, so this is only a very small overview, but to get started in making this decision, you want to consider the first 3 top advantages of working from home, as well as the 3 top disadvantages. Then you will be closer to understanding if you possess the personality, temperament, and work style to be successful with your home based business.

The Advantages:

1. Parenting: If you are a primary parent, a home-based business allows you the flexibility to be a successful and efficient parent.

2. Other household income: With another person in the household (husband, wife, housemate, living in partner) with a solid income, the advantage is that you also have the flexibility to support their infrastructure; to allow them more comfort and success in their work. Their stable paycheck can offset a self-employment income that may offer bigger paydays but the paydays are inconsistent; but your flexibility offers them household management security.

3. Home schooling: Parents who home school can balance the task of home schooling their children while making a part time income from home. A synergy can be created with these two undertakings.

The Disadvantages:

1. Multi-tasking: If you are not good at multi-tasking, this can be an overwhelming kind of life style. It may seem like you are constantly running in circles, with little to no control However, If you are good at time management, and at multitasking, and project management, this will be an advantage.

2. Just say No: If you are not good at saying no. What happens to a self-employed person is that people think that you are "not working" because you do not have a "visible job." So they will ask you favors, or ask you to volunteer, or ask you to work for them, without realizing they are cutting into your workday. You will not make an income from home is you are not able to say no to favors, and no to interruptions during your work day.

3. Leadership: If you need someone to tell you what to do, this is a disadvantage for working from home. You will need to be your own boss, and that means every day you will have to assign yourself work. You will also need to assign yourself time off, and tell yourself it is time to go home, er, that it is time to "stop working."