Setting up a new business from your home is an exciting time.
There’s so much to think about. You need to decide if you’ll be self-employed, in a partnership, or registering a limited company.
You need to get your business plan in order, sort out finance, and decide how you will reach your customers.
You’ll also need to decide where you’ll be carrying out your work.
For most home-based businesses, a home office is the way forward.
You need somewhere dedicated to work, somewhere on which you can close the door at the end of the day.
You don’t want your new business to overwhelm your home!
Your new office may be a spare room, study, or a garden room.
One important thing to consider is ensuring you have the right electrics for your new home office.
What do you need to consider?
What equipment will you be using? Most home offices have at least one computer or laptop, a printer, phones, internet connections, and points for phone charging.
Designers and photographers may need light boxes, some businesses may need other equipment such as overhead screens – useful for traders to monitor currency and stocks, for example.
For those starting a craft business, you may need equipment which needs electricity like soldering irons.
What lighting will you need? Alongside overhead lighting, you will probably need a desk lamp. Will you also need spotlighting for crafting or artistic work?
Where will your desk be situated? Look at the layout of the room and the natural lighting and decide where your desk should be. You need to ensure computer screens and other VDUs don’t suffer from glare from windows or overhead lights.
Will you need to move your broadband router? Some houses, especially older ones with thick walls, have Wi-Fi dead spots. Try your laptop out in your new office before you move in to ensure you get a usable signal.
Where will your electrical points and data cabling points need to be placed? Once you have the site of your desk, this should become clearer.
A good electrical engineer will help you design the layout of points to best suit your needs.
If you have a garden office, do you need extra cabling outside? Your garden office may not have any electrics in there at all, or its older electrics may need a total re-wire. Do you also need a fire alarm or security system for it? Get a proper survey to ensure you’ll be safe.
Looking for an engineer to install your home office electrics? Call our expert team on 0845 003 6856/ Find out more about our services here: /.