This post is brought to you by LRM RiverValley Marketing.
On The Buying Side
The key to buying a new home while also in the middle of launching a business is preparation. Both tasks are time intensive, so the sooner you start, the better off you’ll be. One of the first things on your to-do list should be checking home prices to make sure that your business can sustain the added cost. The Fort Smith housing market has remained strong, despite heavy interest rate increases. Fortunately, at $76 per square foot (as of September 2022), it is still highly affordable, and you should have no problem finding the ideal home for your needs.
Another important step here is to make sure that you’re not running a business that is prohibited from residential areas where you’re moving. Some areas prohibit any type of business that would increase the traffic in a residential neighborhood. However, Nolo asserts that it might be possible to appeal to your zoning board to get outdated restrictions removed. If you plan to have employees, it’s important that you know whether or not they can come work in your home if needed.
Startup Success = Digital Organization
The most important thing you should know about starting a business (especially when you’re moving) is that you have to be organized. Fortunately, we live in the digital age, and there are plenty of tools, such as PDFs, that can help you keep up with your documents no matter where you are or how hectic your life is. Digitizing your records will save you lots of time, and when you combine everything you need into a single PDF file, you can order it in whatever way makes the most sense to you, so you’ll know exactly where what you need and when you need it. PDFs are also universally recognizable, meaning you can collaborate with your employees and clients within the document.
If you’re moving to a new hometown, you also need to prioritize marketing. Make sure that your website is up to date and that you have a fully formed brand that includes more than just a logo and a business name. Your marketing should also include social media, press releases to let people know that you’re in business, and, potentially, attending live events in your new hometown.
Bringing It All Together
Once you’ve bought your new home and have your business up and running, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty of settling into your new life. A few home office tips that can help you bypass some of the challenges that come with remote work include:
- Set office hours. Having predictable office hours is important for your customers. When you work from home, however, it’s not always that easy, especially when you have kids. Superior Play Systems recommends giving your children lots of imaginative toys, books, and arts and crafts projects they can work on while you work.
- Use software. You can’t rely on email alone to keep your business up and running. Instead, make sure that you have invoicing software – the right software will allow you to accept online payments and create financial reports – and an online collaboration or workflow management system.
As one of the 31.7 million small businesses in the United States, your business is in good company. But, when you also have to move, it’s easy to get sidetracked and lose focus. From knowing the cost you can expect for a new home to accommodate your business to using the universally-accepted PDF document format to collaborate, the tips above can help you stay on track so that you can navigate your move and the startup phase with confidence.