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4. The use of legitimate business e-mail addresses. No personal addresses should be used. If a business address is used, it leads clients to believe that
business is larger, with more employees present in building.
5. Routine office hours should be kept. Answering phone and taking orders ONLY within set regular business hours will prevent clients from "showing up on doorstep" after certain hours, and will lend a more professional air to a business.
6. Keeping background noise down during office hours. Clients are quick to "pick up" on background noises. On a professional level, an office should be as quiet as possible, with no interruptions by "family" or "friends". This also is a safety measure, as clients will assume business is strictly unattached from residence if they sense no background noise.
7. Emergency phone numbers should be posted in clear view. This includes fire, police, and other emergency numbers.
8. A system of "check points" can be established, whereas a friend or family member can regularly call or enter building or home, to determine if all is well.
9. An emergency system needs to be in place. Any unwanted visitors or unwanted attentions by others need to be reported completely and thoroughly to authorities, as soon as these instances occur. This is especially true if threats or accusations occur. Business owners do not need to "put up" with aggression or unwanted visits by clients.
10. Common sense is best detriment to tragedies occurring in a home-based business. Never open door to strangers, never work alone late at night in a deserted area, never deliver anything late at night to a bad neighborhood, or otherwise put yourself or your family in jeopardy. If something doesn't "feel" right, trust your instincts.
As you can see, running a business within home doesn't need to be fraught by peril. It does require that safety and security measures are implemented, but this is true of any type of business. Remember, "safety first, money later"!
Vishal P. Rao is the editor of http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com - A website dedicated to opportunities, ideas and resources for starting a home based business. He is also the owner of the http://www.work-at-home-forum.com - an online community of folks who work at home.
