yes, you can be a soho worker, but becoming your own boss is also about taking a big risk. how do you start your workday? do you tear yourself from your bed, take a quick bath, dress up in a jiffy, grab a sandwich in your hands and rush to catch the bus or train? if that’s the way it is, and you want to put a stop to the mad morning grind, you have two choices. one, wake up earlier and organise your morning schedule. two, if you are enterprising and, more important, your professional skills allow you to think differently about your priorities, you could try working from home. but, even as you start thinking about the shift, be clear about why you are doing it, and where exactly you want to go.
the grass is greener
the advantages of being your own boss are many — freedom, varied choices (you could even work from your garage), flexibility and no strict rules. but the flip side — fluctuating incomes, no sick leave, and irregular hours, should be weighed carefully too. it shouldn’t be a case where telecommuting saves you the ordeal of travelling to work, but its unpredictability adds a new dose of anxiety.
good business sense
if you decide to run your own show from home, you should be diligent on the following scores:

communicate: constantly communicate with your clients, suppliers and vendors. they should clearly know the benefits of your product or service. and you should know your audience. mail them information about yourself and what you offer. make it interesting and personal. thank your clients when they use your product. network to the hilt and learn the art of listening.

attention to detail: keep your desk uncluttered, your office tidy. pay attention to your visiting card, brochure, signboard, letterhead and slogan. the fonts and colour should complement your business.

alliances: forge partnerships with competition. when you work for a large organisation, you don’t have to worry about these things. but, a soho worker does. with partnerships, you can offer products that you or the other party couldn’t have been able to offer singly.

visibility: be your own pr person. tell the press about new products, programmes and accomplishments. occasionally, go and meet local editors and press persons. meet government officials, bag contracts. speak at seminars and workshops.

accounts: keep your finances in order. keep a decent amount in the bank for emergencies. keep home and office expenses clearly apart. review your expenses and income every month.
options at hand
although abroad, many companies offer soho opportunities, in india, only a few it companies and multinationals do. professionals in media, research, design and creative fields have more soho options than others. in india, it’s easier to be a soho entrepreneur. if you do, these are the things you need to look out for:

define an area in your home from where you will operate. it should be free of distractions, roomy enough for filing space, it should have sufficient phone and electrical sockets and should be well lit. look at space-saving furniture and fixtures.
with law
check out the laws governing the manufacture of your product at home, or providing the service you’ve opted for. there are also certain registration and accounting requirements:
you need to get your company name registered.
a sales tax number must be obtained from the state.
a separate business telephone and bank account are normally required.
you should not withhold income and other taxes.
comply with minimum wage and employee health and safety laws.
show time
after flipping through the pros and cons of home-based businesses, it’s time to put together a business plan.

the plan should talk straight and be free from intricate outlines. identify your primary goals and objectives. ask yourself: who makes up your market? can you market your business from home? what will be the pricing of your business? how will you tackle competition? what is your revenue model? you may not earn profits initially, so be sure to give yourself enough cushion.

your operating expenses will include salaries, office supplies, loan payments, taxes, legal services and insurance premia. don’t overlook your day-to-day living expenses. calculate your business’ sales on a daily and monthly basis. that will help you develop projected income statements, break-even points and cash flow statements.
ready to go
whether you start a home-based business, or work from home as a freelancer, just make sure you get “ready” for work each day. fight the temptation to lie in bed. regularity and discipline will reflect in your work. be real about your abilities, and set reasonable goals for yourself. finally, take it easy, it’s just another day and it’s just work.