You don’t need a fancy office. You don’t need banks of computers. You don’t need an extended team. If you believe your idea is good enough, you can succeed if you know how to start up a business from home.

What does starting a business from home mean?

It means that you’ll be running your business venture from the confines of your home. In many cases, you will be the only employee. If your business sells goods via drop shipping or e-commerce, the products would also be stored at your home. This means you’ll need adequate space.

But if you sell a service or have a digital product, you won’t have any physical goods to store. Whether it’s copywriting or accounting services, you’ll be able to do it with an internet connection. These home-based businesses can also be managed from any location.

Do I need permission to run a business from home?

If you’re looking at how to start up a business from home, you might also wonder whether you need permission to run it. The short answer is that yes, you can run a business from home. But you would need to get permission depending on the residence.

If it’s a council house, you would need permission from the local council. Similarly, you would need your landlord’s permission if it’s a rented property. If it’s your house, you should check whether there are any legal restrictions on running a business from home.

How to start a business from home

Develop your business plan: The first step on how to start up a business from home is to write your business plan. Find out if there is a market for your product or service, understand your potential customers and figure out the price at which you can sell.

You should also study your competitors and estimate your revenue and overheads for a few months. Next, develop a focused marketing plan that’s within your budget.

Register your business: To be legally recognised in the UK, you have to register with HMRC. This will ensure that your business pays the correct taxes. You should also understand the insurance requirements of your business before you start operations.

Side note: it is always a good idea for entrepreneurs to talk to an accountant before they start their operations.

Set up your business bank account: Although not legally required, it pays to have a business bank account, whether you’re a freelancer or a sole trader. You can separate your personal and professional finances with a business bank account. It will also help you calculate your budget, making it easy to file taxes.

When looking at business bank accounts, pay special attention to those banks that have special schemes for startups.

Organise your work life: You should find a place at home where you won’t be disturbed, ideally, away from your television or other such distractions. You should also get a number exclusively for work through a second-line app, which will make your business look professional from day one.

For those wondering how to start up a business from home, one of the most helpful suggestions would be to focus on your core tasks and automate everything else from accounting to expense tracking and to the use of apps to boost your productivity.

In short

Technology has levelled the playing field. Whether you’re a makeup artist, music teacher, website builder, fitness trainer, dog groomer or corporate consultant, you don’t need a physical office to start a business. Your office can be wherever you are. All you need to know is how to start up a business from home.