March 2004

Working at Home, But Not in the Backyard

by Kathie M. Thomas

Home-based businesses sometimes have the stigma of being called 'backyard businesses' and I recall during my first year receiving a phone call from a lady who'd seen a flyer in her letterbox, asking for some typing to be done. She was quite indignant when I told her how much I charge. The lady asked 'but, you're working in your home, aren't you?' and I gave her the reply, 'yes, but I'm not a backyard business'. Her question astounded me. I had thought of myself as a professional and didn't like that being questioned. But it goes a little farther than that so let's explore it.

First of all, years ago, people would set up as 'backyard' operators, practising the skills they either used at work, or had learnt elsewhere. Whilst a number of these were genuine people, just wanting to supplement their incomes, there were the scrupulous few who literally ripped people off, not performing their work well, and getting paid for it. Warranties were never a possibility and you literally took your chances dealing with someone unknown.

Today home-based businesses are a different race. They are generally people who are well skilled in their particular field, and for one reason or another, be it redundancy, the challenge of developing something themselves, just being sick of working for someone, or any number of other reasons, decide to work at home. Me - I just got sick of ringing my kids every day at 4:00pm to make sure everyone was home, refereeing fights and giving instructions. Also of the constant traffic jams and what I considered wasted time on the road. I'd longed to be home for a long time and finally took that plunge. It had been thought about for a long time, it wasn't a sudden whim, and I hadn't been made redundant or had taken a package. I took 12 month's leave without pay from a government job, determined that I was not going back.

Now for some of the reasons why home-based businesses still charge the same or similar as regular businesses:

In my field (secretarial) I charge for different levels of service, so much for straight word-processing, another amount for database design and management, another for desktop publishing and still another for internet research. I've checked my rates against similar businesses in the same locality and have found that I charge about the same, in some cases slightly lower.

I also offer the same, if not more, in the way of services, i.e., faxing, emailing, colour and laser printing, scanning - both OCR and image, laminating and binding, and can also train on a one-to-one basis, or in a classroom situation. I also do web page design, resume writing, and a multitude of other things. All of these things require experience, knowledge and training. Things that command a higher hourly rate than someone who just does straight typing.

Keeping up-to-date with the latest software, ensuring that I am well informed and knowledgeable in the use of the software and what it can and can't do. All of these things are the same as any business providing the same service from a shop or office located in an office block. The only difference is that I operate from home. I still have overheads - phone/fax bills, internet connection, stationery, toner cartridges, hardware, software, professional development, training costs and advertising. I like to think because I don't have to pay the rental for a business location, that the money can be spent instead on keeping up to date with software and hardware, and my personal and professional training. I know of many businesses still operating in Windows 3.1, MS Office 4.3 and without a number of the facilities I have available. I can't afford not to keep up with my clients' needs. In effect, I have invested in myself, rather than in an office building and the client benefits from this ultimately.

When a client is shopping around for a job to be performed, often a lower price will sway them. But there are many I get come to my office who have gone elsewhere to receive a job not so well done and then having to pay for it to be corrected/amended. Sometimes other services nearby have rung to find out my expertise in an area because they haven't been able to handle a job they took on. Even a nearby personnel agency refers a particular line of work to me because they don't have anyone registered with knowledge in that area.

It took time for me to develop the knowledge and experience I have, but it was worth every moment it took. I now enjoy my surroundings and the work I'm doing. I love being at home and being near my children. I love being on my computer and being able to choose the type of work I do, the clients I service and the time I spend doing it.

If you're a home-based business, whatever it is you do, be it a service-type business, or making or producing something, be proud of what you do and do it to the best of your ability. Never be made to feel you should be charging less because you work at home. The home-based sector is growing and improving, modern technology is making it more and more possible for this sector to grow and to be very professional in its operation. Be proud, enjoy and do it well. After all, you're working at home, but not necessarily in the backyard!

About the Author

Kathie M. Thomas, AFAIOP, MVA, ASO is founder of the Australian based network "A Clayton's Secretary" has 30 years secretarial/administrative experience and a background of working with computers for over 17 years. She can be contacted via her website at http://www.asecretary.com.au/about.htm