Home or Office?

Yes to all questions for 10 years, until my wife got tired of people coming through my living room to get to my office(den).

My kids playing Mozart in 4th and 5th grade was a nice treat, but getting out of the home was a better one.

The shared office concept is not bad, but expensive. But I am getting clients because of my new office, so I am not complaining. Can you rent space from another professional and possibly get work from them, too?

I have been working out of my home for well over a year, and i go to clients place of business which is easier to use there computers.

hope this helps

Thanks...is this your first year in the business? How is it going? Any words of adice for neubies?

I am working on my 2nd year. First year was not bad, i am hoping to do better this year. I am working with a CPA in my area.

Good luck

There are positives and negatives of both a home office and a store front office. I have been working out of my home for six years providing services from bookkeeping to tax prep. The positives are cost, easy access (no commute) and casual dress unless client meetings are scheduled. Also I was able to be available when one of my kids were sick. It is important to draw a line with clients so that they contact you only during business hours as some people think working out of your home means you are available 24/7. Also get a separate line for your business so you know when you are getting a business call and you can answer professionally. A definite negative is homes get dirty faster then offices and it can be a challenge to keep everything presentable during particularly busy times. If clients have to go up & down stairs you may want to aim for a store front office once you get established as access can be an issue.

I have a home/office and an office. My outside office is a trade off with another company - I provide all of their QB support and computer support and they give me an office and phone line...it's a good trade.

I like the outside office on days that are hectic here at the house...it also gets me into "work mode" which is sometimes difficult here at the house.

I like the house too...I can do the sick kid routine when needed and I can also work with ease from the house...

The trade off works really well for those looking to minimize overhead.

Hope this helps...

Brandon Morris

I am in my 38th year now. I started going to peoples houses or office, doing them by hand with IRS forms, pencil and erasure. I always did them right there and gave them the end result as to refund or owing right on the spot. Here is a bio...1970 their house...1971 our kitchen table...1972 out in the hall...1973 in other peoples houses who would host me for a percentage where they would find my clients...1974 downstairs in unfinished tri-level and in office in town 12 miles away sharing it with a real estate broker, who I had picked up as a client...1975 downstairs office finished and broker...1976 moved to storefront location where the license plate office had been, right accross the street from H & R Block and moved out of broker...bought first computer in 1978...no longer working on location...still with client with me during prep process...begun preparation on computer in 1986 using dot matrix printers (remember those) and overlays...1988 began using laser printers...2000 efiled for first time...2007 going paperless.
In summer 1976 I made my first trip to an apealls, with the conferee asking to see my Treasury Card, and my asking what that was he explained it to me and the signifiance of it...I wrote exam in September and got my Card in June, 1977. Went through NTPI in second group finishing I think in 1989...became a Member of the American Academy of Tax Practice a few years ago. Have been attending the California Super Seminar since 1985. I believe that if you focus on Taxes...Compliance and Representation you will do well. Plan to work 60 hours a week, and remember that you have more control over your income than you do over your expenses and you will do well. Also remember that Capitalists seek to serve, and Socialists seek to get. Then keep reminding yourself that you are a Capitalist.

I have been a QB ProAdvisor for 2 years. I offer write-up/bookkeeping & tax preparation services and I do office out of my home. My business has been okay but not where I would like to see it. I am moving to an offsite office for the upcoming tax season because I do think my business will grow by doing just that and I am not comfortable w/strangers coming to my home. I did happen to find a small office that the mgmt. company is willing to offer a 6 month lease (with an option to renew). This is great for me since I am still fairly new at this and don't want to shell out a lot of money for overhead. Hope this helps

I have set up a home office and am very pleased with it. I don't have clients come to the house. That is a real no no for me. I meet them at a restaurant or some other public place.

I maintain a home office right now. So far, knock on wood, I've met with all clients at their locations. Primarily, I work off-site via remote access, too.

Truly, I wouldn't want to bring clients into my house, as it's simply too personal. Well, I take that back- I'd have no problem meeting with only one of my clients here at home, but that's it. He also works out of his home as an engineer! But, his office is detached, so clients don't have to walk through his living room and hallway, as they'd have to at my house!

I have done both. I am a CPA with a MS in Tax and found the home thing good for work but bad for my family. I also barely escaped being sexually assaulted in my kitchen one evening as a drunk client came to pick up his taxes.

Right at this moment, I am in an office, and if the client can't make it here then too bad. I will not open my home to everyone and I will not go to their houses.

Char Mano CPA MST

I started out in 2002 operating out of my home office for 5 years, then began a second office in a nearby town. One day a week during tax season, I head in the opposite direction and offer my services in a small satellite office space for tax season on per hour basis. This works well. My issue with my OFFICE in nearby town is Off season when revenues are not the same as tax season. I am readily available to my clientele and provide a somewhat mobile office for them.