Tax Considerations List of Categories

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How do I define my business space?
Should I meet with clients at my home?
How do I protect myself when working from home?
What equipment do I need for disability advocacy home office?
What's the biggest mistake made by home business owners?
What's the biggest downside of working from home?
How do I determine if I can operate a business from home?
What are business ordinances for?
How do I define my business space?

If you have an in-home office, you would be wise to define your business space and use it exclusively for business. Calculate the size of the business space and compare it to the total size of your property. This will give you the proper percentage that can be written off as office space.

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Should I meet with clients at my home?

That's up to you, but we don't recommend allowing the client to visit your home office. If you are a female advocate, bring strangers into your home may not be the best approach. Its potentially safer to go to the client's home.

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How do I protect myself when working from home?

You can protect yourself by: 1. Provide a co-worker or family member with your meeting schedule. 2. Meeting schedule should include names, places and time. Make sure that a trusted party has access to your meeting schedule. 3. Always carry a cell phone. 4. Have a check-in time that a co-worker or family member should expect your return. 5. Visit the client with a companion or co-worker.

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What equipment do I need for disability advocacy home office?

1. Home computer 2. Printer 3. Business telephone line 4. Fax and copier 5. Letterhead 6. Custom Envelops 7. Your business card 8. Brochure explaining your service. 9. A secure filling system.

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What's the biggest mistake made by home business owners?

Not paying themselves first! The other common problem faced by the self-employed is making sure that the financial books are accurate and up to date.

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What's the biggest downside of working from home?

Most successful business owners who work from home complain most about being isolated from co-workers. A significant amount of our social interactions are among individuals working within a company environment. Some individuals feel isolated working for themselves and will find this isolation to difficult to handle.

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How do I determine if I can operate a business from home?

Many communities have zoning laws that prevent some types of businesses from being operated within that community. For example, many residential areas have zoning or covenant rules that do not allow the operation of a business from a home within that community. Even if your community does have zoning restrictions, it does not mean that you cannot operate your service from home. Generally, only businesses that require that object be parked in the community, causes heavy traffic, uses of machines, chemicals, are band from the community. Usually business services like disability advocacy are allowed in most communities. Check your local zoning laws and make sure you review you covenant rules.

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What are business ordinances for?

A community may have ordinances (regulations) that prevent the operation of a home business if the business:
1. Uses outside signs

2. Has a large number of employees.

3. Requires customers to park on street.

4. Causes a large amount of traffic through the community.

These four possibilities are the greatest concerns of most communities with business ordinances. Since disability advocacy causes none of these things, it is the perfect home business.

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