Garden Offices can Help Britons Work ‘Five to Nine’ and Launch Their Own Local Business for Extra Income
More and more Britons are launching businesses of their own, many based in garden offices or spare rooms inside their homes, as the nation’s workforce shifts towards ‘five to nine’ freelance entrepreneurship. According to a report from Direct Line in the summer of 2013, 1.5 million Britons launched a business of their own in the first half of the year, as a way to support their primary income.
Evenings and weekends are understandably among the main times when these freelancers retreat to their home offices and garden studios in order to earn a second income. In all, 55% of those surveyed said they work in the evenings, 39% make the most of their weekends to boost their bank balance, and 26% do what they can after the rest of the family have gone to bed.
And while many of these have-a-go businesses are based online, there’s a return to the good old days of ‘cottage industry’, with a large number of people cashing in on local demand.
Serving the local market
In Direct Line’s research, 800,000 people said they had started a business in their local area in the first half of 2013 – and across the board, people who take on a second source of income add some £2,500 to their bank balance over the course of the year.
With more than two million people working 18 hours a week or more in second jobs, Britain’s homes and workplaces are sheltering a hidden workforce, many of whom are substantially boosting their earnings as a result. But for those who are tapping into their creative resources, the right workspace could be conducive both to letting inspiration strike, and to making a good impression on any visiting local customers.
The right space for each person is an individual choice, but having a dedicated area for your business can help you to stay motivated and combat the distractions that often plague homeworkers.
You could just use a room in the house, if you have one to spare, although for the 26% of people who only work once everybody else is in bed, garden buildings could offer a place of refuge and avoid disturbing sleeping family members inside the house too.
A taxing issue
Depending on your choice of where to base your business, you might also encounter different taxation rules – for instance, if you designate a room inside your house as being used for work, you may need to pay capital gains tax on it when you come to move house. Offices outside of the house, or rented office space, all have the potential to overcome this issue, while still giving you the space you need in order for your business to thrive.
With one eye on the potential costs involved – from building a garden office or fitting out a room of your house for business use, or renting serviced office space, to any tax bill you’re likely to face – you can make sure your second income makes as much profit for you as possible. Companies that specialise in outdoor spaces such as Ecospace Studios can be a great resource not only of top quality buildings but of advise and guidance too, so if you are thinking of joining the millions of other Brits who are setting up their own, home-based business, talk to the experts first.
About The Author – Jon Arnold is an entrepreneur who has launched several office- and home-based businesses, and now blogs about related issues for a number of different websites. He uses sites including http://www.ecospacestudios.com for research.
Category: Business
