Nov 10, 2021 / by Zach Pyers
At one point in your life, you would have had a crazy dream to open your own business. Some might have even started planning for it, only to give up. One of the many considerations when opening a business is the place of operations. The garage is a perfect place to do so, as it has extra space to accommodate a makeshift office. You can save money as you do not have to pay for a new space, and you do not have to commute for work. You also get to decide on your own work hours. Here are some tips on how to start a small business from your garage.
Choose a Business that Fits the Garage
Think of what business you want to start and assess if it can be done in a garage setting. Not all businesses will flourish in a garage. For example, real estate agents might not get much credibility when holding meetings in a garage, but an online retail business would do perfectly fine. Manual labor jobs like car repairs are great options but do not limit yourself. Tutoring, graphic design, and virtual assistants are other possibilities that you can venture into.
Organize the Garage Space
Starting a business in your garage is a great idea, but you should also ensure that the environment is fit for operating the business. That means that oil stains and filth need to be cleaned, and the whole garage must be decluttered. Your garage has to be neat and sanitized for you to be able to operate your business productively. Being organized also helps to build a good reputation.
Read Up on Laws
Before you even start building the foundation of your business in your garage, you should check your local laws to ensure it can happen in the first place. Different states have varying laws about zoning. This defines what particular land areas can be used for. It also enforces building regulations like building sizes and fire escapes. Check with your local authorities beforehand and file the right documents to increase the chances of approval.
Understand the Risks
Having your own business in your home has its perks but it can come with some dangers as well. Personal injury lawsuits are one of them, where scammers may come by pretending to be customers and injure themselves on your property. They then sue the company for coverage of damages. Small businesses do not usually have proper protection, making them an easy target for scammers. To avoid this, have proper liability insurance coverage and post signs to protect yourself from perpetrators.
Know When to Move On
When starting a new business, things can go two ways. Either your business succeeds and your garage is no longer a good fit for smooth operations, or the business flops. You should prepare yourself for when these scenarios happen and move on from there. Moving your business into a bigger space with more employees may cost more initially, but the potential for greater returns will be worth it.