Does Your Business Really Need An Office?

Along with all sorts of other benefits, one of the great things that the internet allows us to do is work from anywhere in the world. If you have a job that takes place primarily through the use of a computer, you can probably find work where you don’t need to ever come to the office, and there are quite a few benefits of leading this kind of lifestyle. If you’re in a position to do so, leaving the office can be a great career move as it will allow you to find a greater satisfaction in life, travel more, and also potentially earn more money. The question to ask yourself is: do you really need an office?

Forget About Dealing With Coworkers You Don’t Like

When you work remotely you’ll never have to worry about dealing with annoying or unpleasant coworkers in person. You may still have to talk to them over email, but you can do so at your leisure and you won’t have to put on a false face to answer them. The same goes for your boss, and anyone else at work that you would prefer to not have to deal with on a day to day basis.

Finding Remote Workers is Easier Than Ever

If you’re starting your own company, you may be worried about finding people to work for you who you’ve never actually met in real life. A few years ago that may have been a valid concern, but today the tables have changed. Sites like Upwork.com have thousands of different experienced professionals who are standing by to bid on work that you post. In fact, you may find it significantly more economical to consistently bid out jobs, instead of hiring full time employees to always work for you.

It’s important to remember though that just because you’re outsourcing your work to an online contractor doesn’t mean that certain timeless rules of business don’t apply: you still get what you pay for. If you want a project done correctly then it will always be worth paying more to get someone competent to do it. It may be tempting to hire the cheaper option, and there will be many hundreds of cheap options on a site like Upwork, but you should keep in mind that you probably won’t receive high quality work.

Abandoning an Office Means Saving Money

If you’re a business owner, think about how much money you can save by not having to pay for an office space. Not only that, but all of the other ancillary costs as well. Computers, fax machines, printers, paper, the internet and electric bill, and the list goes on. If you create a business that is based entirely online, you can forego all of these costs and take all of the money that you’ve saved and invest it into growing your business in other areas. This is especially true if you live in a city with notoriously high rent costs like Los Angeles or New York.

Without an Office You’ll Be Able to Travel More

This applies to you whether you’re a business owner or an employee. If you don’t have to be at an office it frees you up to work from all sorts of different locations. For some people this may mean just taking a short two hour vacation to see the relatives. Other people may take advantage of the internet to jetset off to Thailand and work from a bungalow on the beach. The internet gives you unlimited possibilities, as long as you’re not restrained by the need to physically be in an office.

Another benefit here is that not only is travel fun, but it is also a great opportunity to grow as a person. You’ll learn about new cultures, gain new experiences, and meet all sorts of interesting people. The more you know, the more you’re worth as an employee, and the better you’ll be as a business owner.

Working from Home Gives You a Flexible Schedule

One of the many problems with working at an office is that there tends to be a set time schedule that you need to stick to. In at 9, out at 5. While this may work for some people, for others it may be a major headache. If your spouse works the night shift it may mean you rarely get to see him or her. If you have a child it might mean you can’t see him off to school, or if you’re a terrible morning person it might mean that you’re losing hours of productive time at work in the morning, and giving up your night time when you tend to get the most work done.

When you don’t need to show up to the office you can set your own hours. If you’re most productive waking up at noon, goofing off till five, and then working from six till two in the morning, that’s fine. Since you don’t have a set schedule you can set the hours that work the best for you. Not only can this increase your productivity, but it can also have an incredibly positive impact on all of the relationships in your life. It means you’ll be able to see your children and spouse more, and even rearrange your schedule so that you have more time to visit with friends and family.

Save Time On Commutes

A final benefit of not having to work at the office, but a significant one, is that you won’t need to commute to the office. Depending on your situation that can potentially save you hundreds of hours every year. If you spend two hours commuting on a daily basis, think of how much you could get done with that time if you didn’t have to drive or take public transport. You could earn more money, spend more time with your family, or even just read a book. Sitting in traffic is a terrible waste of your time, and it’s not good for the environment either. Leave the office, start working from your home or a local coffee shop, and you’ll be surprised by how much more time you have every day.

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