But the question is; Do you really want to?

At present, being employed and working from home with absolutely no commute to the office is generally unheard of. Those who get the chance to be employed only get to pick their work hours, and that's it. They still don't get the chance to experience the freedom that comes with owning your own business. They still need to ask for holidays and work to deadlines- especially when their kids get sick!! This kind of employment is also generally limited to those with professional office skills; i.e. - bookkeeping, virtual assistance, writing etc.

So, if you really want to work from home, your best bet is to start your own business. But before you even go down the path of looking around at the best way to start, there are a few things you should know before deciding that working from home is for you.

*You will be in your house most of the day- every day. This could really start to suck! (Trust me on this one- I know from experience) As mums, we need to get out and be social and escape our kids- even for a tiny moment!

*You will have your kids running around and that can cause heaps of problems- especially if they get into things that they really shouldn't (trust me again on this one!!!) This can make it extra hard to talk on the phone or even appear professional to potential customers.

*Your social contact will be limited- especially if you have an E- Business. You will be limited to staring at the computer and start calling your kids' Google or something similar…..

*There is a high chance your kids will end up going to childcare anyway- your business and your professionalism depends on having a quiet environment in which to work constructively.

*Starting up a business will take loads of effort and time to set up and you will receive minimal profits for the first few months to years.

Now, ask yourself this question; "Why do I want to work from home?" The most common reason I hear to this question is because you need some extra money, but can't afford to pay for childcare. I hear you on this one!!! However, this is not a good reason for starting up a business from home- mainly due to the above reasons.

If you want to work from home for the sense of achievement it brings in owning your own business, and the true flexibility your own business can give you, then being your own boss is a great option!

So, What now?? If you plan on starting your own business, but have no clue as to where to start, here are a few steps to follow:

1) Visit http://www.homebusinessconnections.com.au to get some ideas about businesses from home and for some free, unbiased advice on working from home.

2) You've decided what you want to do- now time to Research!! And ensure you do lots and lots of it!! Ask yourself these few questions:
-"Is my business unique?"
-"If not, do I offer something else my competitors don't?"
-"Is there a target market for my business?"
-"Is there room for potential growth?"
If you need some help in answering these questions, I suggest you employ the services of a marketing or business coach to help you get going.

3) Decide on a business name and then do the appropriate checks to ensure it's not taken!!

4) Visit http://www.business.gov.au for more information on the legalities of starting your own business. Ensure you comply with all regulations imposed by the government and your local council

5) Get yourself registered on some networking forums or groups. These are highly valuable and the support and resources you can get from them will propel your business forward.

So before you keep wishing you could work from home, have a good hard think about why