Small Office, Home Office (SOHO) Resources

Time to Telecommute
This article discusses telecommuting statistics and the positives of being able to work from a home office. Today, about 10 percent of the U.S. workforce telecommutes. Two million American businesses support telecommuting programs. The federal government plans to have about three percent of its workforce telecommuting within two years. Public and private organizations are adopting telecommuting as a smart business strategy. Global competition, 24-hour customer support, workers' desire for increased flexibility, and the need to reduce overhead are driving the trend. And, in areas with high traffic congestion, companies are using telecommuting to comply with trip-reduction and air-quality regulations.

What To Expect From a Health Plan
One of the major challenges faced by the small business owner is affordable health coverage. It's no secret that health care is expensive and getting more expensive every year. Right now more than 45 million Americans are without health coverage of any kind. If that thought scares you silly, then as the CEO of your own home business you will have to find a health plan that is affordable for you. When comparing health plans there are several things to look for. First, What is covered? Not all plans cover everything. Make sure your plan covers what you need to have covered, such as doctor visits, hospitalization, eye exams and the like. Many health plans exclude things that you might assume were covered by all plans. Don't assume anything. What doctors can you see? Can you see your life-long family physician or do you have to choose from a limited list of doctors approved by the insurance company? What are your out-of-pocket expenses (and can you afford them) and how much paperwork is involved in filing a claim? Some health plans make the paperwork intentionally so complicated that most people choose to pay out-of-pocket for the majority of health expenses. There are a lot of things to consider when you open your own home office, including health care.

Organizing a Filing System
Organize your home office with these easy tips that help you set up and create a filing system. Supplies needed are filing cabinet(s), file folders, a label maker, file section dividers, and pens. If your paper is in piles, boxes or all over the house or office, set aside a few days to sort through it all. Separate the types of paper you need to keep track of. Start to label your categories and you can have as many as you want but it is a good idea not to have too many. Make sure each one is named clearly so there is no confusion about what is in that section. Divide up folders according to banking and loans, properties and utilities to start. Good tips for those who work from home and need help setting up a home office as well.