Etiquette for a small business owner working from home?

Question

I recently started a small business, and I work from home. The type of work I do, calls for consultations sometimes and I am wondering if it's appropriate to have people to my home for consultations? Here are some stats about the situation: I live in an apartment (2nd floor), I have two dogs in the home. Should I have clients come to me, or should we meet somewhere like a coffee shop? I'm not sure what to do, any suggestions? BTW, check out my website for some cool gifts!

www.meccasheaven.etsy.com

Answer 1

It is good business for you to make consultations as convenient for your clients as possible. Your first option should always be to go to the clients' home, office - wherever you can most easily fit into their day. They'll love you for it.

Your second option should be to meet at a nice location (such as a coffee shop) that is as close to the client as possible. Avoid suggesting a place that is close to where you'll be before or after the meeting, it shows you put your priorities before theirs.

Your third option, offer your home as a meeting place - always as a last resort. If you do, be sure to make the experience as professional as possible. (If the potential business is worth the cost, consider hiring a dog walker to take your dogs out during at-home meetings.)

Answer 2

If you are going to have clients come to your home office, you don't want them to feel like they are coming to your home.  You should have a designated space with it's own entrance for you business, this way the client doesn't have to walk through your apartment and deal with the dogs etc.  It might be wise to rent a small office space...300-400 square feet...depending on where you live you could probably get a space for fairly cheap.

Answer 3

I recommend you ALWAYS meet customers off site for security reasons. You never know who your dealing with and should not put yourself in harms way.

Meet customers at a coffee shop, public library or a rental office space. I heard this is a growing trend for small business owners to cut cost. You can rent by the hour, day, week or more. Google it to find one near you.

Adorable Etsy webpage. I like the starburst candy wreath.

Good luck.

Answer 4

so!!!

Answer 5

If you can set up a professional looking office in your building, then it may be appropriate to have people over. However, you would have to lock your dogs in a different room, many people aren't comfortable around them and some may be allergic.

   However, it might be easier to meet in a coffee shop or something-you don't have to worry about your house being clean and professional all the time. Also, you might make some contacts if you bring examples of your yummy work!

Answer 6

I would suggest you should have an appointment somewhere elese like starbugs etc . It is more professional .

thanks

Answer 7

I live in a town where there are a lot of small businesses and so many of them are home based.  I am one of those home office people.  It is very common to meet at coffee shops for most of the business people in my town and I would immagine it would be perfectly acceptible where you are.  It may depend on the nature of the consultations, but I personally would rather meet someone at a coffee shop then go to their 2nd floor apartment and possibly have dogs jumping up on me and l*****g me...I hate that sort of thing.

Answer 8

Eh, I would recommend going to a coffee shop, because it is a little more professional. But if you absolutely can't make it to there, I would lock the dog in a bedroom (with it's food and whatever to keep it quiet and content) and have a little "mini office" with a chair in front of the desk and everything to make them feel like they are in a professional environment.

Answer 9

I would say avoid inviting them to your home.

Lunch, coffee...a neutral setting in a peaceful spot

Answer 10

It may not be safe to invite strangers into your home.

Answer 11

Definitely not in the apartment. It is always better to keep the clients out. When they come to your house, they get to see how you really are, and its never a good idea to expose everything to the client. It is better to meet them outside. Unless you're doing some kind of retail business, then I suggest you just set up a separate room for the clients with all your merchandise.