Running a business from the comfort of your own home is a dream. You have the shortest commute in the world, you can switch off for a nap whenever you want, and you don’t have to deal with any annoying colleagues in an office.

Of course, such a business is not without its challenges. There’s no one to fill in for you if you fall unwell, not to mention the feeling that you never truly leave work because the office is also the space you relax. For the most part, it’s worth it, but the experience of running a business from home is full of plenty of valleys to go along with the peaks.

One of the biggest problems that running a home business can bring is that it’s easier to drop the ball. There’s no one else who can tell you you’ve forgotten something or draw attention to an oversight; it’s all on you. While most of the oversights you might make can be rectified, there are a few that can do real damage. If you want to know what to avoid, then you need to ensure that you’re keeping an eye on avoiding the following…

OVERSIGHT: Not Being Thorough With Fine Print

If you have a home insurance policy, it’s natural to expect that the tech and other items you use for your business are covered. After all, they’re in your home, so if something goes wrong then you can just claim on that insurance. Not a problem. Right…?

Wrong. Check the fine print of your home insurance policy. There will almost certainly be a clause regarding a home business. That clause will usually exclude any business items from your home insurance coverage. If you find this is the case, then spend an afternoon tracking down the best small business insurance you can find to ensure the equipment you need to run your business is protected.

OVERSIGHT: Time Management

Anyone who has ever worked from home will understand the perils of distraction. The same is true if you’re the boss; you might be running a company, but you can still find yourself distracted. You take a break from work for lunch, head to the kitchen, and decide to get a start on dinner for the evening. By the time you return to your desk, your half-hour break has become a two-hour cooking and cleaning sessions.

Even when you’re the boss, it’s best to stick to a regular business schedule. You can start and finish at any time you want, but try and separate your day into “working” and “non-working” compartments. When you’re in a “working” schedule, anything non-work related has got to wait. No excuses.

OVERSIGHT: Becoming Too Insular

If you work from home and run a business by yourself, it’s very easy to become insular and introspective – in a bad way. Humans are sociable creatures, and if you’re alone until the evenings when your partner or children return, it might begin to have an impact on your mental health.

Try, once a week, to take your laptop outside and work from a coffee shop or attend a business meetup. You’ll feel far better for it, which in turn will help to benefit your business too.

With these oversights guarded against, you can run a business from home and ensure it’s working for you!