Many people dream of working from home. There are almost as many reasons why people work from home as those dreaming about it. Some may imagine working in their PJs or perhaps on a sun-drenched terrace with birds singing around them. But is this the reality of working from home?

Let’s look over some of the pros and cons of being your own boss and calling home your workplace:

Pros:

Flexibility – The ability to set your own hours and work around your needs is a definite plus for home workers. There’s nothing like being able to take time off when necessary or work to your own rhythm. I know this is one of the major reasons I work for myself. So I can work around my husbands crazy schedule and get the kids to where they need to be still.

Less expenses – Working from home may help you save on fuel, clothing, food and all those other extras that creep in when you work outside the home. At home, you can make your own lunches and your wardrobe can consist of jeans and a t-shirt if you wish.

Earning potential – If you’re a self-employed home worker, then you have control over your earnings too. This means that if you need extra money, you can take on extra projects. Or if you simply need a little extra cash, you take on less. The bottom line is you control your earnings. This would be difficult to do if you worked at a standard nine to five job.

More room for creativity – Working for yourself means that you have more leeway with your creativity. You’re in charge of your marketing, website and whole company brand. There are no pre-set limits and you don’t have to get your ideas approved before you go for it.

Cons:

Staying focused – Many of us lack the willpower and focus to work on our own. It’s easy to get distracted when you’re at home: the phone rings, the laundry pile calls, the book on the shelf calls out longingly to be read. All of these distractions can be hard to overcome.

Meeting deadlines – If you have trouble staying focused and on track, you may have trouble meeting your deadlines. With no boss to wag their finger if things go wrong, you’ll need to ensure you can meet your deadlines without anyone breathing down your neck.

Loneliness – For some people this isn’t an issue, but for others the loneliness of working from home can be too much. If you’re a particularly social person, you may struggle to work on your own.

Regular paychecks – While I love working for myself, not having a regular paycheck is one of the hardest things for me to still get used to after 3 years.

Working from home definitely has its good and bad points. For most the benefits far outweigh the bad points. It’s important to look at both the good and bad sides of home working before deciding which is the right choice for you and your family.