Finding a great location is a vital factor when you want to start your business. Many startup entrepreneurs find their garage an easy, convenient and cheap solution because you have extra space. You don’t have to pay for office space and other overheads. The advantage of starting a business in a garage is that you can start it with savings.
A lot of successful businesses started from the garage like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Adidas, etc. Starting a business in a garage will help you to build a product or service. Also, you can develop, analyze, and mix the products or services you are planning to offer to the customers.
What Does It Mean If You Start a Business in Your Garage?
Starting a business in your garage can give you plus points about the absence of the need to commute and choosing working hours. If there are no rising bills while working in a garage, you can work on the growth of your start-up. You will need some tips to set up the garage for your business.
Prepare for Long Hours
You might have heard from every entrepreneur or business owner that the main characteristic of running a business is a lack of personal time. You should prepare yourself to achieve the right work-life balance. The truth is that you will be spending a lot of time on your growing business rather than living your life.
If you are running a business in your garage or a high-rise business complex, you will be spending long hours to make your startup successful.
Choose A Store That Fits in Your Garage
Not all startups successfully run out of a garage. Some businesses are supposed to be started at an office. For example, a business lawyer would not be able to provide their services to their clients. It is because there will be no credibility if the business lawyer is having meetings or appointments with clients in their carport.
On the other hand, if you are starting a business of repair shop for car or bicycle, then the garage would be the perfect space. Some jobs like handicrafts would be great for a workshop, but they are not only the options. If you are planning to diversify your business, you can set up other stores in your garage. You will be needing some professional garage service for a little makeover or upgrade. Also consider options like shelter manufacturing as well.
Virtual assistant, web/graphic design, social media management services, online retailing, online tutoring, computer or phone repairing, etc. would be great options for business in a garage.
Choose The Right Equipment
When you plan on starting a business in your garage, you will be needing functional and comfortable equipment. Choosing the right equipment will support your work. You will have to go shopping for chairs, tables, couches, etc.
To make more desk space than you already have, you should install a lot of shelves. If the product or service you are providing to your customers exceeds than expected, you will be needing more desk space or shelves. Make sure that you are having enough room for your work.
Clean It Up
When you plan on starting your business in your garage, you would be happy to know that it takes only half an effort to convert the garage into a workplace or storage room. You will be having both, workplace and storage room in the same place. If both things are in one place, there are fair chances that it will increase the mess.
You will have to committed to your conversion and be relentless when it comes to fixing it. If you don’t like it to be messy, you can clean up the mess daily or weekly.
Confirm The Local Laws
Every city and locality is having its laws that govern the way that people do business. If you are planning to run a business in your garage, make sure that you are not doing anything that violates the local laws. These laws are known as zoning ordinances in some cities. They define the type of property from which you can operate a business.
You must be following the building rules before starting any business on any kind of property. So, before you make a mind about running a business in your garage, familiarize yourself with the zoning ordinances that are applied in your area. You can the information about zoning ordinances by visiting a local council or municipal office in your area.
Open It
Garages are not ventilated as compared to the other rooms in your home. Before you open a business in your garage, you should be focusing on the ventilation in the garage. With proper ventilation, you will be having more natural light in your new office space. As a result, you don’t have to use electricity for lights in the garage.
Ventilation in the garage ensures that you are getting enough light in a day to perform your tasks without electricity and keeps you healthy. Also, the electricity costs would go down. You can replace the rolling gate with a sliding gate and install large windows. You might want to install an air conditioner in your garage for hot summers. If you are not having enough budget, plan it anyway.
Be Serious About Security
Another threat to your business in the garage is the risk of theft. People who are coming to you during the day as customers might be coming to review the design of your garage. In the night, it will help them to burglarize not only your business but also your home.
You must work on additional steps to secure your home-based business. You can do so by strengthening the door of your garage or you can install a security system such as a camera and burglar alarm. You can work on a security system before you start your business in a garage. It will give you peace of mind and the burglars will avoid intruding in your home or business.
Paint and Renovate
Once you are done with structural changes in the garage, you should be working on personalizing the professional space. The design of the garage or your workspace should reflect the type of product or services you are providing and your personality. For this, paint the walls of the garage in soft colors. If there are further renovations needed, set a budget for it.
Understand The Risks
Running a business in a garage means that a lot of people, mostly strangers will be coming to your property. It is because it will attract them to do business with you. This exposes you to many risks. For example, if someone is injured on your property, you can end up on the wrong side of a personal injury lawsuit. It will cost you a lot of money that you would have used to grow your business.
In some cases, unscrupulous people take advantage of this system. It is a way to prey on small businesses. They will intentionally injure themselves and sue your business. Hence, they will cover the injuries and lost income from your pocket. Therefore, if you are willing to start a business in your garage, then you should be aware of the fact that your normal home insurance will not cover your business.
Also, you will be needing separate and relevant insurance policies to run the business in your garage.
Successful Business – From Garage to Multinational Companies
When you have planned to start your business in a garage, there are plenty of things you should be focusing on. Running a business in your garage saves your extra expenditures and lets you spend money on the growth of your business. Besides, there are threats too which you have to avoid by taking precautionary measures. You never know when your garage business becomes a multinational company like Apple, Google, Amazon, etc.