I am glad that there are Business that will help make business grow and groom it and the owners to be a downtown business. Do not let anyone tell you that running a business from a commercial property is a piece of cake. I think that this kind of knowledge is a necessity to compete, especial with the overhead so costly. Many of you probably have seen, businesses in commercial property that are far from professional in how they look or act. There is certainly a niche need for both these business owners and for the sake of their customers. Some business can only be run properly from a commercial location. Trying to run that type of business from home is a mistake.
The question of running a business from home or a commercial property should be based on the preference of the owner and where that business will be commercial viable.
I firmly disagree with the assertion in the article that Home based businesses "do not offer a professional image; there is lack of participation in marketing opportunities and there are fewer opportunities for transition to a full office environment."
1) The home based business can have a professional image! The image is dependant on the owner and their presentation of their business and themselves. This is also true of those on commercial location.
2) The home based business do not lack for opportunities to marketing, direct mailing, circular mailings, radio or other marketing media is not going to reject their advertising dollars. It is true that most home business do not choose to advertise as fiercely as business on commercial property. But that is the owner's choice. It is not the law is it?
3) The home based business has the just as many opportunities for transitioning to a full office environment. In fact how could you transition a business in a full office environment to a full office environment? The business is already there. The only business that could transition are those that is not there right now.
I think many would agree that just by renting commercial property does not give a business a professional look it is what the business does that makes it of professional quality.
There are many people who were in large corporations that are moving to run their own business from home. They certainly are professional and that is why they are succeeding.
See the full story by Frank Pullia
Northern Ontario Business:
"Business literature and empirical evidence shows the great majority of start-ups fail within five years of operation. Those that do survive and grow have to continuously manage their growth and remain innovative in their product and service delivery. Many small companies have chosen, or have been forced, to cut overhead costs to survive. One of the ways this has been accomplished is through the home-based business. It has worked well for many entrepreneurs and it continues to be preferred by those who need to juggle family and work."
"But while home-based businesses have their advantages they also have their limitations. They do not offer a professional image; there is lack of participation in marketing opportunities and there are fewer opportunities for transition to a full office environment. In most cases what seems to be missing are the support systems that help such small businesses survive and prosper into the next stage. Business incubators have been one answer to this challenging question. The following profile will help highlight successful strategies and a winning model that is creating exciting opportunities for many start-up companies right here in northwestern Ontario."
