Working from home is something a large percentage of the population would love to do. Unfortunately, most people rule it out rather quickly and it never becomes a reality for them. For some it seems just too hard to make the change. For others, it doesn’t look financially viable as they cannot think of anything they could do from home that would generate the level of income they receive from their day job. Here’s a tip – before you go searching for a new work from home career, see if you can shift your day job to your home office.

The world is going freelance

If you are serious about wanting to work from home, transferring your existing job to your home office might be easier than you think. Sounding out your current employer is the first step. You could approach the subject subtly - perhaps make a comment about how much you like the idea of working from home one day, doing what you do now. You might get an idea of your employer’s attitude towards it. Sound out the possibility that they might supply you with work if you “resigned” to work from home – or whether they would have your position filled before the ink on your resignation had dried. If your employer seems receptive, take the discussion towards specifics of how it might work for you and your employer. You may finish the day with a new lifestyle in front of you!

You may prefer to take a more direct approach with your employer. Before you step into the boss’s office, arm yourself with a list of the benefits to your employer of you working from home, perhaps on a contract basis. The list should include any cost savings they will make by not having you in the office 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and any other ways they might gain from your absence or your change from employee status to contractor.

If your existing employer seems uninterested in your proposal to work from home, think about other potential employers. If you are not tied into a contract, consider setting up as a sole trader, having some business cards printed and handing out your cards to people who might become your future clients. You could sell your service by offering to pick up any “overflow” work they have that their existing staff cannot handle – that saves companies hiring temporary workers.

Once they have used your services, they are likely to return to you again and again if they are happy with your work.

You may have to work additional hours at night while you still have your day job however, when you are confident you can gain enough work this way to survive, you’ll be able to resign. When you do this, part on good terms – there’s a very good chance your employer will have trouble replacing your and will beg you to do the work at home!