Solos Who Start From Home Aren’t Home Alone
Over my years of blogging, I’ve devoted extensive coverage to the home v. office debate. I’ve acknowledged that for some practices, regions or personalities a home office won’t do and I’ve also suggested that many solos and smalls likely rent office space, at least some of the time, if it were more affordable. At the same time, I’ve refused to buy into the argument that office space is a prerequisite to opening a practice, and urged those of you on the fence about starting a firm to not let lack of office space deter you from starting a practice.
Indeed, lack of office space doesn’t deter most small business start ups in general. As the Wall Street Journal reports, 69 percent of new businesses start from home while 59 percent of established businesses are home based. Moreover, with local laws regarding home-based business now in flux, advising or advocating for home-based businesses is a niche practice opportunity – where clients aren’t likely to mind a lawyer who works from home.
I started with just a laptop, a printer and some file folders. I was living in a friend’s spare bedroom at the time. Still work from home, do my copying at Kinko’s and meet with clients at the local library. I love it.
“69 percent of new businesses start from home while 59 percent of established businesses are home based”
So you’re saying that the practice of law is no different than any other business?