When to reveal that office and home are one and the same

Karen Barranco is a graphic designer whose company, Special Modern Design, is based here in Los Angeles. Like many of us solopreneurs and small business types, Karen operates her business out of her home.

Her question? When—if ever—should you let your clients know this?

I have a home office and work by myself. I have been doing so successfully for 8 years. My question is, should I reveal that my office is based out of my home? I know it turns some clients off and they don’t call me back. They ask to come to my office and that’s when I tell them about the coffee shop where I meet clients. I don’t want to lie but it holds me back from getting the big budget jobs I want. Should I be upfront?

Like yourself, I'm not a fan of lying. For one, it's complicating—just the thought of keeping multiple truths straight gives me a headache.

But you don't have to lead with the information. There are plenty of times, as I'm sure you've noticed in your many years operating a business, it will never come up.

That said, if it does, there are clients for whom that may be a dealbreaker. If you really want to go after the kinds of old-school, biggity-big clients for whom dedicated office space is meaningful and you're not up for renting an entire office of your own, you might want to look into shared space. One great resource here in Los Angeles is KERNSPIRACY, the creative professionals' mailing list run by L.A.-based graphic designer, Spencer Cross. There's a staggering amount of collective knowledge on that list, and people are very willing to share.

Speaking of sharing, if you're reading this and have a helpful thought, could you share it with Karen and the class in the comments?

Comments

[Karen Commins]

Hi, Colleen. If you enter the search term "virtual office" into Google, you will find a variety of businesses providing options that include office space, mail and phone support. The monthly fee varies depending on the location and services provided.

Those who don't expect clients to come to their location may choose to opt for mail-only support just to have a more prestigious mailing address.

I hope this info helps.

Karen Commins
www.AVOICEAboveTheCrowd.com
www.KarenBlogs.com

[Jackson Foster]

Colleen:
I’ve been working successfully out of my home for over twenty years. I guess I can say that I’ve never really gotten the big-budget jobs I would prefer, but I’ve had some nice projects.

I pretty much take the same approach; I never bring up where I work, unless asked, as I also don’t like to lie. I also have planned on meeting at a Starbucks or something in case they want to meet somewhere other than their office. But 99% of the time I simply say I have no problem coming in to your business to meet. Most of my clients pretty much have expected me to come to them anyway.

I guess one has to be realistic; if you want to work out of your home, you may never get the really big jobs. I mean, if companies have large budgets, of course they’re going to want to work with a company that reflects that type of investment and one they feel comfortable with, and trust, that the firm they hire can handle the magnitude that make up many of those “larger projects”.

On the other hand, in order to establish an office, I’ve learned that you have to have the work to support it; don’t expect your business to just happen because you have an office. And of course that means an entirely life-changing investment in overhead, an absolute commitment to marketing, possibly an employee, etc, etc. In short, much longer working hours than probably any full-time job.

I’ve really enjoyed the freedom of working out of my home, along within its benefits and drawbacks. I’ve learned to approach some of the smaller companies that fit my profile. Many organizations that don’t have huge budgets need quality design work. Yours can be as good as many of those so-called, big offices. I’m learning to find my market niche--thanks in part to Ilise.

If you’re a good listener, get your projects done on time and budget, and make the customer truly happy with the quality and passion exhibited in your work, many, if not most, won’t care where you work.

[Jeff Fisher LogoMotives]

Hi Mix Mistress!

I've worked most of my 30-year career out of a home-based office and it's never been an issue with clients. Admittedly, the vast majority of people with whom I work are individuals in other cities/countries with whom I never meet. Still, especially in an independent contractor community like Portland, a home office is not a negative.

My web presence doesn't "scream" the fact that I work out of my home - but it does mention that I am a "one-person design firm." Many references on the Internet do refer to Jeff Fisher LogoMotives as a "one-person, home-based business."

If I do need to meet with local clients it's usually at their office location or the Italian bakery down the street that is owned by a friend. I'm very comfortable with some long-time clients (relationships of up to 20 years) meeting at my home, or in my garden, for a business meeting with espresso (or a glass of wine!)

My home office status has not kept me from working with major corporations, large education facilities, government agencies and a wide variety of other clients.

I don't want a traditional office. I'm not interested in getting in my car and driving to an office location. I have no desire to have the additional overhead or possible staff to maintain an office when I am not available. I like working from my home, my garden, a tropical beach somewhere, a rented house in Italy, or wherever I may be with my PowerBook. In addition, I enjoy responding to blog posts like yours while sipping a latte in my big leather chair, attired in boxer shorts and a favorite old T-shirt...

[Colleen Wainwright]

Karen C - Thank you! I knew there was a search string for that I just wasn't getting.

Jackson - Agreed. I was really nervous in the beginning about seeming something: big, solid, whatever. Finally, Ilise (and a few others) got it through my thick skull that *I* am the reason people are hiring me. I mean, it's pretty obvious I'm not Y&R NY, right?

Jeff - Love that! It's great to hear from someone down the road who's made it by doing it their way. I never, ever want an office again, unless it's a tiny hut on my own property. I do like the idea of a tiny hut. But I would still meet clients at the coffee shop!

[E.B. Moss]

I'm thrilled to have found the perfect middle ground solution here in NYC. It was recently profiled in the NY Times, as well. ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/28/business/smallbusiness/28sbiz.html?ex=1361941200&en=f301c04e7f1b82f5&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink ) If you read my comment in the story, you'll see that I was more cagey about my "virtual office" nature a few years ago. Now I'm wearing it as a badge of honor! With downsizing, I think that we'll see more and more arrangements like Moss Appeal's. And please tell In Good Company that E.B. sent you!

[telarsen]

Karen,
As a graphic designer, you need to be out in the "element" to be creative - so tell anyone your office is the enviroment. You need creativity to make your best impact and that is all over the city - where your clients are and where your creative juices flow.

I would never let anyone tell me they need to see me at my office, we are a virtual world now!

Tom

[MrPositioning.com (Stanley Bronstein)]

I worked from my home for nearly 10 years up until 7 years ago.

I found that if you tell your clients that you are more accessible to them because you work from home (i.e., you're almost always available), they like that.

ALSO, stress to them that because you don't have the big overhead from office rent, you are charging them a little bit less than your competition. They like that too.

I've found that it's hard to hide the fact you work from home from some clients, so you shouldn't really try to do so. You obviously don't have to bring it up, but if it comes up, tell them yes you work from home and then tell them why that is better for them ... In all my years, it worked about 95% of the time ...

Take care.