Can You Run a Business from Home?

Many of the world's most successful businesses began at home. Apple started in a garage, Amazon in a rented house and Google in a rented garage. Working from home is often the ideal way to test an idea, build a customer base and keep costs low while a business is finding its feet.

There are many websites giving advice about starting a business so we will keep it short with three points to consider:

1.Running a business is difficult.  It is easier and safer to start small with minimum amount of costs and pressure. This is the time where the most mistakes happen and the most learning takes place. The good thing about being small is the mistakes cost less.

2. A business from home can be worked around a daily job. Having a steady income is a safety net when mistakes are made. A steady income buys time, because objectives always take longer when experience is short. Until you are sure the idea is going to work, keep the costs to a minimum

3. Borrowing money does not just cost interest. It creates stress through pressure. Every monthly repayment has to be found whether business is good or bad. Low overheads give you time to learn, improve and recover from mistakes. Borrow money when it helps the business grow faster than the risk it increases.

As the businesses grows, it will  need more space. The challenge is not starting at home; it is recognising when your business has outgrown it.

When Does a Home Business Outgrow the Spare Bedroom?

1. When the business is making sufficient profit to pay for more space.

2. When you are confident this profit will continue and grow. The moment the expenses increase the profits will reduce unless the profits grow. If the profits will remain the same there is a diminished reason to increase the overheads.

3. When not moving to bigger premises restricts the growth of a profitable business. This maybe because the business needs to give a  more professional impression. It needs more space for production, this maybe for stock, employees or professional office space.

What Is the Cheapest Type of Business Premises? Compared

Many small businesses do not need to attract passing trade, which is the main reason to be based in a High Street. They attract business by online marketing. What is actually needed is a professional and suitable place to get on with the business. The attached list are small business offices or cheap business units to consider:

1. Shared Office (Lowest Cost)£150–£300/month

A shared office, or co-working space, provides a desk or workspace within a larger office shared with other businesses. It is popular with freelancers, consultants and start-ups looking for the lowest-cost professional environment and networking opportunities. Sensitive conversations can be an issue.

2. Container Business Studio (Low Cost)£350-£650/month

A container business studio is a private, self-contained workspace designed for small businesses that need an affordable alternative to traditional commercial premises. It combines office space, storage and workspace in one secure unit, making it ideal for businesses moving out of a home office or garage. 

3. Serviced Office (Medium Cost)£550-£850+/month

A serviced office is a ready-to-use private office with furniture, internet and utilities usually included. It is suitable for office-based businesses wanting a professional environment without managing a building. It generally costs more than a container business studio but offers a conventional office setting. Price is dependant on size of room. 

4. Industrial Unit (Highest Cost)£700–£1,500+/month

An industrial unit provides larger commercial premises suitable for manufacturing, workshops, storage or businesses employing several staff. They usually offer the most space but also have the highest running costs, business rates and longer lease commitments.

None of the above are better than any of the others. It is a choice of which is best for the business needs.

If you are considering running a business from a self storage site, a container office, container studio or a container base /store the attached information will be useful.

Can You Run a Business from a Shipping Container?

Our customers show that the answer can be yes. We have e-commerce businesses, plumbers, builders, lighting and sound engineers, furniture restorers, clothing resellers and numerous musicians based at our studios.

What Types of Business Are Suitable for Container Business Studios?

Three broad types of business are particularly suitable:

• Trades that need a base for storing tools and materials, including plumbers, electricians, builders, plasterers and painters and decorators.
• Businesses whose premises are rarely visited by customers, including e-commerce, stock storage and document storage.
• Small businesses that do not rely on passing trade and see customers by appointment only.

Small business units that are professional and cheap workspaces to rent

Unlike many shared offices, your studio is your own. Work without interruptions, hold confidential meetings, leave your equipment set up and enjoy natural light without feeling overlooked.

Image: proposed container business studio.

Traditional serviced offices often use extensive internal glazing because they are designed to feel open. Container studios are closer to small workshops or creative spaces. Many tenants will appreciate being able to:

• Shut the door.
• Concentrate.
• Set up the studio or office as they want it.
• Hold meetings without feeling overlooked.

Which Businesses Are Suitable for a Container Business Studio?

Many small businesses simply need an affordable professional workspace rather than expensive retail premises. If customers visit by appointment, or the business operates online, a container business studio can reduce overheads while providing a dedicated place to work.

A small independent shop may occupy roughly 300–800 sq. ft. Depending on the type of business, that amount of space may not be necessary. A 6 m or 20 ft container provides approximately 160 sq. ft, which can be enough for two desks, filing cabinets and a small display area.

Many businesses have been with Boxed Up Studios for two years or more  including: Electricians, Builders, Plasterers, Lighting and sound engineers, Furniture restorers, Clothing resellers, Musicians and Online retailers.

Suitable businesses that rely on appointments and not walk by trade would include services for:

Beauty and Health: Nail technician, Beauty therapist, Massage therapist, Physiotherapists and Counsellors.

Trades: Electrician, Plasterer, Plumber, Builder and Painter and decorators.

Online Businesses /e-commerce: Amazon seller, eBay business, Etsy maker, Clothing reseller. We have a number of businesses that renovate furniture and sell clothes having adapted part of their container as a photographic studio.

Professional Services: Accountant, Insurance adviser, Consultant, Surveyor. Some of these services may require extra space to store hard copy documents, which is not a problem because Boxed Up Storage has many thermally insulated containers available.

Creative Businesses: Tattoo artist, Graphic designer, Web designer, Music teacher and Artists that need a studio.

Advantages of a Container Business Studio over Working from Home

Working from home has many advantages, but as a business grows it often creates new challenges.

People working from home often become frustrated:

As a business grows, many people become frustrated by constant interruptions, family distractions, deliveries, the dining room filling with stock and having nowhere to leave equipment permanently set up. It also becomes increasingly difficult to separate work from home life.

Many small businesses do not need passing trade. They need somewhere that is:

• Professional.
• Affordable.
• Private.
• Secure.
• Easy to park.
• Available when needed.
• Separate from home.

Advantages of Choosing a Container Business Studio Instead of an Office or Shop

• Lower monthly overheads
• Private workspace away from home 
• Leave equipment permanently set up
• Flexible workspace for offices, storage or workshops 
• Utilities included 
• Free on-site customer parking 
• Flexible access hours 
• Secure gated site with CCTV 
• No expensive office or shop fit-out required 
• Easy parking close to your studio 
• A quiet business environment with no passing antisocial behaviour

For many small businesses, a container business studio provides the lowest-cost step from working at home to dedicated commercial premises

Heating, Insulation and Electricity

• Heating is provided by electric heaters.
• All containers are thermally insulated.
• Electricity is included, subject to fair usage.

Security at a Container Business Studio Site

• Gated site.
• CCTV.
• Alarms.
• Site lighting.
• Other businesses nearby.
• Owners or management on site, where applicable.

Who Should Not Use a Container Business Studio?

Businesses that rely heavily on passing trade, such as convenience stores, gift shops or cafés, are unlikely to be suitable. Container business studios are best suited to businesses whose customers visit by appointment or whose work is carried out online or off-site.

Why Boxed Up Studios Are Different

Unlike an isolated industrial unit, Boxed Up Studios brings independent businesses together. This creates opportunities for networking, referrals and a working environment in which businesses can grow alongside one another.

Internet and Utilities

The site is supplied with a 1 Gb internet connection distributed through a Wi-Fi mesh system. Each container is also supplied with an Ethernet connection.

Whether you are looking to move your business out of the spare bedroom, reduce overheads or create a more professional image, a container business studio could be a practical solution. Boxed Up Studios provides secure, insulated and affordable workspaces designed for modern small businesses.