Home office doesn't have to break the bank
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NEW YORK -- Kristen Glosserman, an executive and lifestyle coach, says she has to be a model of productivity when she works out of her apartment.
Ever dream of going to the office in your pajamas? Lots of workers these days are leaving their bunny slippers on and forgoing the commute by opening up shop at home.
And in a city where space is at a premium, many entrepreneurs combine their work and living spaces out of necessity.
"It's so bloody expensive to maintain a studio," said Ken Tannenbaum, a photographer who works out of his family's three-bedroom apartment in Washington Heights.
While working from home is often money-saving in the long run, outfitting a home office from scratch can be a substantial investment.
Home offices have been growing steadily, if modestly, over the past few years because of the declining cost of technologies such as high-speed Internet connections, said Chris Hazelton, senior analyst at IDC, a provider of research and advisory services for the telecommunications and consumer technology markets.
He estimates there are about 35 million home offices in the United States, including both those that are used for home-based business and as a second work space for corporate employees.
"Laptops and mobile phones are allowing [at-home workers] to remain productive and connected anywhere," Mr. Hazelton said. Competition in the telecom biz with the introduction of Internet phone services is also helping drive down costs, he added.
Outfitting a home office from start to finish can cost less than $2,000, including the workhorse of a home office, a computer, said Steve Louro, CompUSA general sales manager.
Just as you would lay out a plan for a new business, "You have to figure out what you want to use the equipment for" before you buy any gear, Mr. Louro said. When buying a printer, for example, knowing about how much it will be used and for what types of documents is extremely important.
Buying a higher-quality laser printer can cost more upfront but can save time and money on trips to Kinko's for workers who need to do a lot of printing, he said.
"There are so many things available for the entrepreneurs," said Ms. Glosserman, who started her business three years ago with just a laptop and a phone. On her Web site, Ms. Glosserman advertises an ability to help create organization and order at home.
When she looks at her own life, she holds "myself up to a pretty high standard. If I'm coaching people on how to live more productive lives, I've got to be that model."
By working from home, Ms. Glosserman realized her own aspiration, which included morning workouts at the gym and working in her jeans.
Daniel Marsula, Post-GazetteClick illustration for larger image.
Prices for home office equipment:
Laptop: Dell Latitude D820, $1,794 (Dell direct)
Ink jet all-in-one printer: Canon Pixma MP530, $199 (CompUSA)
Wireless phone headset: Plantronics 3-in-1 Headset M214I, $47 circuitcity.com
Wireless router: Belkin Wireless Pre-N Router, $100 circuitcity.com
Smart phone: RIM BlackBerry 7130c, $199 (Cingular)
External hard drive: LaCie USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, 80GB, $134 buy.com
Surge protector: Monster Cable PC700 Computer Power Center, $30 jandr.com
Ms. Glosserman said she sometimes bartered services with other professionals -- including a technology consultant. That way, she said, "You can be cognizant of keeping your costs down and still get what you need from others."
One of her most important tools is an Internet-based e-mail account that automatically gets a copy of everything she sends or receives. If her home computer goes down, she can still access them at a library or Internet cafe.
Since data storage can be "critical to the operation of your business," Mr. Louro recommends backing up data on an external hard drive, which can cost as little as $40.
"Wireless is the new wave, so wireless networking and security are really important," said Roberto Cruz, supervisor of Best Buy's Staten Island "Geek Squad" computer support task force. It gives workers the flexibility to "go to the kitchen and grab something to eat while they still have that Internet access."
Mr. Cruz also suggests home workers save precious space by investing in a multifunction device that operates as a printer, copier, scanner and fax machine. Many cost $500 and up, but Dell's latest all-in-one inkjet runs just $200.
For Ms. Glosserman, the cost of her home office is well worth it for her 60-second commute.
"If a great idea hits me in the middle of the night, I run to the office and get writing. Everything I need is right there."
First Published November 5, 2006 12:00 am
