Many people starting up a home-based business find it difficult to start working from home, especially if they have gone out to work every day of their working life.Having a home-based business is just like going to an office to do your daily work but without some of the negatives. You have flexibility in the working day because you spend less time travelling. For those new to a home based business are a few tips:-• Plan your working day and working week – so each day you know what you have to do before you start• Be disciplined – if your plan is to be in office at 9 make sure you are at your desk at 9• If your home-based business is part time and you only have, for example, a couple of hours a day to spend working, be disciplined and do those two hours a day – every day• The most important item you need when you have a home-based business is a desk – have an area of your home that you use as your office. It may be a spare bedroom, dining room or even a converted garage! Or you may be lucky enough to have a study already set up• You will need a phone. If you have a landline and want a separate number there are several options you may wish to look – internet phones or free phone numbers can both be obtained very cheaply• Access to the internet – a brilliant way to communicate with potential customers. If you have a Blackberry or equivalent then this will help you get started• Stationery – when many people start their own home-based business, they think they need letterheads, compliment slips, business cards and brochures. In most cases when you start perhaps the only one of these you will use is business cards – this may depend on your business. Don’t spend money on stationery unnecessarily until you need the items.• If you have family members in the house during the day make them aware that if you are in ‘your office’ and are not to be disturbed I have had a home based business for over 18 years, starting when I had two small children.I love having my office at home and I wouldn’t ever consider taking office premises. My office has a laptop, printer, photocopier, phones, radio – and more importantly no one to distract me! I think home-based businesses are the way forward, especially with so much work these days being done on the internet and with many having to pay for childcare.