Practically everyone has entertained the thought of what it would be like to run a business from home. Being your own boss and setting your own hours is a very freeing thing. It can be difficult, however, to make that dream into a reality, which is where the following tips can help.

Make sure that you always dress for success. You might want to wear pajamas while working from home. Instead, wear clothing that would be appropriate for an ordinary workday. Dressing appropriately places you in the frame of mind to work productively.

Clearly mark products that aren’t in stock. Nothing upsets clients more than knowing that the products they ordered will take a while before they arrive. Be up front about items that aren’t in stock, so that customers can choose a different product and save the wait time.

Avoid interruptions by family during your work hours as much as possible. Interruptions can have a big impact on your productivity, so advise your friends and family as to your work hours and when you will be available to them. Let them know that privacy is key if you are to finish on time. Kids will need supervision, though.

When you have a product or service to sell, always check out what your competition is charging. Your prices should slightly undercut your competitors. It is important to remember that no matter what, you should highlight the good aspects of your business and not the negative aspects of other businesses.

As you can see, it will require a little bit of work and dedication to make the jump. If you can manage to pull through and stick to the plan, you will be able to accurately represent your dream in the company’s image and create something that is long-lasting and profitable over the years.

There are tremendous opportunities for small businesses and social entrepreneurs to support their communities through community foundations, donor advised funds and other means of giving back. Find the neighborhoods in San Mateo County where you can make the most impact on the environment in the community.