When you have a home based business, it can be easy to let your business affairs bleed into your home affairs. It’s important to keep everything separate – mail, e-mail, expenses, important paperwork, etc. – in order to stay organized and focused. Even though working from home can be convenient, you need to designate a space, like a home office, that is strictly for work and even stick to certain working hours. Otherwise, it can be too easy to get distracted, lose focus and fail.

Be diligent about your home office organization. Go to your local office supply store and pick up everything you need: file folders, labels, mail sorters, bookkeeping supplies, and basic office supplies. Keep all your work-related receipts in a box or envelope for tax purposes. Invest in file cabinets to keep paperwork contained and organized. A desk with lots of drawers and shelves, or standalone cabinets with drawers can also keep desktop clutter at bay. Maintain a hard copy of all your business contacts in a Rolodex or address book; consolidate all sticky notes and reminders into one day planner so you can easily see what you need to get done and when. Anything you can do to be more efficient will help you work better, and working better will help you be more successful.