One of the most difficult obstacles we face when working from home is what it looks like we are not, in fact, working from home. When customers call and there are kids screaming in the background, pets barking and meowing and timers going, laundry and cooking, it looks professional. So, how can we look more professional?

Tip # 1: Have a clean, professional website with your own domain name.
Do not, under any circumstances, have a "free" website hosted by another domain name with ads from other companies all over the place! This is one of the biggest no-no's out there! Deciding, however, that to look professional, you should invest in a professional website. If you are not skilled in web design, hire someone to do it for you or barter with another business owner makes home based web design. Choose a domain name that is closely related to the name of your company.

Tip # 2: Investing in a separate phone line or a distinctive tone for that line.
Most phone companies offer a plan where you can have two or more numbers to call to a phone line with distinctive ring. It's usually better to have a telephone in his office, in order to prevent after-hours telephone calls from customers. This also allows you to "close the door" on the job when you're not there. Use a professional voice mail or answering machine message and check messages often.

Tip # 3: Think about how to display your business address.
How to display their physical location? There are several options available. Most home business owners say that they accept meetings by appointment only, to discourage clients from "falling into the" while still in their pajamas and have not had their morning coffee yet. If you do not want your customers to know that you work from home, two options are to use a POCaja or by attaching a "Suite" number of your address. If you use a mailbox, you must give your address to the packets and what you want messaging, but provides anonymity and discourages drop in visitors. If you connect an office number to your address in order to make it look like a "business office" be sure to tell your email provider is running a home business and therefore has a different direction from the existence .

Tip # 4: Define the office etiquette for your family.
What are the rules going to be for their children and family when you're on the phone or meeting with a client? Will you set a timer to know when is it available? Will you have set office hours and meet with clients outside of time? Are you going to have a play space in your office? This is especially important if you have young children playing nearby (silently) while you work.

Tip # 5: Investing in the professional quality promotional products and marketing materials.
Do not print business cards from the printer, unless you have a printer on top of the range. Invest in business cards from professional quality brochures. If possible, have some letterhead printed up, too, for contracts, letters to potential customers and all correspondence that is related to the business. If you are printing promotional items like T-shirts or clothing, mugs, mousepads, etc., check the quality of products put out by the printer to use. Do not just "price of the hunt," looking around for the best quality and invest in your business.