Home Security Beat

Your Home Business May Have Extra Home Security Requirements

I’m self-employed and work from home, and I’ll confess that home security wasn’t the first thing I thought about when it came to setting everything up.  Of course I needed a home office, a good phone and internet connection, ergonomic furniture, and eye-catching business cards… but home security?  It was a while before I considered it.

If you have a home-based business, though, it’s something you may need to take a look at, both to protect your assets and also to protect your customers.

Here are some things to consider:

Home-based Business Security Tips

If you run a home-based business, you may want to invest in one or more of the following…

• Extra Homeowners’ Insurance — If you bring clients into your home, you may need to carry more insurance coverage.  You need to make sure you’re protected if someone is injured on your premises and decides to sue.
• Extra Computer Security & Virus Protection — It’s inconvenient if your computer gets hacked or you get a virus when you use it for surfing the net and playing World of Warcraft.  But if you use your home computer for business, having files destroyed or stolen could mean a large financial upset and countless hours of lost work.
• Off-site Place to Back up Computer Files — Just in case your extra computer security measures fail, it’s a good idea to have crucial files backed up off site.  This also protects you in case someone breaks in and steals your computer or there is a natural disaster such as a fire or flood.  There are numerous data storage outfits online where you can back up your files in a remote location for a relatively inexpensive monthly fee.
• A Monitored Home Security System — If your means of earning a livelihood is tied up in things stored in your house, it makes even more sense than usual to invest in a good alarm system and maybe video surveillance as well.  The good news is that some or all of a security system installed for home business protection can be written off as a deduction on your taxes (check with your accountant to see what is legal in your situation).
• Incorporation — If you’re currently just doing business as a “self-employed” individual and don’t have an LLC or other business entity (beyond sole proprietor) set up, you’re probably paying too much in taxes for one thing, but as far as security goes, you’re not as protected as you could be.  Check with a professional for more information, but chances are you can protect your personal assets (in case somebody sues) by forming a business entity.  Without that, everything you have may be vulnerable.
• A Professionally Installed Safe — If you keep any client information at home, you will definitely want to secure it behind a locked vault door.  A locking file cabinet is better than nothing, but a safe that is bolted to the floor or wall is much better.  This is another means of protecting yourself from legal entanglements, as it will keep private information from being easily stolen.

While this list is only intended to be a start, it should get you thinking about home security for your home-based business.  If you’ve read through and want to add more information or a suggestion, feel free to comment below!

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Tags: home business, home security, insurance, self-employed, video surveillance