I've just been put in an interesting situation. My long-term business partner has announced his desire to retire this year. Until now, he has handled the 'business' side of things. So, I have to get the license in my name, take over the bookkeeping, chase after work, etc.
Work out of my home? Not likely. There just isn't the room. Plus, as I've discussed in my earlier replies, there are solid reasons to have work in a separate location.
We've been using a 10x20 storage locker as our workshop. I am considering renting a second one, and making it into an office. Here's how that idea looks so far:
- Cost of converting a locker into a decent office would be about $1200. This would be mainly to insulate, light, and make a proper "man door" in the front. All such would be reversible, and most materials recoverable, should I decide to move out.
- Operating costs would be $65/ mo for the space, $30/mo for the electric, and $40-90 for phone and cable access. All completely deductible as business expenses.
- The space is almost exactly the bare minimum in which you can place a desk, computer, file cabinet, and drawing table.
A visit to a local surplus yard found a pretty decent, complete, basic Steelcase desk for $50. A 'water cooler' base (takes those 5 gal jugs, has hot and cold taps) was $25. A vertical blueprint cabinet was $120. Other items likely to turn up there would include the coat rack, the storage cabinet, the microwave / coffee cart, a lateral file, a 'merchandiser' mini-fridge, the 'hutch' or 'riser' over the desk, and necessary chairs.
This leaves - as far as furnishings go - the drafting table and the computer desk. I can - and have - built a computer station for about $100; a web search shows several basic drafting tables for under #200 - accessories included. I'll probably also have to make some sort of "drop slot" for folks to leave things like keys and papers.
