Family and friends aren't the only distractions from

Family and friends aren't the only distractions from home office productivity-often you will find yourself generating your own set of temptations. Because you are both employee and boss, it is your responsibility to ensure you keep your office distraction-free. This means when you mark your territory, be sure to include only those things that relate to business. Keeping your PlayStation 2 in your office is extraordinarily counterproductive, and your virtual corporation will suffer for it.

Cyber Space: Home Office Computer Considerations

It's a given: if you're running a virtual corporation, you need a computer. Practically your entire business will be contained on this one essential piece of equipment. What are some of the things you should consider when choosing a computer for your home office?
* Specs-Speed, Storage and RAM: Depending on the needs of your business, you will have different requirements for your computer. Modern computers often have more storage space than you will ever need. For most online businesses, 40 gigs of hard disk space is more than sufficient (and 80 gigs is pure madness). Your processor speed should be the fastest you can afford-the faster your computer works, the more efficient you will be in getting things done. Look for a processor that is at least 1.2 gigs. Regarding RAM, which governs the number of applications you can have running before your computer starts to slow down, 256K is a common and acceptable. If you can get it, you should consider a system with 512K of RAM, which will allow you to run more simultaneous applications (Internet Explorer, a word processing program and a spreadsheet program) without sacrificing speed.
* Hardware and Peripherals: Most virtual corporations need at least a printer and a fax machine. A scanner is also useful for a variety of tasks, including converting paper files to electronic ones. You may also need a good audio system for your computer with external speakers.
* Software: A good home office will have the necessary software to tackle any task. Bundled office software such as Microsoft Word is essential: you will need a word processing program, a spreadsheet program, and a database program. Slideshow presentation software such as PowerPoint is optional, but helpful. Also, since so many online companies use PDF (portable document file) format for business material, product delivery, theft protection and more, you should consider investing in the full version of Adobe Acrobat, which allows you to convert any file to PDF format. Other software programs you may find useful: web design software (FrontPage, Dreamweaver), accounting software (QuickBooks, NetSuite), image manipulation software (Adobe Photoshop, ImageMagic), and desktop publishing software (PageMaker, Quark Xpress).
* Connectivity and Security: You will need a reliable connection to the internet, as well as a powerful antivirus program to shield your computer from all those nasty little bugs crawling the internet (except spiders...spiders are good!). If it is available in your area, you should have a cable modem or DSL connection; if not, you may want to consider a satellite connection. Dial-up service is slow and often unreliable, and it also renders your phone line unavailable. If you must use dial-up, download an internet answering machine such as CallWave that will take messages and alert you if someone tries to call while you're online, giving you the option to disconnect and take the call. Also, because your entire business hinges on your internet activity, don't skimp on antivirus protection. Norton and McAfee are the two most popular antivirus software programs, and they are relatively inexpensive-especially when compared with the cost of replacing your hard drive after a virus destroys it.
* Portability: Do you anticipate being on the go, or traveling frequently for business? Laptop and notebook computers are far more affordable than they used to be, so if you need portability for your home office, a laptop may solve your problems. Additionally, a laptop allows you to change your work location if you need a break from the same old surroundings.
* Backup: Always back up your files. Save what you're working on every thirty to sixty minutes. Many programs have an auto-save feature you can set to automatically save your open projects on specific time intervals. Because the majority of your virtual corporation is on you computer, and computers are machines with the potential to throw a few screws now and again, you must take steps to ensure you retain as much of your files as possible in the event of malfunction. You should also back up your entire hard drive and keep the discs in a separate location outside your office.