Whether you run a business out of a typical office space in town or one from home, how secure is that business?
In a world where both computer hacking and physical thefts seem to be in the news on a daily basis nationwide, it is important that entrepreneurs (including those who run businesses out of their homes) have the most secure environments possible. When it comes to the latter – the stats show that Americans need to be concerned about their homes – especially if they’re working out of them.
According to the FBI, a residence is broken into every 12 seconds, leading to more than 6,500 invasions on a daily basis. The average dollar loss given each home break-in is more than $2,100.
So, what are business owners and home security businesses for that matter doing to make it more difficult for criminals to put a damper on one’s business affairs?
Security and Common Sense Matter
In order to improve the odds of thwarting a residence break-in, home business owners should keep the following in mind:
- Security needs – Whether you run a very small business out of your home or one that employs others and brings in a sizable amount of revenue, having a home security system makes sense. There are myriad of options out there when it comes to finding the right system. Whether you go with a service like ADT for Winter Park Florida or one of countless others, take the time to research the provider. How long have they been in business? Do they have a strong customer service record? Are their prices comparable to others in the home security business? Taking the time to do some research can save you money and headaches down the road;
- Avoid obvious patterns – When you run a business out of your home, one of the major advantages is that you get to do just that, work out of your residence. While this is enjoyable for many entrepreneurs, don’t fall into the habit of obvious patterns, patterns that a criminal could easily pick up on. If you leave the house every day from noon to 1 p.m. for your lunch break, someone casing the residence will get your schedule down. Yes, having your security alarm set while you are out is critical, but even the best alarm systems can be compromised on occasion. Vary your daily schedule so it looks like you come and go at different hours of the day, all the while getting your work done for clients;
- Don’t leave funds sitting around – Depending on what type of home business you run, you may be apt to have large amounts of cash, checks etc. sitting around at home. While many home business owners do most of their transactions online via credit cards, others will rely on customers sending them checks in the mail etc. Make sure you do not have such funds sitting around, especially where they can be viewed from outside through a window. Have a lock-box or other such apparatus available. In the event someone breaks into your home, having the funds locked up will make it more difficult for them to steal.
According to a 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor report, more than 50 percent of nationwide entrepreneurs continuing running their businesses from home long after they started such companies.
In the event you are one of those entrepreneurs, make sure your home and your business are properly secured, allowing you to frustrate would-be criminals.