Q	Where do you work at home?
A	My office takes up half the front room within a small flat so conditions are rather cramped. My wife would rather an extra room for an office but I am quite happy as things are.

Q	Do you manage to keep your work and home life separate?
A	Not so much separated but well integrated. I try not to become distracted during busy periods but can also do some household chores when I am not busy. I tend to work in bursts so I can chose to have a lazy day or a busy evening and find this way of working suits me best.

Q	What is the best thing about working from home?
A	I would say that the best thing about working from home is not having to commute daily to work. This is now a standing joke with my customers and friends as I am always complaining about the time it takes to travel from my bedroom to my front room each morning.

Q	What are the negative points about working at home?
A	Communicating with work colleagues is probably what I miss most but, as I still have the luxury of communicating with my clients over the phone each day, it is not as isolating as it could be.

Q	What was the deciding factor to help you to decide to work from home?
A	I was medically retired through ill health and was not capable of full time employment for quite a while. I decided to run the business part-time and, whenever possible, do other work when I was able.

Q	How do you cope with the isolation of working at home?
A	Most of my communications are now over the phone instead of face to face but I do welcome an escape from the office to meet a client etc.

Q	How did you manage financially when you first started working at home?
A	I was given a lump sum on leaving (which I quickly squandered) and monthly pension which helped a great deal in starting and continuing the business.

Q	How do you manage your time?
A	Time management is not really an issue for me. After suffering stress for a number of years I tend to limit the amount of work I take on. Although I probably practice many time management techniques subconsciously, simple prioritising of urgent versus important tasks is sufficient.

Q	What sort of work did you do before you worked at home?
A	I was previously an NHS manager within the computing department.

Q	How do you cope with distractions at home (and as compared to distractions in the office)?
A	Within my department there was much internal politics which proved to be very distracting and was impossible to ignore. The distractions at home are minor in comparison and I chose to ignore them or indulge in them depending on my mood.

Q	What two pieces of advice would you suggest to someone considering working from home?
A	Anyone considering working for themselves must ensure they have sufficient capital to start their business and, more importantly, have a cash-flow cushion when income is scarce. Decide a status level for your customers below which you won't accept them as customers. Doing business with someone below this chosen level can cause much more hassle than profit, believe me, I know!

Q	What else?
A	If you have caught the dreaded bug of wanting to be your own boss, and find it impossible to shake it off: DO IT. But plan thoroughly BEFORE you take the plunge.