Starting your own business is one of the best ways to put the power back in your own hands. Along with choosing who you work with, you get to choose your hours and work from anywhere you please. Location independence is one of the main reasons I chose to work for myself, and many people find themselves in the same situation where they want to quit their day jobs and do work they’re passionate about.

So if you’re thinking about starting your own business, here are some helpful tips to ensure you enjoy the process:

Quit Procrastination

It’s never going to be perfect. Your website, your e-book, even your product. The trick is to get it as close as to perfection as you can before actually launching, and realising that the time you spend procrastinating is time that you could have been earning money. Give yourself a launch date and work backwards from there. What do you need to do every month, every week, and every day in order to meet that goal? Announce your launch to your friends and family, and talk about it to everyone who will listen. Sometimes in order to meet our goals we need to have outside influences keeping us accountable.

Create an ideal working environment

As much as we would like to believe we can work from coffee shops or the couch, eventually we all need to get serious about our business and create some sort of office. Make a list of all the things that are important to you, and remember that most of the time expenses that you spend on your business can be used as a tax deduction.

Some of the things you’ll need include a good desk (consider investing in a standing desk), an ergonomic chair, printer cartridges (HP ink cartridges are some of the best), and a printer/scanner.

Reduce distractions

While many people consider working from home to be ideal, the truth is it’s full of distractions. Your bed is constantly calling and you’ll often be tempted to take a quick nap, your kids may be knocking on the door and asking you to come play, and friends will often assume that because you’re working from home you’re free to pick them up from the airport or head out to a boozy lunch.

The trick is to make it clear to everyone exactly what hours you work. Change out of your pyjamas in the morning and be sure to have an exact time when you expect yourself to be sitting in your chair. Instruct your family to avoid distracting you unless it’s truly important, and educate your friends about your hours.

Don’t Overlook the Essentials

When starting a business, it’s easy to focus on exciting aspects like designing a logo, developing a product, or building a website. However, there are important practical steps that you shouldn’t overlook—especially when it comes to protecting your investment. For example, if your business operates from a physical space, like a café or restaurant, having the right insurance is vital to safeguard against risks such as property damage or liability claims.

If you’re opening a restaurant, you’ll want to consider Oregon Restaurant Insurance (or another local area). Having this type of coverage ensures you’re prepared for unexpected challenges, so you can focus on growing your business without worrying about potential setbacks. Taking this step early can help avoid costly surprises in the future.

Accept that you may fail

Unfortunately starting your own business doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be making tons of money, hardly ever working, and achieving success after success. You will probably have periods where clients don’t pay, you’re worried you won’t be able to pay your rent, or your product just simply isn’t selling. The key is to accept failure as a part of working for yourself, and focus on how you can do it better next time.