Work at Home Mom

If you’re newly decided to be a work at home mom, or considering taking the plunge, one question you may have is in regard to computer equipment. What will you need and how much will it cost?

The answer to that, depends in part, of course, on the type of work you will do. But most home-based business ventures will require at least basic e-mail and internet capabilities. And if that is the main use of your computer equipment, you should be able to get a desktop computer for under $500 or a laptop for $1000 or less.

Other “extras” to consider: having an in-house printer can save you time and money in the long run, and a wireless card on a laptop (a Wireless G or Wireless N Wifi card) is nice for internet access when traveling, if you anticipate doing that.

Your specific needs (or desires) may vary depending, again, on the type of work you will be doing. A sales rep of a computer company or perhaps a tech-savvy family member or friend can help you determine the best way to fulfill those needs. And maybe you already have personal equipment that can also be used for your home-based business.

Investing in basic computer equipment may seem daunting as you consider business start-up costs, but it can be a tax-deductible business expense, and it will serve you over a number of business years. So, if you think of spreading out the cost over the life of the equipment, it doesn’t amount to very much each month. For example, if you estimate you will be able to use your $500 desktop computer for at least two years, that’s only a $21 investment per month. Seems like much smaller potatoes when you figure it that way