More and more companies are going fully remote, but is the transition right for your business?
If you're working on a startup or you own a small business, you might have already considered the option of making your business fully remote, meaning you have no central office and all your workers telecommute. While this isn't always possible, it does offer a number of advantages for those who pursue it.
The Benefits
These are just some of the benefits of going fully remote:
•Less overhead. You won't need to pay for real estate, nor will you pay for rent. This represents massive cost savings.
•Higher productivity. Studies show that people who work from home tend to be more productive, on average, which means your team will get more done than ever before.
•Less travel. Your team won't need to commute every day, which gives them more free time and less stress to deal with.
•Fewer expenses. On a regular basis, you won't be paying for things like office supplies, utilities, and devices, so you'll save thousands of dollars a year.
•More options. Hiring remotely means you can attract talent from all over the country, or even the world, rather than focusing exclusively on locals.
Key Considerations for Success
Obviously, going remote isn't that simple. There are a few downsides, so if you want to remain effective, you'll need to implement these strategies:
•Stay communicative. Make sure your team stays in contact with one another on an ongoing basis, with the majority of your people "online" at any given time.
•Use the right systems. Having a good project management and collaboration system in place is crucial for enabling your team to complete their jobs effectively.
•Set expectations proactively. Set clear expectations for how your team is meant to act, and how they're responsible even when working remotely.
Going fully remote isn't for every business, but for those that adopt the model, it can save money and improve productivity instantly.