Disadvantages of Working Online

Working online sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But before you jump on the telecommuting bandwagon, it’s important to investigate both sides of the coin so that you can make an educated decision in your career. Don’t quit your day job just yet…

Here are a few disadvantages to consider before you start working at home:

1. Startup Cost: If you’re starting your own business from home, then you will need to pay to start your website, employ a graphic designer, employ a web designer, employ a freelance writer to write your web content, and the list goes on and on…

There are some upfront costs to consider when starting your work at home career, including purchasing your own office materials, setting up an office space in your house, paying for Internet, and downloading special programs that cost money like Photoshop.

2. Discipline: If you are an obsessive type A personality like myself, then discipline may be not be a problem. You may have to work on disciplining yourself to stop working obsessively and take a break every once in a while.

But for many other workers who are used to having their boss crack the whip, it may be hard to get used to organizing your own schedule, setting up your own meetings and appointments, and staying on task to finish your projects on time.

3. Secure Work: If you’re telecommuting for a larger company, this is not an issue. But if you are freelancing, then you need to keep your nose to the grindstone and continue to submit bids for freelancing jobs so that your schedule stays full.

Once you get the ball rolling in your freelancing career, it’s normally not difficult to keep a full schedule. But starting out takes time. The best course of action is to keep working at your day job part-time until you build up your freelancing schedule and are ready to quit and work from home.

4. Losing Money: Yes, if you buy into a moneymaking opportunity or pyramid scheme, it’s possible that you’ll lose money instead of make money. Before buying into any type of home business opportunity that is part of a larger structure, make sure to read all of the fine print and reviews carefully to ensure that it is a legitimate opportunity.

It’s also important to be very wary of “investing” in a home business venture. If you’re starting a legitimate business on your own, you will have to invest in startup costs, but many times, online business ventures will ask you to invest in their business package just to take your money. Sad but true.

5. Lack of Motivation: For many people, this point may be both a pro and a con. When working from home, you can work in your pajamas, and you don’t even have to take a shower! Still, you’ll need to work hard at keeping your social life active and leaving the house to run errands so that you don’t become a work-at-home troll like so many of us have.

Bethany Ramos works at home full time as a freelance writer, and she also co-owns her own e-commerce website, The Coffee Bump.

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