Do you own your own home based business?  If so, how many hours a week should you work?  Being your own boss lets you set your own hours and your own schedule, but how much time on that schedule should be devoted to your business?

Well, if you’re like most people, you work your business when you can trying not to interrupt family time.  I know when I first started my home business, I used a lap top computer and worked whenever my kids were napping or busy with an art project or watching tv.  I squeezed in as many hours as I could without taking away family time.  I couldn’t tell you the exact number of hours a week I worked, I just know that I worked whenever I could to get the job done.

But, how many hours are enough?  Or are you overworking yourself?  Important questions you should be asking yourself.  And, there is no specific answer.  People running a home business may be at a different stage in their business and may be working longer hours or shorter hours. 

Here are some tips and guidelines to help you choose the right number of hours for your work at home career:

1.   Are you just starting your new home business?  If so, like everything new, you will need to spend a lot of time learning the business and getting the business set up.  It takes persistency to create momentum in your business at the beginning and that means more hours.  Keep in mind that you must work smart and not hard.  Utilize those hours really moving your business forward.  The faster you learn how to work your home business the faster it will grow.

2.   Have you reached your goals or a milestone on the way to a goal?  Many times one’s goal is to make a few extra hundred dollars a month.  Once reached, it is easy to relax on the hours especially if your home business provides you a residual income (Residual income that pays you month after month, year after year based on the work you have done in the past.  Once such company is Ameriplan and the Freedom At Home Team.  Many team members reach their goal and based on their residual income simply slow down or retire all together.) 

If you are stuck in your home business, should you put more hours in to working it?  Not necessarily.  Sometimes you can work so hard that you actually ‘burn yourself’ out of the business.  If the business is something you love to do, set moderation.  Work your business each day and move it forward.  The slow turtle does win the race when it comes to income from a work at home business. 

Instead of more hours, remember to remain focused.  But don’t focus on the number of hours.  The hours is not a good benchmark for your business.  Figure out what is the most beneficial use of your time and focus on that.  What brings in the income?   What activities can you work on to increase your numbers? 

Bottom line, remain focused on what matters most in your business, work smart and only work the hours that you need to work to move your business (and income) to new levels.