Freelance Writer and Social Worker

Time Management for One-Person Businesses

If I read one more time management book that spends five chapters telling me how to delegate projects, I'm going to scream.

I am a sole proprietor. I have no employees, no spouse or partner, and no children. My cats are not amenable to doing paperwork or housework.

That means delegation is not an option for me. So, how does one handle being the only person in a business? Here are some of my ideas.

1. Use the 30-Second Rule

If you can take care of something in 30 seconds or less (okay, I cheat and give myself two minutes), just do it. Then you can dismiss the item from your mind, your desk, and your "to do" list. The 30-second rule keeps me sane on days when I feel like I'm being overwhelmed with minor requests.

Do You Take a Home Office Deduction?

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the home office deduction allows those who work at home to deduct expenses for the part of the home they use for business. For instance, a person who is paying a $600 mortgage and uses 1/6 of the space in the home for business could deduct $100/month. The home office deduction is available to both renters and homeowners.

There are two requirements for taking a home office deduction. First, you must make regular and exclusive use of the area you are claiming for business purposes. Second, the area you are claiming must be your principal place of business.