Do you get up in the morning at a certain time to get ready to/for work, even though you are working in your home office? Or do you straggle out of bed anytime the mood hits you, then work most of the day in pajamas?

If you already have a home business or just starting one, make sure you treat your home business like a business. And as such, you should dress properly and act appropriately. Get up, get dressed, get your coffee or tea and walk into your office. Of course, this could mean walking from your bedroom to your living room or kitchen, or maybe ten steps away from your bed. When getting dressed, ask yourself, "If I put this on, can I open the door and allow a stranger to enter my home?" If the answer is no, put on something else--a clean tee shirt and jeans or pants or something similar. Wearing a bath robe or underwear is never a good idea unless you are sick. If you are sick, you should not work, instead give yourself some time to heal without the stress of telephone calls and emails. The thing is, you would not go to your work place in your jammies or bunny slippers, so don't do it in your home business.

Ideally, you will have a separate office in your home, however, many of us are not so fortunate. If you work at your kitchen table, think of way to do so without sharing the table with food or people. Designate some time when you will be alone in the kitchen. This may mean getting up earlier or staying up after everyone else has gone to bed.

Do not treat your business like it is a sometime-hobby. Keep in mind if you treat your home business with no respect other people will as well. Set an example, by teaching people how to treat you and your business.

Do what works for you, some people work better when they can hear radio in the background. If you enjoy this as I do, tune into something that will not take attention away from the job at hand. Do not do housework and, do not talk to friends on the telephone, during this "office" time. Having separate email accounts will work better than one email for everything. What about lunch? Yes, you should take time for lunch and some time away from your work day. The great thing about working from home is that you can take more than an hour for lunch, but not so much time you forget about returning to the business at hand.

Will getting up early in the morning or dressing in 'real' clothes bring home business success? Probably not, but it may help to give you a positive attitude and create stronger resolve about working at home. Go ahead give your home business the green light to build, thrive and grow.