A trend-in-the-rise in recent times, more and more people are starting businesses from home. Perhaps you and your spouse work together in the same business, from home. Regardless of what business category yours is in, it’s almost certain that part of the setup must include computer equipment. Permutations of the setup will depend on the type of business, but the basic elements are basically the same:

Small networks like a home network are usually setup as a workgroup. In this setup, there is no central computer and the existing computers are setup in a peer-to-peer networking setup. Yet with this setup printers and files can be shared between computers. Printers these days have multi-function capabilities, which means they can also send and receive faxes, something often needed in a home business setup. This function can also be shared among computers.

Normally this setup will have some sort of high-speed internet service, which typically goes modem–>router–>computer(s). Depending on how close the computers are to the router and whether or not it is therefore easy to do a wired networking setup, a wireless one can be done with relative ease. The wireless function can also include the printer if so desired.

Software installed in the computers will vary. But almost certainly you’ll have an email client program, some sort of accounting software for bookkeeping, and perhaps CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software to keep track of client prospects’ activities throughout the sales pipeline and to make sure the customer retention percentage remains high.

Investing the time in properly setting up your home business computer apparatus can help boost efficiency and thus productivity.