What to consider when building a remote company

We’ve changed the way in which we work over the last two years. At the start of the pandemic, many companies had to move online. Office workers were suddenly working from their bedrooms and had to find a way to communicate from home.

Now, more of us are home-based or doing a mixture of work from home and the office. As a result, many new and established companies are going fully remote.

If you’re setting up a new business and want to be remote from jump, here are some ideas to help you.

What is a remote company?

A fully remote company doesn’t have an office as a base from which employees can work. Instead, workers use mobile technology, such as laptops and Wi-Fi, to do their jobs from home or other locations.

Lots of companies are remote now, and there are likely to be even more making the switch in the months and years ahead.

Things to consider

If you’re setting up a remote business, there are some things to think about. Here are the main points to factor in to make it a success.

Have the right tools

For your team to work well remotely, they need the right tools for the job. Your company will have online files that employees will use. This means that they need a laptop or desktop computer that they can use at home to access your business’s system.

They might also need software uploaded to their laptop to help them to do their job properly. For example, you will need to communicate with them – so video conferencing platforms are vital.

To keep everyone organised, you might also have scheduling tools that the team must be able to access easily from remote locations.

Protect company data

Because you’re all working remotely, you’ll need to focus on keeping data private. To protect yourself, download and use a VPN (a Virtual Private Network). This sends your connection through a private, secure online server. It makes it harder for others to access your data, so it’s a valuable tool that protects your files.

Look after your team

As you aren’t working in a shared space, communication is more important than ever. Create a communication plan and check in with your employees regularly. Also, arrange team-building days and social events to make people feel connected.

Set goals

Set goals for yourself as a business owner. What’s your one-year plan? Your five-year plan?

Once you know this, you can set goals for your team. What do you expect from your employees? What does each role in the company involve? Having clear goals and expectations will help you to reach the targets that you set for your company.

Update your website

Make sure that your website is up to date. Show off what you offer and the services you provide, while making sure that you are easy to reach. Contact details are important, especially when you’re a remote business.

Use social media

If you know who your audience is, you can select a social network that fits. Are they Facebook users or Instagram fans? Set up accounts on the apps and engage with your followers. This is a great way to show what your start-up can do.