Sarah Willingham, one of Raymond Blanc's inspectors on the BBC's The Restaurant, talks about setting up a home office

One of the youngest, most successful people in the food and leisure industry, Sarah Willingham, who currently works from home, was part of a consortium which acquired The Bombay Bicycle Club. She swiftly turned it from a loss-making business into a profitable one, growing it into the largest chain of Indian restaurants in the UK.

The office space

Setting up your business from home can be an excellent choice as it allows you to combine your home life with your work, but you have to make sure you also keep them separated.

Therefore, make sure you have a dedicated space which can be used solely for your business. It is also important to make sure you switch off when it is 'home time' and not drift back into the office to check emails.

Smart set-up

Even though you might be working from the spare room you can use the latest developments in technology to give your business a competitive edge, which is especially relevant in the current climate.

For example, BT Business provide a 'Work From Home' package which includes BT Business Total Broadband with free 24/7 UK-based support, BT Conferencing and BT Live Meet, which allows you to conduct meetings with customers or clients over the phone or internet without the need to travel to meetings.

Don't forget the details

Check with your house insurers and mortgage lender, as using your home for work purposes may alter the conditions of your agreements with them.

You will also need to consider your tax situation since you could be charged business rates rather than council tax or become liable for capital gains tax when selling your property.

Growing your empire

Basing yourself at home is not only a great way to start a business, but is also a great way to grow your company, by offering employees the opportunity to work from home, on a part or full-time basis.

Get the right advice

The world of British business is changing, with thousands of new businesses starting every year, many from home. However, going it alone is as much about finding the right help as it is about relying on your own knowledge.

It is important you get the right support from the outset. The good news is there is a range of expert support and information out there to ensure home workers get off on the right foot including www.bt.com/insight, a free resource for all small businesses.