Practical tips for setting up your home office in 2025

Running a small business from home gives you flexibility and autonomy but it comes with its own set of challenges.

Whether you’re a sole trader, consultant, or managing a small team remotely, your home office setup needs to support your day-to-day work without constant frustration.

Here’s a practical guide to help you create a more productive, reliable, and even comfortable home office without overspending.

Start with the basics

You don’t need a full-blown corporate setup to get things done. But working from the kitchen table every day isn’t ideal either.

If you can, claim a dedicated area in your home that’s used only for work. In a dream world you’d have a room that you can shut yourself in, but even a quiet corner that’s just for work will do the job.

What I find useful:

• A compact desk with cable management (IKEA has a great range of sit-stand desks and Artiss has some well-priced options)
• A good-quality chair with lumbar support (try the Sihoo M18 or Secretlab Titan for longer sessions)
• A good-sized monitor with adjustable monitor arms to free up desk space
• Desk lighting with adjustable brightness and colour temperature (e.g. BenQ ScreenBar)

If you’re regularly meeting clients via video, consider setting up a neutral background and some soft lighting to present professionally without needing a full studio. Though, of course, most video chat programs offer backgrounds or blur options.

Keep in mind that many of these things can be found secondhand, or wait for them to come on sale (EOFY sales are usually great for home office supplies).

Power up your internet

If you’re still working with a basic or outdated broadband connection, this is the fastest way to boost your productivity.

Slow speeds, random dropouts, or weak Wi-Fi can quietly kill your momentum, especially if your business relies on cloud software, Zoom calls, or uploading media.

For most small businesses working from home, an NBN 50 or NBN 100 plan will provide enough speed and stability.

If you handle large files, frequent video calls, or manage remote team members, you might want to consider a higher-tier plan or business-grade connection.

Swoop is a good example of an internet service provider that offers NBN plans with no lock-in contracts and unlimited data. That’s ideal if you want a fast, flexible setup that scales with your business.

Pro tip: if your workspace isn’t getting the best connection, adding a mesh Wi-Fi system (like Google Nest Wi-Fi or TP-Link Deco) might improve signal strength across your home.

Tools that keep your business running smoothly

Small business owners are constantly juggling different tasks, so having the right set of software tools can really save time and reduce stress. Of course, these tools are only as good as your internet connection. Nothing slows you down like laggy video calls or files that won’t sync.

Here are some of the go-to apps I use (and recommend).

• Client calls and meetings – Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet
• File sharing and backups – Google Drive, Dropbox or OneDrive
• Project and task management – Trello, Asana or Notion
• Finance and invoices – Xero or MYOB
• Marketing tools – Canva, Meta Ads Manager and Mailchimp

Many of these are cloud-based, which means a stable connection is absolutely necessary. Even something as simple as updating your website or uploading a product video depends on consistent speeds.

I suggest taking advantage of free trials before you commit. Some of these programs offer free versions that will be adequate for your use, but some you’ll probably want to pay for the premium versions.

Audio and video

First impressions matter and if you meet clients, partners, or collaborators online, you might want to invest in the tech that makes you look and sound good. Crisp audio and decent lighting go a long way.

Recommended gear:

• Headset or mic - Logitech Zone Vibe 100 or Blue Yeti mic for clear audio
• Webcam - Logitech C920 or Insta360 Link for high-quality video
• Lighting - A simple ring light or LED panel behind your webcam

In my opinion, you shouldn’t rely on built-in laptop webcams or mics. They’re rarely good enough for professional use.

Backup and business continuity

Even with the best setup, things go wrong. Think power cuts, internet outages, or modem failures. For small business owners, even a short outage can mean a missed opportunity or a frustrated client.

More than once I found myself working at my local cafe because the technology in my home office was causing problems.

Consider having:

• A 4G/5G backup modem or mobile hotspot (e.g. Telstra 5G Modem or a simple prepaid hotspot)
• An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to keep your modem/router running during brief outages
• Automatic cloud backups of key documents and client files

These tools offer peace of mind, especially if your work is time-sensitive or client-facing.

Running a small business from home means your workspace needs to be reliable, comfortable, and ready to support whatever the day throws at you.

I believe your home office should work just as hard as you do. With the right setup, fast internet, and smart tools, you can stay productive, professional, and in control.

Key takeaways

• Create a dedicated workspace with a desk, ergonomic chair and good lighting, to enhance productivity and comfort.
• Upgrade to a fast, reliable NBN plan and consider a mesh Wi-Fi system for better coverage. Have backup solutions like a mobile hotspot and cloud backups to maintain business continuity during outages.
• Invest in quality audio and video equipment for professional online meetings.