Home-based entrepreneurs can count on Home Business Resources

October 24, 1995 -- BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- If you're searching for a way to
increase your productivity, have more flexible work hours, eliminate
commuting time, and even feel healthier, then start a home-based
business.

According to a national survey sponsored by AT&T Home Business Resources,
83 percent of American home-based entrepreneurs feel more productive
working from home than in a traditional office setting and 74-percent say
they are not distracted by the home environment.

The survey polled 1,005 home-based business owners across the nation to
gain a better understanding of the work habits, physical surroundings and
lifestyles of people who work from home. An estimated 25 million people
currently operate businesses from home.

"Working from home has the potential to enable people to juggle personal
and professional responsibilities more easily," said Alice Bredin,
syndicated columnist and radio commentator on the subject of working at
home. "It is a popular lifestyle now, in large part because people want to
have more freedom to control their schedules, their incomes and their
futures."

The study revealed that more than one-quarter of those surveyed have
adopted the work-at-home lifestyle within the past three years. Working
from home, however, has its veterans: some 37 percent have been working
from home 10 years or more, 35 percent between four to nine years.

"Working from home is reshaping the way we live our lives," said Mary Ellen
Navas, AT&T Home Business Resources Director. "It is an attractive work
arrangement that has widespread appeal. In fact, 50 percent of all small
businesses in America are home-based."

AT&T Home Business Resources recently conducted a nationwide survey of
120,000 households to learn more about home-based business owners. Below
are some key findings:

CONVENIENCE

 Considered the greatest advantage of working from home, 58 percent
 ranked convenience as the greatest selling point. Flexible work
 hours, not having to commute, and greater quality of family life
 were among the top advantages listed by respondents. An overwhelming
 majority (89 percent) who have home-care responsibilities find
 that working at home gives them quality time with their children.

HEALTH

 Some 61 percent believe they get ill less often than those who work
 in a group setting. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (63 percent)
 exercise regularly.

INCOME

 More than one-third of the work-at-home households earn $60,000 or
 more annually, compared to only one-quarter of the general population
 who earn this figure or more. One in 10 home-based households
 earn more than $100,000 annually.

EQUIPMENT

 Almost two-thirds of respondents in home offices are equipped with
 acomputer, printer and cordless telephone. Some 40 percent have
 faxes and modems. About one-quarter have copy machines, cellular
 phones and voice mail.

WORKSTYLE

 The average work week for the full-time, home-based entrepreneur
 is 53 hours. More than half (54 percent) of these entrepreneurs
 had worked in a traditional office environment and do not plan
 on returning.

ATTIRE

 The survey found that 79 percent of entrepreneurs working at home
 wear casual non-business attire, some 15 percent wear casual business
 attire, and nearly four percent wear traditional business attire.
 Women tend to dress more casually than men, with 84 percent wearing
 non-business attire versus 73 percent of the men.

GROOMING

 Eight in 10 of those polled shower/bathe and comb or style their
 hair before beginning their workday. Women are more fastidious
 than men (84 percent versus 72 percent). Seven in 10 men shave
 before beginning their workday at home.

SAVINGS

 Half of the respondents found that since they began working at home,
 their wardrobe budget was greatly reduced and one-third reported
 their dry-cleaning/laundry bills have dropped, too.

SUPPORT & RESPECT

 Home-based workers (74 percent) reported that their relatives,
 friends and neighbors are supportive and respectful of their working
 from home. Only five percent said their peers and clients believe
 they are on "permanent vacation."

MEDIA

 Half listen to the radio while they work; three-quarters read a daily
 newspaper or watch television during the workweek.

The survey screened 120,000 households to identify those where at least one
family member works a minimum of eight hours per week in a full- or
part-time home-based business. The study was conducted by NFO Research,
Inc. of Greenwich, Conn., for the AT&T Home Business Resources program.

Enrollment in the AT&T Home Business Resources program is free to customers
with a residential line presubscribed to AT&T. Members receive a free
quarterly magazine -- called AT&T Powersource&#153; -- with information on
the latest technology for home offices, 24- hour access to dedicated
account representatives, and special offers on work-at-home products and
services. For more information call 1-800-4-RESOURCES, Ext. 13525.
 
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