FreeShipping.org Creators Benefit from Telecommuting

Like many other Americans making the transition from the office work space to the life of a telecommuter, Luke Knowles and his wife, Maisie Knowles, work from the comfort of their own home as entrepreneurs.

 

The Knowles’ home-based business, FreeShipping.org, is a one-stop destination helping consumers find online retailers that offer free shipping.

 

The couple also leads an environmentally-friendly lifestyle. Since they don’t have to commute to an office, they are not polluting the air, and they even go one step farther by hiring subcontractors who are also telecommuters. They just signed on their first employee, and he rides to the Knowles’ home office on his bike.

 

According to Gartner Dataquest, close to 12 million employees currently telecommute, or telework, more than 8 hours per week. This number is up from about 6 million in 2000. By 2009, the research firm predicts the amount of teleworkers to hit 14 million.

 

This rise can be attributed to Generation X and Y workers getting restless when they are restricted to a cubicle, and they claim to be more productive when working from a home office. In addition, Baby Boomers like the flexibility that telecommuting offers. With all the recent advancements in wireless technology, the number of professionals who work from home is also expanding.

 

As Knowles explains, with many Americans trying to reduce their spending during this tough economic time, cutting gas costs and driving time to and from work are other reasons why telecommuting is ideal.

 

A recent survey from CompTIA (the Computing Technology Industry Association), shows that businesses that let their employees work from home at least part time enjoy benefits such as increased productivity, lower operating costs and a more expansive pool of prospective talent.

 

The Knowles enjoy telecommuting not just because it reduces the carbon footprint on the environment, but because it also benefits their business.

 

“In many cases, those who are very good at what they do work for themselves,” Luke said Knowles. “When you do business with a larger company, you often deal directly with junior-level employees. Typically, when you work with an independent who works from a home office, you get that person’s extensive experience, and his or her rate is more affordable because of the limited overhead.

 

“I’ve had good and bad experiences with employees and contractors who are telecommuters, but overall I prefer to work with others who lead a similar lifestyle as mine,” he added. “I believe that most people who telecommute are more productive and have a comfortable work-life balance. And when you are happy with your job, you tend to be more committed to your work.”