Previously, I had office Hours of 9-5 Monday through Friday.
Do you think that I would be limiting my client base by having short "office hours" - that a client can be guaranteed I will be answering my phone?
I will be accessible through e-mail/instant message - but hope to work only 10-15 hours a week during the day and the majority of the actual work, during the early morning or late night, dependent on what's going on with my family.

I'm new here, so I have no answers for you, but it's a great question. I was wondering something like this. I am not a morning person, so I'd rather have my "office hours" start a bit later in the day like 10 or 11 am. I'm wondering if that would hurt.

Perhaps, I need to get all my clients on the West coast. Now there's a thought.

I look forward to hearing the answers to your question.

Beth

I personally have never had office hours. I didn't want to be tied down, so I work on a project basis and don't offer "on demand" service. My services are not for those who need such fast turnaround, so that is how I get around not having set hours.

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Taryn Merrick, Eco Virtual Assistant on the Mac Platform
www.merrickmgt.com

I don't have official office hours. When things need to be done they get done. I am starting to really stick to the no weekends except for my personal business tasks. This sometimes means I'll draft an email and not send it until Monday morning just so they don't think I'm available all weekend - even if I am working.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I work a 9-5 so my personal office hours for Goddess are (currently ) 7-8:30am and 7-9pm M-F and 8-noon Saturday. I don't EVER answer my phone; I tell clients to email me or leave a message 'cuz answering the phone (or any interruption) has been scientifically proven to cause a 10 minute 'lag time' of getting back on task and it could be THEIR project that was caught up in the lag.

No-one has ever complained about leaving messages and I try to get back to my clients w/in 2 hours max during 'normal' working hours (9-5) either on breaks or lunch hour. I also prefer email as that removes miscommunication from either party.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Originally Posted by Office Goddess

I work a 9-5 so my personal office hours for Goddess are (currently ) 7-8:30am and 7-9pm M-F and 8-noon Saturday. I don't EVER answer my phone; I tell clients to email me or leave a message 'cuz answering the phone (or any interruption) has been scientifically proven to cause a 10 minute 'lag time' of getting back on task and it could be THEIR project that was caught up in the lag. No-one has ever complained about leaving messages and I try to get back to my clients w/in 2 hours max during 'normal' working hours (9-5) either on breaks or lunch hour. I also prefer email as that removes miscommunication from either party.

One other thing is I ALWAYS schedule phone calls. You won't get me via phone either. Email yes, but not phone without an appointment.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I answer phones during "extended West Coast Hours" it's not clearly defined on purpose. But I have had clients that don't check their own emails, and have me send out emails on their behalf, so the "send me an email" doesn't work in this scenario. (Yes, I am aware it's 2009, and so are they, but that's their business practices.)

Except for Mondays 9-11 my clients can expect to reach me during normal West Coast business hours into the evening. But if I'm working on a project, or in the middle of something, I let it go to voice mail to not get distracted or make another project wait.

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Cheryl O'Neil
Southern Orange County

Due to my schedule changing due to clients, family, and other commitments, I don't typically post my hours. When I'm discussing the work load with a potential client, I look at the time demands they have and also how it would work with my schedule and my other clients. I have clients in three different time zones.

I have one client I answer and make outbound calls for. Due to the different times that I might be doing this, my other clients are aware that I may be on the phone and unable to answer a call immediately from them. Hence, they leave a voice mail. If they need an immediate response, they always send an email for me to call them when I'm available. I always respond to the emails.

If I'm out of my office, I have my phones transferred to my cell phone. Depending on where I am at or what I am doing, will depend if I answer the call. My clients don't have to worry about which phone number to call. They call one number to reach me.

The down side of posting your hours, you are limiting your client potential and clients from different time zones. You never know if an Eastern time zone client wants a Pacific time zone client due to them working on their computer when they are off or for other reasons.

Use technology to stay in touch with your clients and to also not tie you down to your home office.

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Mary Hettwer
Hettwer Virtual Office

Thank-you for all the information. It's very helpful. Persoanlly, I don't want set hours. I am a night person and like to work then. Also, the whole point of working for myself is the freedom to set my own hours and not be told when I have to work. Your responces have given me the confidence to know that will be possible.

Thanks, again.

Beth

Great Responses. I will be "hourless" LOL.
If I could get away with it, I wouldn't even have a phone!