Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Shari Parkinson's home-based consulting business gives the single parent time to spend with her two sons.

Home businesses give owners more flexibility, convenience

By Torre Peña

Enticed by the flexibility and convenience of working at home, Shari Parkinson started her own business two years ago. Operating a home-based financial consulting business, Clearwater Associates, gives Parkinson the freedom to concentrate on one of her main priorities--spending time with her family.

"I like the flexibility, because when my boys have free time I can spend time with them, and I work better when I'm flexible," she says.

A former teacher, Parkinson is a divorced mother living with her two teenage sons. "I had a little time in my life to experiment, and I felt that I had an opportunity to stay here rather than to go out and get a typical 8-to-5 job that would lock me into a salary range," said Parkinson.

Several Saratoga residents apply for home business licenses each month. Like Parkinson, they usually have no difficulty obtaining the necessary city approvals. Everyone operating a home-based business in Saratoga needs a business license and a home occupations permit.

Although the process is as easy as filling out two forms in one stop at the city offices, an indeterminate number of people operate businesses out of their home illegally, Jennifer Yang, city of Saratoga senior accountant, said. "The city doesn't have the manpower to check home businesses for licenses," added Yang.

The planning division of the Community Development Department determines if applicants conform to regulations of the home occupations ordinance. The aim of the home occupation permitting process is to ensure that residential neighborhoods remain non-business areas.

"There can't be any external alteration of the house, and the existence of a home occupation can't be apparent beyond the boundaries of the site," Anne Dailey, assistant city planner, said. In addition, the ordinance restricts noise, odor and car and pedestrian traffic resulting from the business.

"No employees are allowed at the home other than the occupants of the home," added Yang.

Complying with the home occupation guidelines has been easy for Dieter Schulze, an engineering consultant and inventor, who does not use his home for business visits. "You have to be considerate to neighbors in your community," said Schulze.

Schulze applied for and received a business license in July for Schulze Consulting. The process was simple and took about three weeks, Schulze said.

Residents can apply for a business license and home occupations permit at the Saratoga Finance Department, at 13777 Fruitvale Ave. The fee for the process is $100. The Finance Department can be reached at 867-3438.