TRENTON, N.J. – There is no place like home to start a business for a new entrepreneur. Barriers for New Jersey “homepreneurs,” who want to start a business where they live, would be removed under a bill sponsored by Assemblyman Jay Webber.
“I cannot think of a better time than now to make it easier to start a business from home,” said Webber (R-Morris). “Some of the top companies in the world were started in someone’s living room or garage, and we should allow and encourage that dynamism here in New Jersey.”
Local code officials have the ability to use zoning ordinances to shut down otherwise non-intrusive home-based businesses in residential areas.
Webber’s bill (A485) strikes a balance. It would permit home-based businesses in residential zones under certain conditions, while allowing municipal officials to continue to regulate noise, vehicular traffic, waste and other potential nuisances. Towns could establish ordinances to augment the state law once it is enacted.
“Every home-based entrepreneur has the ability to change the world, whether she or he supplements a family income or launches the next big thing that employs thousands,” said Webber. “Being smart about encouraging home-based entrepreneurship protects neighborhoods and can change lives forever. For obvious reasons, at no time has this bill been more important than in 2020, and I am glad the Assembly is taking it up.”
Historically, about 70 percent of our nation’s home-based businesses are successful within three years compared to only 30 percent of regular businesses.
Home-based businesses are more likely to be run by people otherwise excluded from conventional work: single parents, the disabled, the unemployed and caregivers, among others.
Home-based businesses are especially good solutions providing freedom and flexibility for entrepreneurs with less access to startup capital, or who are juggling the obligations of work and raising children or caring for family members.
Seventy-two percent of women owning startups operate out of their home, compared to only 61 percent of men. And, 68 percent of those women are running their businesses from home after 3.5 years, compared to just 53 percent of men.
Also sponsoring the bill are Assemblywoman Valerie Vanieri Huttle and Assemblyman Vincent Mazzeo. Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez sponsors the Senate version (S1502) of the bill.