So, you’ve made the decision to stop dragging your feet and work from home. Whether you talk to your employer and work out a telecommute setup, or choose to start your own freelance firm, everyone should be happy for you, right?

Besides, you’ve made a tough decision, and you’re prepared to face an adjustment period. Again, everyone should be happy, right?

Wrong.

This is probably no surprise, but some spouses don’t support the other’s decision to telecommute or work from home. I’m an entrepreneur by heart, so I can’t imagine the problem, especially if the soon-to-be work at home professional counts the cost and knows the worst case scenario. What do they got to lose?

Naturally, they may not be able to dine out or shop on a whim, and they may have to make other sacrifices, which are typical with new start-ups.

Uncooperative spouses don’t always look at the big picture. And if they’re not business-minded people, the idea of purposely giving up a steady paycheck may appear suicidal. Or, they might just be jealous (you know them better than I do).

Regardless of their motive for shooting down your decision, the important thing is getting them on board.

1. Don’t hit him with a surprise. Walking into a room and out of the blue announcing your plans to quit your job - in two weeks - is not the way to get them on board. Let your spouse know your desire to work from home, and periodically drop little reminders.

2. Start planning your exit. Unless your spouse earns enough money to support the family, you’ll likely need to do some advance preparations. Find clients and moonlight in the evenings or on the weekends. Also, it doesn’t hurt to put aside some cash.

3. Write down the benefits. Sometimes, from a financial standpoint, working at home just makes sense.

4. Go back to work - before it’s too late. Working at home isn’t for everyone. If you’re not making enough money, be sure to get out with your credit and finances intact.

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