Late client calls

This is a common problem that can best be resolved by letting your clients know when they can reasonably expect you to be in your office, by posting hours on your business card, brochure, web site, etc.

Some clients will call a business, regardless of its location, on "non-business" hours just because they think of something they don't want to forget so they plan on leaving a message on voice mail. It may be that your clients are not really expecting you to answer your business phone during non-business hours.

The problem may be that you can't ignore a ringing phone. Try turning off the ringer on your phone and, if you have an answering machine, turn that volume down or off also.

Some home-based business owners have a policy of billing customers for "overtime." If your clientele is in a different time zone or even a different country, you need to take these things into consideration also.