Want to open a home business? Hunterdon County may become the ideal location

There is no place like home – to do business.

Towns in the Route 78/22 corridor in Hunterdon County are taking advantage of the trend, begun during the pandemic but continuing now, of residents choosing not only to stay home to work, but to start home-based businesses. A recent survey by the Institute for Justice found one in three home-based business owners started their venture after pandemic-related job losses.

To help residents become home-based entrepreneurs, the towns in the Hunterdon 78/22 Coalition – Bethlehem, Union, Clinton Town. Clinton Township, Franklin, Readington, High Bridge and Lebanon Borough – are participating in Hunterdon County’s Home-Based Business Initiative, led by the Hunterdon County Office of Economic Development, to help towns implement friendly policies and practices for home business owners, while still maintaining the integrity of the neighborhoods.

“We want Hunterdon to be a hub for home-based business growth and innovation,’’ said County Commissioner Susan Soloway. “As more entrepreneurs are opening businesses at home, we want them to know that Hunterdon is the perfect place to establish their enterprises.’’

Thirty-year-old Carey Bell creates delectable sweets in a bakeshop in the garage of her family’s Franklin Township home, where she uses locally sourced products in her pies, cakes, cookies and donuts.

“To cut down on overhead costs and staffing, I knew I didn’t want to start with a storefront,” said Bell, owner of Sweet Caroline’s Bakeshop. “If I can do this in my backyard, why not? I love that I don’t have to commute anywhere. I wake up and go out to the bakeshop.”

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With the help of her architect father, Bell outfitted a garage with sinks, commercial ovens, refrigerators and freezers. She has about a dozen wholesale accounts, while also delivering baked goods to coffee shops across Hunterdon.

While Bell had to gain permits and approvals from the township and the county, she said the process was relatively smooth.

“The township was great to work with,” Bell said. “They want to grow the community and they value home-based businesses.’’

Eric Emerson, CEO of e2 IT Consulting, started his technology support company in his Clinton Township home almost a decade ago. The business has grown, and he now has an office on Main Street in Clinton

“Being able to start the business in my home gave me the time and opportunity to grow my client base and expand the business until it could support space and staff,” Emerson said. “This is a perfect option for entrepreneurs, while also strengthening the economic base in communities. It’s great that Hunterdon is working to enable more people to grow and expand at-home businesses.”

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One of the major obstacles facing entrepreneurs who want to start their home businesses is navigating through a thicket of local zoning regulations that are both frustrating and expensive.

Bethlehem Township already has an ordinance governing home-based businesses, but Mayor Paul Muir said the township can upgrade its zoning ordinance.

“We learned a lot from this model ordinance and plan on revisiting our ordinance this year,” Muir said. “We are a rural community with no downtown, so we have to be innovative in how we offer economic opportunities. We want to give our residents the ability to start businesses, while still protecting our neighbors.”

Bethlehem officials are considering loosening restrictions on using accessory structures.

“We think there are appropriate ways to capitalize on farms and larger properties with accessory structures that could be used to house a home-based business,” Muir said, adding that officials are also reviewing rules for signs, the number of allowed employees and parking requirements.

“I believe in the value of economic development,” Muir said. “We want to keep our families together. We want each generation to stay in Hunterdon County. Without opportunity, we’re going to lose new generations.”

Clinton Town Mayor Janice Kovach said local officials plan to consider an ordinance that guides home business owners, while sending a broad message that at-home businesses are welcome in Clinton.

“It's about creating a new normal for our residents and our business community,” Kovach said. “Essentially, we all win when small businesses are successful.”

Hunterdon officials say home-based businesses create a ripple effect in the economy, helping to spur growth in other sectors. Bell buys nearly all the products she uses in her baked goods from local farmers.

“I believe in supporting my local farmers,” Bell said. “I use eggs that were literally raised a half mile down the road, local milk, flour and oats. I’m supporting my neighbors, while also delivering wholesome products.”

The Hunterdon 78/22 Coalition hired a consultant to explore ways Hunterdon towns can be more receptive to home businesses. That resulted in drafting a model ordinance that would remove outdated or unnecessary barriers, while still protecting neighbors from undue annoyances.

The model ordinance included:

• Instituting a flexible permit process;

• Providing more flexibility in the allowable number of non-resident employees;

• Lifting prohibitions on the sale of goods from a home-based business;

• Allowing signs.

The consultant also recommended classifying at-home businesses into different categories, with appropriate rules for each category, based on factors such as the number of customer visits, the number of non-resident employees and whether the business ships goods.

“This is not a one-size fits all model," Soloway said. “Each community will take into consideration its own unique characteristics and adopt a model that works best for its business owners and their neighbors.’’

Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com

Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Hunterdon County NJ is welcoming home businesses