I'm a single mum with young children like you.  I have worked from home (I don't anymore) and I think just like any other lady who works from home you have to be really switched on so you can weed out the troublemakers/timewasters/general wankers.  In all my time working from home (2+ years) I never once had a client turn up at the door uninvited or any other trouble you might associate with giving out your home address.

I think it would only become the business of Social Services if you were working whilst your kids were at home (I have heard horror stories of guys turning up to a booking and there being children present in the next room  ).  Presumably you intend to work whilst they are at school/nursery.

Your biggest concern, from what you say, are going to be your neighbours.  If they are petty enough to complain about your lawn, you can bet they'll soon notice the comings and goings, and then you risk losing your home.  If I were you, I would rent out a small flat for incalls.

And, yes, stupidly it is illegal for two ladies to share a working flat, even if they are not both working at the same time.  That said, many ladies do advertise here (in Seeking/Offering) and elsewhere for someone to share with.  I suppose it is up to you whether you are willing to risk it.

Gloucestershire was one of the nightmare places to share premises - I think it was Tim Brain's patch and it was there which prosecuted someone for subletting their working flat on their day off.

Now he's gone, his attitude may remain or someone with sense may be in charge.

Hi Silverfox,
I work from home and have children. Granted, my children are older than yours but older children present more difficulty I think, younger children do as they are told without much of an answering back routine! You are still the boss of them when they are small, if you catch my drift   Try telling an older child who INSISTS they are going to drop dead from a cold if they as much as put a foot inside a school shoe on a wet, dark, Wednesday morning, that they are going to school and that's an end to it - its rarely an end to it!

I understand completely the problems with renting a work flat - I have been told by letting agencies that no employee reference means 6 months rent upfront then you can get a flat - cheers, that's great but in order to secure 6 months rent upfront, you have got to work, right?
Plus you have to think about paying for that flat, the rent, the bills and that means working extra hours to pay for that plus pay for your home, your rent there, bills and so on - think about that before you think a work flat is an ideal option.

I think how you go about this is the key. How often do you intend on working? If you intend on only seeing say, 3 clients a week - a low number but that is all I see because I am paying my way through bills here, to clear them off. I have no desire to work more bookings than this in a week - I also do not work weekends or evenings so school hours are my only working times. It is inconspicuous to neighbours if you are only having 3 callers a week - can you say you work from home doing something else? For example, can you tell your neighbours, should they ask, you are a qualified accountant, you are taking on a few bits of work to pay for Christmas or something?
You have to carefully check out who you are seeing if they are coming to your home - it is up to you to chat with them on the phone and gauge or try to, what they really are. you can never be 100% certain - I have had a guy who appeared to be genuine and nice only to arrive here while my children were home because he could not get me on the phone! It was horrendous. He came three days in a row and in the end I had to warn him to go away or I would call the police - luckily for me the kids were asleep when he called but it is no picnic, that I can promise you and it is a risk you have to weigh up for yourself.
Think carefully, weigh up all the odds and take care about what you do, in the end, that is all any of us can do whether we work from home or a work flat - if we have children or not. Its up to you how you handle it all and how sensible you are about it all.
Good luck with whatever you decide.
x 

Hi Guys - thanks for your replies. As it happens, I've decided to work in a 'massage parlour'. I've weighed up the pros and cons, read the articles on this website, and worked out that it's the best option for me.  Don't know if it'll work out, but will give it a try and see what happens! - I'l keep you posted!