If you’re considering taking the plunge into working online, you’ll need to carefully weigh the pros and cons first. Being able to work from home can sound appealing, but it’s more challenging than you might think. Don’t quit your regular job until you’ve asked yourself a few important questions that will help you determine whether working online is the right decision for you.

1. What Kind of Work Will I Do?

You can earn money online in several ways, but not all of these jobs will amount to a livable wage. Some will only add up to pocket change, while others will allow you to pay your bills and even set money aside if you’re successful. Some ways that you can make money online include writing, taking surveys, doing customer support through a live chat service and being a virtual assistant. You can earn decent money with writing and virtual assistant work, but you’ll need to build up your business and market yourself in order to accomplish this. You might also do well with online customer support jobs, depending on which company you work for. Doing smaller tasks like surveys or data entry can help you make a little bit of money, but not enough to live on.

2. How Will I Handle Distractions?

Working from home can be a frustrating experience if you have kids or other family members around. In order to get your work done, you’ll need to be able to focus as much as possible. It’s also important to have a designated work area, preferably in a quiet place with minimal distractions. You’ll need to set boundaries by letting your family know that they are not allowed to bother you while you’re working. If you have little kids, you’ll need to figure out how to work around their schedule or hire someone to watch them for you while you work.

3. Am I Financially Ready?

Having an online job means more freedom, but it also comes with some drawbacks. In most cases, you won’t have steady pay or benefits. You also won’t have paid sick days or vacation time. Before you decide if you should quit your current job to work online, make sure you have enough money saved up to cover your expenses until work starts picking up for you. You’ll also need to factor in the cost of a private health insurance plan and a higher income tax rate since you’ll be paying self-employment taxes.

If you’re not fully ready to focus on working online, consider doing some part-time work on the Internet while keeping your regular job. You can put the money you make from it in a savings account in case you decide to make working online a full-time job. You’ll also have a better sense of whether or not you would enjoy doing that kind of work for a living, and you can try out different ways to make money online to see what works best for you.

William Wall writes for financial blogs and sites. Click here for more information on organizing your finances.