People spend months and even years looking for the perfect house, but when it comes to an office space people don’t spend half as long. Business owners will spend the majority of their time at work, so it’s important the office has everything you need for your business to thrive. Different kinds of offices will be right for different kinds of businesses. There is no one size fits all way to decide on an office. You can use these considerations to help you though:
The Location
Location should be your number one priority when choosing the perfect office, much like when selecting a home. Having a great address can make you seem even more professional, and even help to draw in more clients. Your office should be easy to get to for your employees and anybody you may have a business meeting with. Remember, you can change most things about your office, but not the location. It needs to be in a place that suits your business culture perfectly.
Length of Your Stay
When you start, it’s so easy to select a small office that only fits your needs at the present moment in time. However, it’s sometimes better to choose an office that will fit in with your growth plans for the next few years. You’re more than likely planning to grow and expand, so why not plan for this and be ready with the size of your office? The rent will be higher, but you’ll save on any future moving costs. If you don’t want to move into a huge office straight away, you could always find out if it would be possible to swap offices in your building later on. This could even be at a time you agree on.
Do You Even Need an Office?
Some cases, you might not even need a physical office. Companies like www.regus.co.uk offer drop in plans, part time offices, and even professional phone numbers. You might not need a permanent, physical office at all. Weigh up the pros and cons of each option to decide which is right for you.
Amenities in the Area
An office in the middle of nowhere is good for nobody. You need to make sure that there are suitable amenities in the area. Staff need a variety of places they can go for lunch. This may even help to bring in new customers if you choose an office somewhere that gets foot traffic.
You should also make sure that there are transport links available, should an employee need to take public transport to get to you.
Operating Costs
You’ll need to consider what it’ll cost you to move into a particular office space. How much will you likely spend on utility bills, taxes, maintenance, and more? Compare the costs of different offices and found out if any of them are more eco-friendly than others. Running an eco-friendly business will save you money and probably get you more custom.
Keeping Your Phone Number
Will you want to keep your phone number? Find out before selecting an office whether this will be possible or not. Many of your clients and connections will have this number for you, so it will really help if you can keep it. If not, you’ll need to find a solution to alert your clients to your new number.
Connections
The internet is essential for most businesses these days. A slow or non existent connection is not good news for businesses. You don’t want your productivity to become hindered due to a rubbish connection. Make sure you check broadband speeds before selecting your office. It should be super fast!
Preparing for the Unexpected
You never know what might happen, so prepare for the unexpected during the office move. Have the numbers of everybody involved in the move, and make sure you have plenty of technicians on hand to help you. If you don’t want this move to effect your day to day business, then you’ll need an IT expert to help with specialist support.
Integrating New and Old Offices
If you’re opening another office to work in harmony with your current office, then you’ll need your trusted employees to help you set this one up. Why not have them go to work in the new office to give you an idea of what needs to be done to get it up to standard? Adding a branch to a current office can be stressful, but by making sure you communicate well between both offices it should all work out.
New Equipment
, a new office means new equipment. If this is the case, make sure you train your staff efficiently. It may be hard for them; having to move office and then learn how to use totally new equipment. Be patient with them.
Test
Tests are essential for making sure everything will work when you’re up and running. Check the phones, computers, connections, and anything else that could affect your business. Make sure you have a series of backup plans just in case.
Perfect for You?
This is the last thing you need to ask yourself once you’ve weighed up all of the pros and cons of an office. Is it perfect for you? Have a sit down and consider the amount of staff you’ll likely have there, whether you need a meeting room, and if you’ll have space for visitors. It could be an idea to make a checklist before you view any offices, so you can tick things off in each building and make a wise decision. Don’t compromise on things that are important.
Selecting the perfect office isn’t something that should take you days or even weeks. You may need to search for a long time to find the ultimate office for your business. It’ll be worth it! Working in the perfect office will make you as productive as possible and give you everything you need to succeed. Use these tips to help you.
I hope you found this post useful!
