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So, you’ve got your own business and things are going well. This is a good problem to have as it means that it is time to move out of you back bedroom and into a proper office. But now the real fun begins as you need to figure out what to look for in an office and importantly, how to afford it. If this is where you find your business, then don’t worry as this article will cover how to find the perfect office for your business.
Location, Location, Location
Talk to commercial real estate investment companies they will tell you how important location is. Not only does it dictate how much you will pay for rent, but also how customers will view your business, and importantly how far you need to travel to your office every day.
Let me repeat that – how far you need to travel every day. Quality of life is important and as such you don’t want to get an office which is two hours from your home. Instead, opt for a location which is closer to where you live as this will allow you to have some semblance of life rather than sitting in traffic.
Figure Out What You Need in an Office
Maybe you are a one-man (or woman) band, or maybe you need the additional space for your employees. Anyways, one of the first steps in deciding to get an office is to figure out what you need in that office.
In some cases, maybe all you need is a business center or some sort of executive office space, while in other cases you will need a standalone office. One plus of a coworking space is that it allows you the opportunity to network with other small business owners. But sometimes you want a place that you can call your own. Either way, start your search by knowing what you want the end to look like.
What Services Do You Need?
Do you need someone at the front desk to screen your calls or maybe you need access to a print center? The answers to these questions will determine what you need to get out of your office.
If you decide that your own office is the answer, then you will also need to consider how you can pay for a full-time receptionist and a fancy copier. The reality is that as a small business, there might be some sort of happy medium that might best suit you. Maybe a serviced office, with a suite that you can rent while allowing access to a receptionist and too expensive office equipment.
The receptionists at a serviced office highly skilled in what they do and this are part of the reason for choosing this option. In addition, a serviced office and this professional approach will help you, and your business, to stand out from the crowd.
Where Do You Meet Your Clients?
Now, if yours is a retail business, then the answer is simple and you need a storefront. If you are an online seller, then you probably don’t need a fancy meeting room. In fact, you will probably want to make sure you have a loading dock to help expedite shipments.
However, if you are in a service business, then you will want to have a good idea of how you meet your clients. In some cases, they will come to your office, while in other cases you will need to go visit your clients at their location.
The reason why this question is important is that it will help you to think through how much space you need, how fancy it needs to be, and where you need to be located. Think about it, you don’t want your office to be off the beaten track if customers are constantly coming to visit you.
How Can a New Office Help My Business?
Sure, a new office feels nice but you are in business to make money. As such, you do want to take a step back during your search and ask how this office will help your business. Maybe the answer is that you need the room to grow. But it could also be that the office is nothing more than a vanity project and this could be a red flag.
Either way, have a clear idea of how this office will help your business and what are the signs for when you need to think about moving again.
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