If you’re thinking of moving your business into office space but you’re unsure where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place. Whether you’ve just started your business or you have been running for years, taking the steps to move into office space is something that should definitely be taken seriously. Luckily, there are lots of questions you can ask yourself to ensure you’re making the right decision.
Here are some tips on how to pick your first office space:
- Start by defining your needs. How many employees do you have? What kind of space do they need? What kind of amenities are important to you? Once you know what you need, you can start narrowing down your options.
- Consider your budget. Office space can be expensive, so it’s important to set a budget before you start looking. This will help you stay on track and avoid overspending.
- Do your research. There are many different factors to consider when choosing an office space, such as location, size, amenities, and cost. It’s important to do your research and compare different options before you make a decision.
- Visit the space in person. Once you’ve found a few options that you’re interested in, it’s important to visit them in person. This will give you a chance to see the space for yourself and make sure that it’s a good fit for your needs.
- Negotiate the lease. Once you’ve found a space that you’re interested in, it’s time to negotiate the lease. This is an important step, so it’s important to have an attorney review the lease before you sign it.
Here are some additional tips:
- Consider your company culture. The type of office space you choose can reflect your company culture. For example, if you have a casual company culture, you might want to choose a space that is more open and collaborative. If you have a more formal company culture, you might want to choose a space that is more traditional.
- Think about the future. When you’re choosing an office space, it’s important to think about the future. If you plan on growing your company, you’ll need to choose a space that can accommodate your growth.
- Get feedback from your team. Once you’ve found a few options, it’s important to get feedback from your team. This will help you make sure that you’re choosing a space that everyone is happy with.
Choosing your first office space is an important decision. By following these tips, you can make sure that you choose the right space for your needs. From setting your overall budget to choosing the perfect location, the more you’re thinking about it the better. With that in mind, here are 14 things to consider before moving into your first-ever office space:
What Is Your Overall Budget?
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One of the first things you need to decide is your overall budget for the move, as this will ensure you’re not spending more than your business can afford. Although it may seem easier to think of an overall figure straight away, you need to strategically think about how much each individual aspect of your move is going to cost. This means thinking about the deposit you have to pay, the cost of furniture, the cost of manual labour and the cost of setting up all of your utilities. With lots of small things to think about, you’re going to want to make sure you have got everything perfect. For a guide to setting a budget as a business, you can visit this site here.
When Do You Want To Move?
Another important thing to consider is when you would like to move. Although you may have a date in mind, things don’t always go to plan and you need to consider that.
The best thing to do is look at commercial properties that are available on the dates that you’re thinking of moving. The closer you can get to these dates, the easier it will be to organise everything else around them. If it takes you a while to choose your property, you’re going to find it difficult organising all of the logistics in such a short space of time.
How Long Is Your Lease?
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If you’re not buying the commercial property that you’re going to be using as your office, you need to consider how long you want your lease to be. Whether you’re looking for something short-term or you want to find a location that you can use for years to come, knowing what you’re looking for from the start will make it much easier to find the right property for you. If you’re unsure whether or not an office space is what your business needs, you might want to consider looking for somewhere with a short lease, to begin with.
Where Does It Need To Be Located?
Another important thing to consider is where you need your new office space to be located, as this will be crucial to both you and your team members. Whether this means looking for property in your local city or finding somewhere that is easy for your existing team members to reach, you need to choose a location that is perfectly suited to you. If you’re struggling to find the perfect location, however, you may want to consider widening your search slightly. You never know what you may find on the outskirts of the city!
For a guide to finding the perfect location for your new office space, you can visit this site here.
What Facilities Does It Need To Have?
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Once you know where you want your office space to be located, you need to think about the essential facilities it needs to have. Whether this means you need storage space for all of your stock or you need to have a break room for your team members to relax during their lunch, every business owner will want something a little different from their dream office space. The best thing to do, of course, is to write down a list of your number one priorities.
Most websites will now allow you to search by facilities, so it should help you narrow down your search.
Will You Be Hiring Any Team Members?
If you’re looking to hire team members once you have moved into your office space, you need to think about this when you’re looking for the ideal space as you need to ensure that it’s somewhere that is easy to get to. If you already have employees, they need to be one of your top priorities when looking for the ideal space. Alternatively, you can choose a small office space if you’re going to be outsourcing your employees.
How Much Space Do You Need?
Speaking of employees, you need to think about how much space you’re going to need for them in your new office space. Whether you’re looking for an office for a small team or you need to find a space suitable to 5-100 people, you need to be sure you’re going to need to have enough space for absolutely everything. This includes your product, your stock and any materials you may need to store.
If you’re planning on expanding your business over the coming years, you need to ensure you’re choosing a space that allows you to do this. If not, you’re going to find you’re moving more often than you have to.
Does It Have Enough Meeting Space?
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When it comes to space, you also need to ensure you have enough meeting space. Whether you’re meeting with potential clients or you’re meeting with your team, you need to have a number of different spaces that are sectioned off from the rest of the office. Even if you plan to have an open-plan space, meeting rooms need to be private for a number of different reasons. The most important one, of course, is for privacy. Whether you’re interviewing a new team member or talking prices with a client, some things are not meant for the entire office to hear.
Where Will You Be Buying Office Furniture?
Although some offices are available to rent furnished, most places are empty. If that’s the case, you’re going to need to buy all of the furniture needed to make your office feel like, well, an office. From desks and computer chairs to filing cabinets and drawers, you need to ensure you have absolutely everything you need. The best thing to do if you’re unsure if to research everything you’re going to need.
How Will You Be Decorating?
If you’re allowed to decorate the office that you’re moving into, you need to think about how you’re going to make it a space people want to work in. Whether this means decorating it in your brand colours or creating a motivational space for using colour and art, decorating is definitely something you should put some thought into. For inspiration when it comes to decorating your rented office space, you can visit this site here.
Do You Need To Arrange Internet And Data?
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Although most office spaces will already come with the internet already installed, you need to ensure you have data in order to work. Whether that means contacting a trusted provider or working with data cabling contractors, being connected is important for your business.
What Other Utilities Do You Need To Consider?
Here are some additional tips:
- Consider your company culture. The type of office space you choose can reflect your company culture. For example, if you have a casual company culture, you might want to choose a space that is more open and collaborative. If you have a more formal company culture, you might want to choose a space that is more traditional.
- Think about the future. When you’re choosing an office space, it’s important to think about the future. If you plan on growing your company, you’ll need to choose a space that can accommodate your growth.
- Get feedback from your team. Once you’ve found a few options, it’s important to get feedback from your team. This will help you make sure that you’re choosing a space that everyone is happy with.
Will You Be Viewing It Beforehand?
When you’re looking at the different commercial properties that are available to you, you need to ensure you’re viewing as many as you possibly can. Although you will have a variety of pictures to look at, you really won’t be able to get a feel for the place unless you take a look around. Not only that, but it also gives you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Some questions you may want to consider include:
- How soon can you start moving in?
- How much is your deposit?
- What utilities are already set up?
- Is there any security measures set up?
- Who will be in control of your rent payments?
- Who do you need to contact in case of an emergency?
- How long will the contract last?
- What changes can you make to the decor?
- Who will your neighbours be?
- Are there any issues you need to be made aware of?
- What businesses have previously rented the space?
- What facilities are there?
How Soon Do You Need To Make A Decision?
Finally, you need to find out how soon you need to make a decision. Whether this is dependent on the property you have chosen or your own time frame, it’s important you stick to a deadline. After all, the property may go to someone else if you’re not fast enough.
With lots of questions to ask yourself before you move into your first-ever office space, you can ensure you’re as prepared as you can possibly be. Did we miss anything off the list? What do you need to consider to ensure you’re choosing the right space for you? Let me know your thoughts and ideas in the comments section below.
