Choosing the perfect office space for your business isn’t easy, especially if you’re poised to grow it in the future. But whether it’s time to leave your home office or move from a tiny office space you’ve been operating from, searching for that right office space is a must. This guide will take you through the entire process and help you find the best available space.
Know what you’re looking for
Before you start your search, it’s important to understand what your needs are. Only that way will you be able to identify the ideal available office space for your business. First of all, think about which part of the city you prefer to operate from. Scout all the potential areas and take a closer look at the nearby competitors. Another critical thing to consider is how much square footage your business needs. This depends on the number of your team members and the size of equipment you use on a regular basis.
Set your budget
Setting up an office takes a lot of money and a large portion of it goes to your lease. So, before you make any final decisions, you need to put some thought into your budget. Figure out how much money you can expect to make after your move and how much you can afford to spend on your lease. Just bear in mind that this isn’t the only expense you’ll have when it comes to your office. You’ll also need to pay your energy bill and knowing how much money you’ll need for this is a good idea.
Consider coworking spaces
If you’re looking for an alternative to working from your own office, you can consider operating from a coworking space. Working in a coworking space is more affordable then renting an office and it’s been shown to increase employees’ happiness. This is mostly because it allows them to connect and socialize with people from other industries. So, find a good coworking space in a location that works for you and you’ll have nothing to worry about. And in case something goes wrong with your business, the costs of moving back to your home office or garage won’t be high.
Always be looking
You never know when that perfect opportunity for moving your business will arise. This is exactly why you should start looking for the perfect office space for your business way before you’re actually supposed to move. And the good news is, you don’t have to actively search for available office spaces. Instead, all you need to do is check out what’s going on in your local commercial real estate market. Moreover, with the power of the internet, you don’t need anything but a PC and some free time to check what’s available.
Find a good landlord
A bad landlord can slow your business down a lot. To ensure you don’t end up with one, you have to put some extra time and effort into it. Most importantly, talk to every potential landlord and explain them what your company does. This includes talking about every piece of equipment you’ll bring and the type of marketing you plan to use. Another smart thing to do is talk to the other tenants or people who work in the building and see what they think of the landlord. You can also try negotiating the lease but have in mind that most landlords won’t be open to it.
Final thoughts
It takes a lot of time and energy to find the perfect office space for your company. But if you know what you’re doing, there should be nothing stopping you from finding the place of business that fits all of your needs. Just don’t forget that making rush decisions won’t get you anywhere. Do your homework and don’t make any final decisions until you’re 100% sure you’ve found that office space you were looking for.