Whatever kind of business you’re running, you need the right kind of space to work in. This applies whether yours is a home-based micro business, or whether your enterprise is a bit bigger with its own office presence.
Often when starting out, we take what we can get and make it work. But the day will come when you need to make more considered choices, whether they’re for expansion or efficiency.
Consider Your Office Needs
Not all businesses have the same kinds of needs when it comes to office space. What suits one won’t help another, so take a personalised view and dig deeper into how your office can serve your business.
There are potentially dozens of questions to find answers to, but some of the main considerations to get you started along your individual path could be:
- Easy access and safe storage for stock items. Storage unit prices may be less than you think and could solve internal storage issues.
- Somewhere to hold meetings with clients or maybe give presentations.
- Heightened privacy and security.
- More space for additional desks when expanding staff numbers.
- Somewhere to set up specialist machinery or equipment.
- A way to present a more professional face to the world.
Your professional image encompasses all kinds of business benefits, including brand prestige, appearing trustworthy and established to clients, and your own confidence when marketing and advertising.
It’s also possible you want to change just small aspects of your current office situation. Maybe you don’t have enough natural light, you’d like a bigger desk or somewhere that’s easier to get to.
Small things matter too when you’re running a business. Ironing out relatively minor frustrations can free up mental bandwidth, so you have more creative energy for bigger plans.
Know Your Finances
One of the main reasons for business failure is not keeping close enough tabs on the money. Some problems might come about through poor decision-making, such as overspending on equipment or services or underestimating the time needed to complete projects.
But cashflow problems can also be caused by forces you can’t control, such as clients who either won’t pay or take too long to settle their invoices.
Running a business is a huge balancing act and takes careful and meticulous financial control. When you’re considering expansion or just a move to a better location that’s a similar size, examine all the potential extra costs involved so you don’t get any unpleasant surprises.
If you’re planning an office relocation, shop around to find the best rental prices. Bear in mind all the things you originally decided you need from your business space and weigh the benefits against the potential increase in overheads.
As well as traditional office space, don’t overlook flexi office rental. You get all the perks of professional business space without the standard added costs of business rates etc. You also don’t get tied into a long contract, and it’s scalable. Short contracts mean you can tread cautiously if you need to, confident you can move up as soon as you’re ready.
A hidden bonus is a nearby self-storage should you need it. Very handy for business equipment or retail stock.
Maximise the Space You Have
If you’ve got acres of space to work in, you can spread out and put things wherever you like. But when you’re striving to make space work as hard as you, it pays to organise it for maximum efficiency. You can make economies on time, effort, and office or storage space when things are arranged effectively.
In the office, for instance, arrange computer desks so they’re out of the glare of the sun. If they must be near windows, fit blinds to minimise glare and consider noise and privacy if several people are working in close proximity.
Creating a floor plan can help once you’ve decided on an office to rent. You can figure out how people will move through the space, navigate furnishings and fittings, as well as generally collaborating and communicating with each other.
In the stock room, place quick or best sellers within easy reach. You can label shelves as well as containers or boxes, so you know what goes where even when the space is empty. It makes sorting and storing deliveries much quicker and helps with stock takes.
