If you’ve recently launched a new startup, you’ll be in the market for office space. Choosing the right office space is essential, and incredibly important to your business. Your choice will have a number of effects on your company, including day to day operations and your staff morale.
You should also consider your brand image carefully when selecting a new office, as it does portray a certain image of your company. There are a number of things that could affect the office space that you choose. Here are some of the most important.
Location
Location is paramount when it comes to choosing office space for your business. When considering different offices, it’s important that you consider the ease of travel to the office location for both clients and employees. If it ticks both these boxes, you’re well on your way to choosing a good workplace.
You should also take into consideration the area around your office and what it has to offer. The more that there is nearby to keep your clients and employees happy such as a gym, places to eat, and shopping opportunities, the better.
Parking is also important – ideally, the office should have its own parking facilities. If not don’t rule it out, there are options such as www.yourparkingspace.co.uk where you can lease additional staff parking.
Price
The monthly rental cost of your office space will probably be the most important factor for a startup. With a startup business it is important to keep costs low, so finding an office that fits in with your current budget is essential.
Even if your budget is quite low, you can always upgrade your office when your business is making a higher turnover of profit and is more established. As well as asking about the rental payments, you should also consider any hidden costs, such as parking costs or maintenance costs.
Also, don’t forget to factor in business rates. Many start-up businesses neglect these and are then hit with a hefty monthly bill that they weren’t expecting.
A cheaper option worth considering for many start-up businesses is www.deskcamping.com as you only pay for the desks that you require and you’re not tied into any long contracts.
Size
The size of the office space that you require will depend entirely on the amount of employees that you have and the storage space that you need. Ideally, an office should have seventy square feet worth of space per person, although you may find that your employees will need more space depending on their individual needs or needs regarding storing belongings.
There’s also the issue of meeting rooms and rest space, and you should ensure that the office has a dedicated area where you can meet with clients or conduct job interviews.
If there are no meeting room facilities then you can look for nearby meeting rooms on www.sharedesk.net, but keep the travel time in mind – travelling to your own meeting room can be time consuming.
Related: How to Choose the Right Office Space for Your New Startup
Style
Although this may be the least important of the factors mentioned, style should still be taken into consideration when selecting a new office space, especially if you’d like your business to become recognised as a brand.
A stylish office can be a great branding tool, so it’s a good idea to look for an office space where you’ll be allowed to redecorate and change the style to be in line with your brand. The website www.workdesign.com is a good place to check out for inspiration.
Which factors influenced your choice of office space? Would you like to add any more to this list for other startup business owners to consider? We’d love to hear from you – leave your response in the comments below.