Designing an office on a budget can feel like an impossible task. Office furniture, computers, servers, break rooms, decor – it tends to add up. New businesses, in particular, struggle with designing the perfect office that will attract top talent for this very reason.
Patience is always the best policy in these cases. If you take your time and continue to invest in your office environment, you will be able to build a stunning place to work in over time. Ongoing improvement is often all a new hire needs to be happy with a space, even if it lacks in design and excitement in the beginning.
Getting it right takes time, but getting your office up and running will require you to follow these fiv steps:
1. Set a Realistic Budget
The first thing is, you need to be realistic about what it will cost. Having a budget is great, but if it could never feasibly afford even the most threadbare of offices, then it isn’t actually a budget, just a fantasy. Look into what it costs on average to kit out an office with, however, many employees you need when you first launch. Work with that as your starting line, especially when sourcing funding.
2. Design Your Ultimate Office Space
Though you won’t be able to afford it all right off the bat, there should be nothing stopping you from designing your office space for the future. Think of this as a smart blueprint that you can use to advertise to new hires or clients.
3. Choose Used or Refurbished Furniture
A great way to save on office furniture is to opt for used or remanufactured/refurbished choices. This a great way to get the best office furniture Villa Park has available at a fraction of the cost. When going through a professional seller, you can also enjoy a guarantee in quality, which you wouldn’t be able to get from job lots or private online sellers.
4. Invest in the Right Electronic Equipment
Computers and phones can also be purchased used, but you want to be very careful. Only opt for certified products that have been tested to work, and ideally, if you can just buy new. New products typically have guarantees that will be invaluable to you in your first few years running the business.
It is also a good idea to try to opt for digital options over hardware when possible. From VoIP services to Cloud-based computing – these alternatives are ideal for businesses on a budget and help you avoid the high cost of maintenance.
5. Have a List for the Future
With that blueprint in hand, create a list of items you want to buy in the future in order of importance. This way you can keep the ball moving on your office design, but still, launch with the absolute bare minimum. This tip is ideal for businesses who want to be smarter with their money, as it allows them to grow in the most organic, effective way possible.
