Things to Think About When Choosing an Office Space

Have you recently started your own small business and are ready to take the next step? Perhaps your current business premises is too small (or too big) and you’re looking for the better solution that is more tailored to your needs? Whatever it is, finding a new office space is no mean feat. It’s a big decision that has a rolling impact on your employees and how your business operates. 

There is a lot to think about, so to help you, we’ve created this handy guide.

Property Type 

The first thing you need to think about is the property type and what it’s licensed for. Make sure you aren’t renting a single office room in a converted residential property that doesn’t have the relevant license to be used as a commercial space. This could come back to bite you and your business may be held liable, so make sure you pay attention to the small details. 

In addition to this, it’s important that you don’t abuse the license you’re given. Times are tough for every business and you might be tempted to hire a space you can live in to save money, but when it comes to if you can rent office space and live in it, the answer is no. Ensure you’re clear on the property licenses and do not abuse them. Doing so could result in a hefty fine and some legal action. 

Property Location 

The next think you need to think about is where your business is. Comprises have to be made, but make sure the location isn’t sacrificed needlessly. If you’re a consumer facing business, you want to be in a hotspot for customers, so somewhere central and easy to get to is essential. On the other hand, if you’re industrial or office based and rarely have visitors, it’s not so much of a priority to be in the middle of the action. 

Facilities 

This one sounds obvious, but it’s actually commonly overlooked. As mentioned, compromises need to be made when it comes to renting an office, but there are certain things you should designate as non-negotiable. One thing that should be top of your agenda is parking. You need to ensure you have enough space for all of your employees to park in, and you also need to make sure there’s enough space for visitors, too. 

Another think you need to think about is storage space, meeting space, toilets and a kitchen area. You may compromise on one meeting room to make way for a bigger break out area, or you might decide that your staff don’t use a breakout area quite as much and therefore it can be swapped for more storage which is a higher priority for you. 

Long Term Plans 

An office space is a big commitment and moving to a new space is not ideal, neither from a moving perspective or from a customer/client perspective. For this reason, you need to think long-term. Is your business currently growing at a rapid rate and is likely to continue expanding? If so, it’s worth getting a space you can grow into. You might not use it all immediately, but when the time does come, you’ll have the infrastructure in place so that you don’t have to worry about finding a new place and uprooting everything. 

On the other hand, if you’re looking to overhaul your business model and move to a working from home model, you might choose to rent a smaller space to reflect your new way of working post-Covid. 

Summary 

It’s not a simple process to find a new office space, but we hope these tips will help you find the best solution first time round.