5 Considerations Before Moving from Your Home Office
Having the security of working from your home office when you initially start your small business gives you peace of mind and allows you to focus on growing the bottom line before having the additional expense of leasing an office. As time goes by though you will more than likely outgrow your home office. Here's some considerations for you before you take the plunge:
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1. Review your finances
Usually the biggest obstacle for someone moving from their home office is cost, so you need to make sure that the move is affordable. Therefore it's important to ensure you've taken into consideration all the costs of moving to a commercial office building as well as the ongoing costs of renting an office in order to weigh this up against your revenue and budget. -
2. Weigh up your options
The move from a home office to a professional space doesn't have to be a huge leap. You can start with just a few days a week hotdesking in a daily office option or a small furnished private office until you feel comfortable to make the move full time. -
3. Location
Whilst you may not want your new office to be right next door to home, you also don't want to create a commuting nightmare for yourself. Make sure you choose a location that is close to home and your other commitments outside of work so you can create a good work/life balance. It's also important to choose a location that is central and easily accessible for your clients. -
4. Price & Size
When conducting your office search it's easy to get carried away with wanting larger space than you may need, or to compare the size of your home office with what you would get in a commercial building. Consider the office layout and facilities within the building that you may be able to use on a user pay basis as opposed to needing to include the additional facilities within your office i.e meeting space and communal meal areas - you need to find the right balance between what you can afford and what you are happy with. -
5. Don't over commit
When signing up for a new office, don't feel pressured to sign on for a lengthy contract, or take a larger office "just in case" you decide to expand. A selection of fully furnished office providers allow you to sign on for very flexible lease terms that also provide you the option to upgrade as your business grows without the hefty fees.