Would you like to find the perfect base for your growing business? To help you, here are five things to consider when choosing your office space: 

The Lease

The lease on an office is incredibly important because it dictates how long you need to pay for the space. If you are a startup, SME, or solopreneur, it is especially important to lean away from long leases. These could put your fluctuating cash flow under strain.

A helpful alternative could be serviced office suites which offer flexible monthly contracts. Plus you get various other benefits like furnishing, cleaning, and other included services such as free wi-fi. 

The Overall Cost

The cost of an office is influenced by many factors, including: 

• Length of lease (longer lease tends to come with lower monthly costs)
• Inclusions (energy bills, cleaning, internet connection, and other services)
• Size
• Location
• Quality
• Whether it’s furnished or unfurnished
• Market availability 

By understanding what your priorities are, you can develop a clear and realistic budget. If you have to be easily reachable by a certain demographic in your city, then location will more important than any other factor. However, if you also have a very tight budget, you can probably get a good unfurnished office deal and save money on storage, furniture, and other trimmings by stocking up on second-hand furniture and using self-storage. 

Understanding your budget and priorities will help you search for achievable office spaces. Hopefully saving you time browsing places that simply cannot work for your business. 

Location, Location, Location

These days, three-quarters of professionals have an expectation that remote work will become a standard offering from employers. However, if you’re looking for a physical office, chances are that not everybody in your business can work from home, at least not all of the time. 

If you expect to have a lot of clients visiting, or if you have multiple staff members, it is helpful to position yourself near easy parking or public transportation. You may also wish to position yourself around like-minded businesses or people. This will enable your business to merge into the culture. Whilst also allowing you to network with potential connections and peers. 

The Available Amenities

Many office spaces come with some pretty fantastic benefits. These can include access to a gym or cool breakout areas, and even cute gardens and bicycle parking. These kinds of facilities can make office life more enjoyable. Which in turn, this should increase your appeal to high-quality candidates. Sure, employees rate great insurance, flexible hours, and more vacation time over free coffee, snacks, and an on-site gym, but every little bit helps! 

The Size of the Office Space

If your business size is fluctuating, it is worth choosing a flexible office option that allows you to upgrade or downsize as needed. 

If you’re only getting a bigger size for things like filing cabinets, try going paperless and limiting your contribution to the 26% of landfill created by paper and cardboard waste annually. 

Businesses that have stock to store may wish to consider self-storage and a serviced office space. That way, you can move around easily, and you’re not paying for dead space to store your assets if you go through a slow period. 

Are You Ready To Go Office Shopping? 

The right office space is important for any entrepreneur seeking a secure, affordable base from which to grow a fantastic business. By following the tips above and doing your research, you can find the perfect office space to nurture your venture to success.