What sort of office do you want for your new business?

Things to consider when deciding where to locate your new business

The location of your new business is an important decision. Whilst the cost will be an important factor, don’t underestimate the importance of location and what your address and the actual condition of the office say about you and your business. You should also think about your own wellbeing and that of your staff, which can be impacted by the facilities, the surroundings and the quality of the commute. Do your research now to choose an office that will work long-term and that will really enhance your working life.

Think about the cost

Your office accommodation is probably going to be one of your biggest expenses, so think about the pros and cons of your various options now.

Of course, working from home will be your cheapest option – but think of the distractions, the potential lack of space, the need for excellent IT and what you will do when you are ready to employ staff or meet with clients. On the other hand, you will save money on commuting and lunches and you may find that you like the opportunity to work at any time of the day or night!

Commercial office space is usually quite easy to find, either in the high street, in a local shopping area or in an out-of-town commercial development. These are likely to range in price and sophistication. Don’t be tempted to choose the cheapest option before you have factored in things like the cost of commuting, parking costs, maintenance, cleaning and security as well as attracting staff to work there. Remember to think about first impressions and whether you would be happy to invite clients there for meetings.

Serviced offices are designed to appeal to start-up businesses. They offer the flexibility to change the size of your office as well as a range of on-site facilities such as meeting rooms and admin services that you can dip into as required. On top of this, they’ll often include car parking, a café and maintenance, as well as state-of-the-art IT. This may seem like an extravagance when you are just starting out, but at least you will know your fixed monthly costs and there won’t be any surprise bills along the way.

A compromise could be to work from home and use the services of a virtual office, maybe simply for a more professional looking address and call answering services. You may also get the option to pay for the use of a meeting room as and when you need one, so for you that may be the best of both worlds and possibly one of the cheapest options.

Services and amenities

Are you one of those people who can fix an IT glitch in a trice, or are you more used to calling your IT department to come and help? Do you mind changing the light bulbs and cleaning the kitchen? How would you feel working late at night in a remote office? These are things you might not think to consider until they happen to you.

As well as calculating the fixed costs of the various office space options discussed above, you should also take a moment to consider your time management. Starting a business takes time and you want this time to be spent on developing your business offering and building a client base. What you don’t want to do is spend a morning on the phone trying to solve an IT problem or finding a room to rent for an event you are planning. Consider the benefits of arriving at work every morning knowing that someone is on hand to take care of these problems – which they will be if you go down the serviced office route.

Consider also what amenities are located close to your office. You may like the option of preparing your lunch yourself, but maybe sometimes you’ll want to head out to eat or just to buy a sandwich or snack. Many people like to go to the gym during the working day. These are options that many would consider standard in their working lives, and it is now up to you whether they will be part of yours.

Your surroundings

A comfortable, well-designed office space is important for your productivity and well-being. Make sure you have good lighting and heating, as well as perhaps air conditioning and the space for extra desks and storage. Check the terms and conditions of the lease to see what is included and whether you’ll be able to make any decorative changes to the space. Attractive surroundings have an impact on your mood and can subconsciously affect your attitude to your work.

Make a note of nearby businesses and check to see whether they are likely to create noise that you will hear from your prospective office. Even music from a radio can affect your ability to concentrate.

Locations

As well as comparing the costs of various locations for your office, spend some time thinking about what you like about the situation of your work. For many people, a work environment will be in a city centre because they like to feel part of the larger workforce, giving momentum and drive to their day. A town or city offers good networking opportunities, plenty of options for meeting and entertaining clients, as well as distractions for your lunch break. You’re also likely to find the best public transport in bigger towns and cities.

Others will prefer the peace and quiet offered by an out-of-town location, which might be more conducive to a productive working day. Arriving at work after a short drive may be what you need to get the day off to a good start.

Equally, being at home suits many people and, if you have the self-discipline to work on your own, it could be a great place to start. As well as being on hand for any emergencies such as unexpected childcare or a broken boiler, you’d have the flexibility to work the hours that best suit you. And home can be anywhere – sophisticated online communications give you the option of working from anywhere in the UK, or even abroad.

It all comes back to cost – and that’s why it is so important to include your office location in your business plan so that you can decide what and where is best for you and include it in your budget now.