There is a lot to consider when setting up a business. You have to make many important decisions as you go along.
One of the most important of these is where to locate your business. Whether you are looking for commercial property in Wimbledon or office space in central London the tips below will help you find the right business premises.
Reputation
These days, the image of your company is very important. The majority of consumers like to purchase products and services from companies that they believe they can trust.
If you base your company in a shady area, you can expect people to be wary of doing business with you. It is far better to pay a bit more and move just a few streets over to work out of somewhere that has a better reputation.
Ease of access
You need your customers to be able to reach you easily. Therefore, it is important to locate yourself in an area with good transport connections. If people are going to need a car to reach you make sure that there is adequate parking available.
Even if you run the kind of company where face-to-face contact with customers is not essential, ease of access is still important. You still need to be located somewhere that is easy for your staff and suppliers to reach. Numerous studies show that being located in a good area with an easy commute is vital for retaining good staff.
Practical for you
If you are juggling looking after your family while running a business you also need to think about how practical the location will be for you personally. There is no point in locating your company miles away from where you live if it means a long commute for you.
It is far better to look for a somewhere nearer home. In the long term, you will save yourself a lot of time by doing so. It will make getting to and from work less stressful and help you to be flexible. Additionally, you may also have to consider practical requirements like on-site security, burglar alarm, and access control to secure the premises and keep professional data safe. So, choose a site for your business in a protected area, closer to home, and at an affordable price.
Condition of the property
When establishing a business, you can either look for a shared commercial property where you get to rent cabins and office spaces or purchase a commercial property so as to set up your business exclusively. Depending on the type of office you choose, you will have to ensure that it’s in a good condition for your business to operate effectively.
If you are renting a shared space, you may not have to worry about property management and basic utility expenses since those could be taken care of by the landlord or property manager. As for the owned commercial property, you may have to go through the basic property inspection to ensure there is no damage to the infrastructure that will cause problems later. And if a problem arises, you will have to get it resolved as soon as possible. For instance, if you see that the office roof is in a bad state, then you may have to contact a Roofing contractor in Denver, XO, or elsewhere for commercial roof repair services. The same goes for other property repairs and renovations, including walls, HVAC, plumbing, and other structural and utility needs. If you are not able to find a commercial roofing expert or HVAC professional to help you with repairs, then you could be looking at a shut down or delay in output, so always check your building and call someone as soon as possible if you notice an issue.
Keep in mind that owning a commercial property could benefit your business to establish its identity and portray itself as an up-and-coming brand; whereas a rental shared office can work for small businesses with limited assets to invest.
Room to expand
We all hope our business will take off and grow. Therefore, it makes sense to choose business premises with enough space to allow you to expand when you are ready to do so.
For instance, imagine needing more workstations as your team grows, or areas dedicated to departments like customer service or research and development. These expansions often mean making structural changes or renovations, which might also necessitate bringing in a skilled general contractor to get the job done properly. So, when selecting your business space, it’s wise to ensure there’s ample room to accommodate these potential needs down the road.
Value for money
Naturally, all of the above is important, but so is value for money. To be competitive, you need to keep your overheads as low as possible. That includes the cost of running your business premises.
It makes sense to take the time to shop around and way up the pros and cons of each site including the terms of the lease. Sometimes you will need to compromise to find affordable premises, but that is better than putting the financial future of your company at risk by leasing offices you really cannot afford.