It really does not matter what type of firm you run, where you base yourself is an important decision. The location of your office has a big impact on the image of your company. Therefore, it makes sense to take your time when looking for offices and do your research carefully.
Affordable
The first step is to establish a budget. Doing so will help you to narrow down your options and make sure you do not end up overstretching yourself financially.
Identify the needs of your business carefully
The next step is to list out what facilities your company needs both now, and in the near future. Taking this approach will avoid your having to move again after just a couple of years.
Moving is expensive, and very disruptive. Every time you move your business, you run the risk of key staff leaving, and losing long-term clients.
A good business address
Your business image is important, so you need to do everything you can to protect and reinforce it. Locating yourself in a rough part of town, because the rents are low, is never a good idea. Existing clients will not want to visit your offices and potential customers may be put off trying out your products and services.
Choose a well-maintained building
You also need to look carefully at the building before signing the lease. It is important that it is well maintained and not shabby.
This is partly about protecting your business image, but also because a tatty exterior is a warning sign of other issues. In a building like this, it is unlikely that the offices will be kept properly cleaned and maintained. If the management cannot be bothered to cut the grass outside, they are not likely to change flickering lights and make sure that the photocopiers and phones are fixed quickly.
Basing yourself in a building that has seen better days will also make it harder for you to recruit the right people. Most professionals expect to work in a light, airy office that is kept to a high standard.
Studies show that a well-ventilated, properly lit office improves productivity and staff retention, so the way a workspace looks and feels has a big impact on how successful a company is.
An example of an ideal location for your offices
If you are looking for office space Heathrow is the sort of area you should start your search. It is right on the doorstep of an international airport, and has a great transport network. You have access to a huge customer base because there are thousands of other firms based in the area.
Finding and retaining skilled staff is relatively easy. It is easy to get to and there are good facilities for your employees to enjoy during lunch and after work.
The fact that there is so much commercial space available here means that there is a lot of competition. This helps to keep standards high, and prices at affordable levels.
It really is worth taking the time to do your research. Doing so will ensure that you find the right office accommodation at a good price.
