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How you feel about your workplace can have a direct impact on your and your employees’ productivity.  It therefore makes sense to do some careful thinking before you finalize where you set up your office.  As an entrepreneur you probably know that starting and running a business is not a cake-walk; it involves a lot of challenges and selecting the perfect office for your company is one of them.

Here are a few tips that will help you pick the perfect office space for your business.

 

Focus on Location

When it comes to selecting a business space, the first thing you need to consider is location.  Every entrepreneur is aware of the term “location, location, location” and its impact on a business.  Choosing the right location is imperative to your business’s success and it is perhaps one of the most important decisions an entrepreneur needs to make.  It requires proper planning and research.

Unfortunately, new entrepreneurs often overlook its importance in the throes of finding suppliers and vendors and other nitty-gritties of opening a start-up.  But ignoring the impact of location on your business can have so many repercussions.  For example, a wrong location can cost you employees or clients.  It must be convenient to access; something right at the heart of the city is highly preferred.  If not, make sure it is well connected via public transport.

Location should therefore be the priority of your to-do list.  And while you are at it, there are a few things you need to consider.  These include looking at demographics, scoping the competition, assessing supply chain, understanding state laws and taxes, staying on budget, and so on.

You need to consider the following questions when selecting the perfect location for your office:

• How easy the location is for your employees to get to and from work?
• Do you need something close to your clients?
• How good are the transport connections of the area?
• What about the neighbors?  What kind of businesses do they run?
• Does the location provide options for multiple parking?
• How safe is the locality?
• What about property taxes?

 

Choose the Right Building

Having the right commercial neighborhood is not enough.  You also need to select the right building to create the ideal office space.  It must be an attractive place for clients to visit and a pleasant space for your employees to work in.  In short, your office space must meet both aesthetic and functional requirements.

The building should therefore be well-maintained and attractive, apart from being in a safe and secure neighborhood.  Also, make sure if the building is resistant to earthquake damages and safer to be in during such calamities.  These days, most residential and commercial construction contractors use geotechnical engineering to reduce risks arising from natural hazards.

Once you are sure that the building is safe and secure enough for you and your employees, the next thing you need to focus on is how much space it offers.  It must be large enough to meet your business needs and then some more. In addition, make sure that the building is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant.

Besides, the office space must be scalable.  There must be enough room to increase or decrease the size seamlessly.  Just the way it is not recommended to be crammed into a small space, there is no point in paying for under-utilised space.  Opt for a commercial building that allows you to downsize the space or expand it, as and when required.

When you are determining the scalability of the office space, do consider future needs as well.  New entrepreneurs often commit this mistake.  They only consider the immediate needs, overlooking the fact that future growths and other factors are likely to change their space requirements.

Additionally, ensure that the building has adequate parking space for your employees and clients.  Facilities that offer added amenities such as after-hours access and round-the-clock security are better options when it comes to selecting office space.

 

Consider the Layout

The choices are practically endless when it comes to office layout, ranging from standard office cubicles and hot-desks to more relaxed open-plan warehouse.  However, there are certain considerations you need to keep in mind while giving your office its final shape.

Most of these considerations are based on your current and future plans.  Here are a few questions you need to ask yourself:

• How do you want it – furnished or unfurnished?
• If you have office furnishings, will they fit?
• Can the space accommodate your equipment and infrastructure?
• What about meeting or conference rooms?
• Is there enough room for kitchens and toilets?

Small space and congested layout affects productivity; so calculate your space requirements realistically, keeping in mind the square footage you need for cubicles, furniture and equipment.  One good way to do this is by creating a layout with newspapers.  Measure the newspapers to scale and tape them together, replicating your furnishings. Now, fit it into the chosen space and make sure there is some room to spare so that the place doesn’t look too congested.

When deciding the layout of your office, consider the potential cost of fit out, maintenance and improvements, if any.

 

How Affordable is the Space

Chances are, you already have a budget for your office space and are well versed with all the costs involved, the likes of which include data usage costs, utility bills, service charges, and IT infrastructure costs.

Make sure the office space is well within your budget; in fact, there are ways to minimise your expenditure.  The popularity of co-working spaces and shared workspaces is increasing.  These options allow you to rent desk space and shared facilities at relatively inexpensive rates and are ideal for small businesses.

If you don’t want to share space, there are still ways to reduce your costs.  For example, lease office space rather than buy one or opt for lower floors that come without the views as they are considerably cheaper.  Additionally, you can lease office equipment to further reduce the costs.

 

Conclusion

These tips mentioned here will help you choose the right office space for your business.  However, you should do your research properly.  Remember that your office space will affect your core competencies and therefore it must be a pleasant place for both your employees and clients, irrespective of the kind of business you have.

 

Lori Wagoner is associated with hbresidential.com, a leading geotechnical contractor.  She is a thought leader in home improvement, looking to build up her authority as a blogger.  Feel free to follow her on Google+.