Finding an office or business premises from where you will control your operations might seem like an easy thing to do until you finally get into it or realise that you chose a property which does not fit in with your requirements. Of course, you can avoid frustration by planning accordingly and doing some research on how to get through. Read on for tips which will get you driving the nail home with the first try.
Go for an Appropriately Sized Space
It is agreeable that your business has the potential to grow but does it mean you should rent space for 100 when you only have 10 employees? Of course not. You only need to go for what you need at the moment. If you’re a startup, start by renting small office space and watch how the business grows. Given that it is not possible to make predictions on how your business will grow, you might rent a large space and then wait for a long period before your venture gains roots. Besides, the bigger an office is, the more you pay for it which would not be feasible if it is not fully utilised.
However, you shouldn’t also focus only on hunting for the cheapest options because this can mean suffering the quality of your office space. Remember that a poor workplace doesn’t only give poor impressions on your guests but will also affect your productivity negatively.
Consider Location
An appropriate location for your business premises depends on the industry that you’re in. If it is an Internet startup, you do not need to set up premises in a town centre. On the contrary, you need a location with high footfall if you plan to open a retail outfit. In simple words, a convenient location is that which is close or easily accessible to your customers.
Work on a Budget
It is very important that you stick to your budget while shopping for office space. If you go for space which is way too expensive, your business might end up crumbling even while you make considerable proceeds. Of course, you would want to create the impression of a prosperous business to your customers but consider upgrading as you grow instead of starting off at the top.
To get the best priced option, compare several of them. It is possible to do it independently but hiring an agent is recommendable. As part of their jobs, agents are beneficial in that they can help you find properties which are not listed on advertisement directories. You see, commercial estate agents in London from Saracen Interiors are the right people to work with for this task to ensure that you get the best results possible. We can help you every step of the way, from finding a property to furnishing it.
In addition to rent, find out about other costs before closing a deal on a property. These include water, power, gas and other utilities. It is very rare that property owners will pay for these utilities out of your rent. To avoid being ripped off, check for hidden costs which are neither part of rent nor utilities.
Choose between a Lease and a License
There are two basic forms of agreements which could be signed by a property manager and one who intends to occupy it. A license agreement best suits small firms that have plans to upgrade since it allows you to vacate or terminate on short notice. On the other hand, leases require long-term commitments from occupiers and are hence best suited for businesses which are well established.
Finally, property managers have different rules defining what you should and should not do with the rented property, so make sure to check on those rules beforehand. For instance, some managers allow you to remodel your interior while others forbid it. In this light, differ from properties with rules that don’t agree well with your requirements.