What Type Of Office Space Do I Need?

As a startup, choosing your office space is a big commitment. A lot of entrepreneurs face this challenge in the early days. They must decide whether to graduate out from the bedroom, and hire the first few employees! It’s a tricky decision, and there lots of options on the table. An office space can really take your business to the next level. It’s a great way to get your workers in the same room, brainstorming new concepts. It’s also a professional way to introduce new clients and investors to your company.

Of course, there are pitfalls here too. Investing in your first office means increasing your outgoings and overheads significantly. Your bills will skyrocket, with rent and energy bills adding to your monthly cost sheet. But, for many, it’s a necessary byproduct of scaling up. If you’re going to create a multi-million dollar company, investing in professional office space is essential. Today, we’re looking at the various options out there for you and your business.

Open plan office

There is still some debate about how office space influences productivity. For some, the open plan layout encourages the most productive and effective workflow. It fosters an environment of collaboration and discussion. When it comes to office space, it all depends on the nature of your company. If you’re a forward-thinking tech business, open plan offices are a great way to inspire new ideas and concepts. It’s great for group planning and bouncing ideas off one another. Of course, some employees will need their own space to get down to work, so make sure you provide that too.

Separate rooms

While open plan offices work for some companies, they aren’t ideal for others. A lot of people don’t enjoy the environment in an open plan space. It’s loud, distracting, and forces a certain type of work ethic. Not everyone works best in groups. In fact, productive work often requires long periods of solitude. Sometimes, your employees need to get their head down, and get on with the job at hand. With that in mind, separate rooms are often the best way forward.

Virtual office

If you’re still unsure about taking the big leap, you can settle for a halfway house. As you know, you can only use your home address for a certain amount of time. When you hit a certain income level, you need a registered, professional office space. Now, you can have this without paying over the top for full office space. By hiring a virtual office, you’ll get a POBox address, and even a dedicated telephone answer system. It will collect your mail, and forward your calls.

Telecommuting

Sometimes, your business finances simply can’t justify a full office space. Another solution is hiring meeting rooms for just one or two days per week. For the other days, you and your workers can telecommute from home. Your business can be as flexible as you need it to be.

Moving into your own office space is a big leap forward for your small company. Are you ready for it?