Finding a new office is monumental to your business, but this process can be stressful. First, you need to scrutinize the new office and ensure that it meets the conditions of your requirements. For example, check the location of the office, the agreements you have to sign, and the rent amount. In addition, there are more other factors to consider before you finally decide to settle in your new office.
Here are the top nine things to consider when looking for a new commercial office.
Note: Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I receive a commission if you make a purchase. Affiliate relationships include, but are not limited to Amazon Associates, Walmart.com, and Etsy.
The Location of the Building
It's a plus when employees and clients can get to your business efficiently. Ensure that your office location is accessible by bus or subways for accessibility. In addition, since your office is as vital as the common areas that lead to it. Ensuring that your office has adequate parking space for guests and employees is essential.
Another factor when choosing the office location is flexibility. If your workforce is expanding fast, it is essential to have space to adjust to quickly. Again, this will play an indispensable role in meeting clients or providing a location for the staff to work.
Consider the weather in your area, are you in a region where it gets extremely hot? If so, be sure you have a large enough air conditioner to handle your building efficiently. Similarly, if you are in an area that has very cold winters and snow, you will want an efficient heating system. Remember you will need all the necessary winter safety equipment too, you can get the detail here, so you can deal with the snow on sidewalks and in the parking lot as well. This is very important for safety concerns, as well as to reduce fines from local municipalities.
Furthermore, you want to consider the accessibility to local amenities because you want to hire the best employees and find top talent and keep them around to have your organization run effortlessly for the long term.
Is It Easy To Keep Clean
It is important to keep things clean, so your office space should be easy to clean and maintain and have the appropriate provisions to do so. Is there a storage closet to store your own cleaning supplies, for example? Be sure you have someone willing to do the cleaning. If you don't want to worry about staffing that position yourself, you could do a search for commercial cleaning services in Mississauga (or similar services in your area) and hire it out. Then, aside from the assurance that the office will be kept clean, you wouldn't even need to worry about storage space for the cleaning items as they will often bring their own.
The Level of Competition
Competition can be challenging for businesses. For instance, some competition levels may force other companies to slow down in territorial levels. This is likely to happen where one company offers prices too low that you cannot compete with or gives discounts and offers that your company cannot match.
It is unwise to have your offices located close to your competition as a business. However, it would help if you weighed whether you could match the level of competition before choosing to settle at a place.
Then, once you are sure about the competition in the area, formulate strategies that will keep you above your competition. But, if you are uncertain about the move, consider finding a new pace that will be ideal for your business.
Office Safety and Security
Safety is crucial when you need to ensure the security of your equipment. For example, you want to be sure about the essentials that you have in your office. Therefore, when choosing an office space, do not settle for one that does not have standard security measures.
It is crucial to have your employees work in a safe and secure environment for enhanced productivity. It reduces the chances of absenteeism and boosts the productivity of your employees, further cutting the downtime of workers. Look into getting a gate security system that can be controlled remotely from wherever you go. As a manager, you want to know what is going on and whether things have been locked up after work.
Check everything before you sign any lease agreements, as these leases can be difficult to back out once you sign them. If the office has any defects, move to a new location that will save you money by not having to fix security measures.
Availability of Technology
With most businesses running their operations online, moving into an office space that cannot run remotely would be a disaster. You need an office space with an adequate internet connection, reliable electricity and a power backup system in case of blackouts.
Fast internet connections will ensure that your productivity is more secure, reliable, and robust. In addition, it will be an avenue to reduce stress since the operation will be running smoothly and give you time to focus on what matters.
Lastly, it will cut costs for your business boosting profitability. Although you may believe that having a fast internet can increase expenses, on the other hand, it will cut costs since you do not have to spend more time finding ways the organization efficiently.
Have All the Documents Ready
Renting an office space without knowing what is required can be unnecessarily expensive. Since renting is already a considerable expense for a company, you need to understand what is required before signing any documents. And if you are not sure, consider having a professional negotiating startup office space leases on your behalf to be sure that you have followed the proper procedure.
Failure to follow the proper steps can land you in costly lawsuits. If not correctly handled, the costs can run down your business and place you on the brink of closure. Therefore, have every document checked by an expert at the initial stages before signing it.
They will advise you on whether to secure the space or make adjustments to the agreement. They will also check if the building is in line with the local regulations of the state you are in.
As a result, this will save you from unnecessary trouble and will set your business for success from the start.
Environmentally Friendly Features
As organizations move towards sustainable development goals, it is vital to find a space with environmentally friendly features. A “green” office will save your organization funds to perform more critical tasks. It reduces the utility consumption since the building is energy efficient. The buildings adapt quickly to implement a sustainable measure that will help cut the cost of electricity, water, and gas services.
In addition, environmentally-friendly offices will be vital in promoting waste control. It regulates the consumption of goods, composting, and recycling waste products. Excellent waste practices have proven to offer a significant percentage in waste diversion.
Lastly, corporate organizations can sell recycled products and cut occupancy costs at their locations.
Pricing of the Office
Perhaps one of the most important things to consider in renting or leasing is the costs of an office. You want to get an office that is within your budget and will not end up breaking the bank for you. In addition, do not go for an office with the projections of what you plan to make but instead find an office based on the current potential of your business.
If you need any additional space, it will be easier to get a new spec with the premise. Still, should your business become unsustainable, it will be challenging to change an already signed lease. Therefore, find what you can easily afford without straining in the long run.
The Size of the Office
Depending on the traffic of your business and the number of employees, you want to find an office that can accommodate them comfortably. However, you don't have to look for an office space that is too large as it will increase costs. In addition, the office space shouldn't be so small that it cannot accommodate employees.
Office Style
Maintaining a company's brand requires a specific design that sets you apart from your competition. You need to have a consistent style that people can identify with to enhance your growth. In addition, when considering the style of the office, it is prudent to involve your employees. This is because the office you choose is likely to affect the morale of your employees. Let them contribute to allowing inclusivity and streamlining productivity at work. Don't just focus on your main office look, think about the kitchen, the staff room, and even the restroom. No employees will feel comfortable in a restroom that looks shabby and broken down. Think about installing new Toilet Partitions, get mixer taps, and fix any broken toilets. All of it adds up to happy and efficient employees.
Conclusion
Finding an ideal office can be challenging, but things can be simplified when you know what to do. First, do not rush through the process of finding an office space for your organization. Instead, take time to consider the location, costs, and environmentally friendly aspects.
In addition, have all the documents ready, and should you have any doubt, consider having a professional to help you interpret the lease. Then, it is clear what you need to do when looking for a new office. Adopting the steps will help streamline the operations in your organization.
Finally, consider going through the process and finding what you need, as this is a one-time process but will affect your organization for an extended period.
This is a contributed post.
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