| Moving into an office is a big step when you run a | | | | expensive. |
| small business or start-up, and finding the right | | | | Being close to customers is essential for certain |
| premises in the right location and at the right price | | | | businesses coupled with the ability to meet clients |
| is a daunting task. Get it right, and your office | | | | in an impressive surrounding, so choosing the right |
| premises will help you improve productivity, | | | | building can take time and it is worth considering |
| attract and retain good employees and give a | | | | carefully what sort of address you want. |
| positive impression to your customers. But get it | | | | Certain areas are associated with certain sectors |
| wrong, and you could be left tied into a costly | | | | so if you're a media company you would probably |
| lease with premises that might not suit your | | | | consider Soho versus a niche hedge fund that |
| needs in the future. Philip Dodson, of Office Planet | | | | would look at St James's or Mayfair. |
| explains what businesses need to do to find the | | | | To attract employees for your business, the best |
| right office space to meet their requirements. | | | | location is to be close to good public transport |
| What Type Of Office Do You Need? | | | | links. In addition, being close to nearby shops and |
| Before you start the search for your office, you | | | | facilities will help to improve employee morale. |
| really need to know what type of property will be | | | | If your business needs to take a lot of deliveries, |
| suitable for your needs. | | | | then you may need to be positioned close to |
| A virtual office solution will provide you with a | | | | good road and motorway links so that your |
| total office experience without having to physically | | | | suppliers can deliver a quick and flexible service. |
| lease office space. A virtual office package will | | | | Finally, with most things in life you get what you |
| typically provide your business with the use of a | | | | pay for in terms of locations, hence the better |
| business address, personalised telephone | | | | the location the higher the rent will be. |
| answering, post handling and forwarding and in | | | | Know Your Requirements |
| some circumstances the use of private offices | | | | Before you can start searching for your business |
| and boardrooms on an ad hoc basis. | | | | premise, you should list all your requirements so |
| The next type, serviced offices are extremely | | | | you are clear on the priorities that your office |
| attractive to new start-ups as a first office or | | | | space needs to provide. |
| companies that want flexibility in a professional | | | | Some key requirements you may consider, |
| environment. Whether you need to move in for a | | | | include:o How many people do you need to |
| day, a month or a year, serviced offices can be | | | | accommodateo What are your likely growth |
| leased on a short term basis and as there is no | | | | planso How do you occupy the space - individual |
| capital expenditure required, it's a low risk | | | | offices or open plano What meeting facilities will |
| arrangement for your business. | | | | you needo Size and layout of the premiseso |
| There are a range of services that your business | | | | Structure and appearance, both internally and |
| will be able to benefit from in leasing a serviced | | | | from the outsideo Any special structural |
| office solution, typically these include:o Semi or | | | | requirements, such as high ceilings, wooden |
| fully furnished officeso Access to sophisticated | | | | floorso Facilities and comfort for employees and |
| telecoms and voice mail systemso CAT 5 cablingo | | | | visitors - e.g. lighting, toilets and kitchen facilitieso |
| A variety of broadband solutions on terms to | | | | Permission; including planning permission, to use the |
| suito Reception with customised telephone | | | | premises for your kind of businesso Access and |
| answeringo Secretarial support if requiredo | | | | parking space - e.g. for deliveries or customers, |
| Meeting rooms and boardroomso Kitchens and | | | | including disabled customerso Whether you need |
| possibly catering serviceso Mail franking and | | | | the flexibility to alter or expand the premiseso |
| collectiono Fax and photocopyingo Office cleaningo | | | | Whether the premises are suitable for your |
| Car-parking | | | | long-term needs or just for the short-term |
| In a serviced office, your business will also benefit | | | | If your requirements are too specific, you may |
| from access to more prestigious addresses and | | | | find that your choice of premises is very limited |
| better communications technology than you could | | | | or you cannot afford them. It's worth thinking |
| possibly afford alone. The growth of your | | | | which requirements are essential and which are |
| business can be easily accommodated - by taking | | | | merely desirable, and prioritising them accordingly. |
| over extra office suites as you take on more | | | | Starting Your Search |
| staff, and thus effectively managing change within | | | | Having decided on what type of office solution will |
| your business as and when it occurs. | | | | meet your needs it is now time to start your |
| The final type of business premises you might | | | | search. Before you set off, calculate your budget |
| want to consider is a conventional office solution. | | | | including one off costs for items such as furniture |
| If your office needs to accommodate 25 or more | | | | and IT equipment as well as ongoing costs like |
| employees or you're fairly certain of your | | | | rates and service charges. |
| business's likely growth over the next few years, | | | | There are many ways to find potential office |
| then renting a leased office might be the best | | | | space for your business, one place you might like |
| solution. Whilst it is likely to be a major financial | | | | to start is Office Planet provides a free office |
| commitment for any small business, and a | | | | finding service by uniquely showcasing real time |
| decision we recommend not to be made without | | | | availability of both conventional and serviced office |
| professional advice, conventional office space will | | | | space. You can search through a database of |
| give you a more competitive cost per desk rate | | | | available properties and create a shortlist of |
| for larger requirements and the opportunity to | | | | solutions that meet your needs or simply call an |
| customise your office space to match your | | | | advisor at Office Planet who will be able to offer |
| business's corporate image. | | | | you advice. |
| The Right Location | | | | It is important, whatever your budget, location or |
| Knowing what type of property you need for | | | | type of space you want, to seek proper |
| your business is just the beginning. Equally | | | | professional advice. If you sign a five-year or |
| important is finding the right location so that your | | | | longer lease without having assessed everything |
| business is convenient for your customers, | | | | properly it could cost your company dearly over |
| employees and suppliers - without being too | | | | the course of that lease. |