Many people come into the business world with startup dreams, but little sense of the nuts and bolts required to start a successful business. One of the most basic requirements for a startup is an office space where you can work. Here are some of the things to look for when you are choosing an office.
Location
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Finding a good part of town to house your business is the first step to setting up a quality office. While choosing to live in less optimal neighborhoods might save you some money in the long term, the attendant problems with crime and dirty streets can make your office an unappealing or even unsafe place for your employees. Moreover, you should consider the location's access to other businesses you and your employees may need to frequent, including grocery stores, restaurants, and office supply stores.
Quality of the Facilities
If you are not building a new facility from the ground up, which will usually be the case, then your existing facility will come complete with a set of environmental and utilitarian systems, like an electrical grid and a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. While these systems will usually be sufficient for your needs, take the time to check out the limits of those systems. Make sure that your electrical is up to the demands you will place on it, and have your HVAC checked out to make sure nothing fails at a crucial moment.
Access to Workforce
A subset of the need to find a good location, access to the workforce is a key factor in choosing where you should situate your firm. Picking the right city will determine your labor pool; if you are located near a school teaching skills that your business will be using heavily, you can use that school as a pipeline for fresh employees when you are starting out. Most of the time, your employees will be willing to commute a reasonable distance for their job, but, unless you offer telecommuting or other long-distance options, a huge daily drive is a dealbreaker for many of the best employees.
Needs of Your Business
While it is great to have an ambitious growth plan when you start your own business, it is important not to overestimate the amount of space you will need. If you rent a huge office space, with a commensurately huge rental fee and utility cost, you'll find your startup cash and the early cash returns of your business quickly get swallowed up to keep up your fallow space. It is not the worst thing in the world to have a little room in your space for growth. It is probably better to sign a short-term lease if you are expecting an explosive and quick expansion.
A great location will get your new business off to an amazing start. With a little investigating, an open mind, and a creative attitude, you will certainly find many suitable options to situate your dream firm.
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