We spend long hours at work and where we do our work can affect the quantity and quality of work that is produced there. Solopreneur consultants often brag about our ability to work from home, the coffee shop, the library, or the hammock, but these environments can bring many distractions that have the potential to divert concentration or creativity. Also, neither is a suitable place to invite an A-list client for a meeting.
If your goal is to attract big-budget clients, you need to communicate your team’s ability to deliver complex and sophisticated services and instill confidence in those you ask to hire. That will almost certainly mean hiring a good office space.
Your office is an extension of your brand and should represent you well. If you’ve decided that an out-of-home office space is now necessary, read on for a basic overview of typical B2B commercial rental possibilities that could align with your needs and budget. For information specific to your requirements, consult a commercial real estate agent who has in-depth knowledge of the B2B office market in your location. In addition, you can benefit from the services of an office planning specialist.
Co-working space
This is often the first place that entrepreneurs and individual entrepreneurs consider when it’s time to move from a makeshift office to a formal one. Think of the co-working office space like living with roommates. Layouts vary, but you will have a dedicated workspace that provides a degree of privacy.
In addition to its discreet work area, all other spaces are common and the amenities are shared. You will share resources such as a photocopier, a scanner, and a conference room equipped with basic audiovisual equipment. There will probably be a kitchen, stocked with at least a coffee maker, microwave, and refrigerator.
Many coworking spaces are unique to a particular industry (often high-tech). They are designed to encourage networking and referral creation, because they are populated by small operators.
Privacy can be a challenge, however, because there are so many things outdoors, including perhaps your desk area. Highly confidential meetings may need to be held in a coffee shop, ironically, where anonymity can work to your advantage.
Shared prestige
Some coworking spaces are in luxury office buildings that have lost a large customer and therefore the building owners make up for the lost income by renting to those looking for a fancy office for a limited number of hours each month, primarily when they would like. impress a client or prospect. Office share is a more accurate description of this fix.
There is usually a receptionist on site to receive your appointments and inform you of your arrival. There will be a conference room available that tenants can reserve for larger meetings. There will be a suitable office with a door, which will give privacy. You’ll have a great kitchen, high-end copier, and other standard office amenities. The receptionist can also answer your office landline and divert calls to you, which you can return at any time. If configured correctly, no one will know that you are only renting one share.
Private office
A traditional office suite, even in a small space, is a huge financial commitment. Commercial leases typically last three years and are difficult to break. You must have great confidence in your projected income.
Think carefully about staffing needs to determine the square footage you will rent. Do you anticipate hiring an administrative assistant and others to work with you in any capacity? There must be space to accommodate them. Whether everyone is likely to be in the office simultaneously is another consideration, but each will need a dedicated permanent space.
Your staff may require different styles of workstations, depending on what they do. The size of the desks and the style of the chairs will also be important. Ergonomics count, since its use reduces the risk of developing back and neck pain and promotes productivity.
Finally, there is the floor plan to visualize. Open plans are popular, but the office cubicle provides more privacy. Will you, the boss, have a private office or will the open plan include you as well, communicating that you are a team player?
Thank you for reading,
Kim