If you have, a business or start up one of the most important decisions you will make is where to locate your office. An office is more than just somewhere to put your desk and store your files.
It may start out that way, but eventually that is likely to change and your office will evolve to be your storefront. You will hold meetings there with both potential and existing customers. This means that it is unwise to rent the first office you find. It is well worth taking a bit of time to consider what you will need from your office both now, and in the future, and look for premises that meet those requirements.
Location is Important
It is important to look for office premises that are easy to get to. An office near a train station is ideal, but these can work out expensive, so one on a bus route may be more viable.
However, also bear in mind that most people will use a car to visit your office. This means that parking is another consideration. You need not look for an office with its own parking, but should at least look for an office with either on street parking or a car park nearby.
Your office needs to make a good impression on potential customers. This means looking for an office that is in a well-maintained neighbourhood.
If you sell a product or service that dovetails with other products and services, you can potentially draw people in by choosing your location carefully. For example, if you rent out cars, an office in an airport or other transport hub makes sense. You can pick up extra customers by choosing a location like this.
Overheads
It is well worth thinking about how much your office is going to cost to run. There is more to consider than just the rent. It is important to find out how much your business rates will be. You should also take account of bills like cleaning and services like the internet. Some offices include all of this in their rent.