As regular readers of our blog will know, we love the home office environment. You can save your business a serious wedge of money, and it can help you lead the perfect lifestyle with an excellent work life balance.
That said, there may be a time in the future when your business grows to a point where it just isn’t possible to work from home anymore. Lack of space, the need for extra staff – the list is an endless one. So, we appreciate that at some point in time, you may decide to move out of the home office and into a commercial property.
This guide, then, is for anyone thinking about making the switch. Here’s everything you need to know about the common problems with moving out from your home office.
Space
Be careful about judging the amount of space you will need when you move offices. In simple terms, every extra square yard is going to cost you. Clearly, you will need to be careful about the impact those costs are going to have on your business. Given that your office expenses have been nonexistent at home, you are going to be in for a nasty surprise, no matter how cheap your rent or mortgage. So, ensure you choose the perfect size office for the number of staff you employ, and you should be able to minimise the impact.
Location
The location you choose will also be important for your business. If you are in the ecommerce business, for example, you may need to move because of a lack of space. But, you should also consider the traffic routes to and from your new premises. If your offices are out of the way, it might be harder to get the same rates as you were doing from home. On the other hand, these extra expenses might dwarf those from renting from a more central location. Somewhere in between, there should be a sweet spot that you need to aim towards.
Services
Don’t forget that the moment you have a commercial office, your list of responsibilities will increase tenfold. Health and safety issues for employees are going to need looking into, which will involve safety testing and teaching. If you own your property, you will also have to pay for regular servicing. It can include everything from air conditioning to a lighting maintenance service. It is vital to have all these things set up before you make your switch so that you are safe and ready for anything from the word go.
Travel time
It won’t be long after moving out of your home office that you realise why so many people are angry about rush hour traffic. It can take a considerable chunk out of your day that you have never experienced before. It is essential that before moving, you allow for the many delays that are typical for anyone travelling to work. You should also look into working out secondary – or tertiary – routes in the event of traffic jams or public transport failures.
We hope this has highlighted some of the common issues with moving out of your business out of the home and into a commercial office space. Let us know your thoughts and experiences!
