On the whole, business owners and startup founders view growth as an unalloyed good. Yet, it comes with predictable problems, including a physical space crunch. Even space management best practices can only keep you ahead of that problem for so long. Continued growth will eventually force you into a business move. So, how do you best plan and organize that business move when the time comes?
Establish a Timeline
Much like moving from one home to another doesn’t happen overnight, neither will moving your business. In fact, moving your business may take even longer because you need to minimize disruption to operations. Small businesses planning a local move to a larger space often need upwards of three months of lead time. Larger businesses may need as much as eight months.
Evaluate the Costs
Any move incurs a wide range of costs, chief among them the new physical space itself. Depending on your business, you may find that getting a right-sized space at the right price means a cross-country move to take advantage of tax incentive programs or other economic development programs. Smaller retail or service businesses may find themselves struggling with the problem of proximity to customers versus affordable space. Look for a location that balances the needs of your business with the needs of your customers.
Consider Attrition and Recruiting
A local move might seem like something that won’t affect your staffing, but don’t be so sure. If you move from one side of a major city to the other side, you should expect some attrition. Some employees won’t want the hassle of the longer commute. Employees on the lower end of the pay scale, such as receptionists, might view a long daily commute as too expensive. Moving your business to another part of the country will mean a huge loss of current employees. Many won’t want to abandon their current homes or yank their kids out of a good school. Get a read on who won’t make the move with you, so you can begin recruiting replacements well in advance.
Outsource
Moving a business means a lot of literal heavy lifting that ranges from file boxes to furniture. You must also consider the basic fragility of all your IT equipment. Computers and servers don’t tolerate jostling or moisture particularly well. You’ll want movers with experience in business moves, especially if you’re relocating to another part of the country. For example, if you want to move your tech startup from pricey San Francisco to a burgeoning tech hub like Austin, TX, you’d probably look to a company like CaliforniaMoversUSA. Experienced business moving companies understand that the lion’s share of the moving must happen quickly and preferable on evenings and weekends.
Plan on Dual Locations
The only real solution for some common problems associated with moving is keeping both locations operating for a month or two. You can leave a skeleton staff at the original location, but you need someone there to handle problems like:
- Deliveries going to the old location
- Updating potential customers who got referrals from someone with the old number
- Properly managing business critical or sensitive mail while forwarding goes into effect
The extra expense will more than make up for itself in reduced headaches.
Business growth, while often a good thing, can also force you into a business relocation simply to accommodate all your extra employees. Successfully relocating your business means you must give yourself a reasonable timeframe. Pick a location that balances your financial needs and your customers’ needs. Plan for employee replacement. Hire professional business movers. Keep both locations open for a time to avoid logistical issues. While a stressful process, you’ll find business runs smoother once you settle in at your new location.
