Buying space for your business most commonly takes one of three forms: buying a warehouse, buying an office, or buying shop promises. Some businesses will need expanded premises like factories and manufacturing spaces, but it’s these three core components that tend to make up the bulk of commercial real estate.
As a result, there’s been a lot of research into the best methods for securing the right workspace; use them to your advantage! So, if you’re currently in the middle of searching for an office, there are a few things you’ll need to think about before putting any money down.
From employee numbers to equipment usage to simple break room configurations, here’s what to keep in mind when drawing up a workspace plan.
What’s My Current Business Inventory?
Depending on the size of it, you’re going to need around 100 square feet per piece of equipment as well as each and all employees you’ve hired. This is an average – you may wish to purchase more space for each, or a little less if you’re on a tight budget. In this scenario, around 80 square feet is suitable.
However, the more you’re willing to provide, the less crowded your office is going to be overall. This leads to less accidents during your working hours, meaning a far thinner accident book!
Who Can See Me?
Is the office you’re thinking of buying visible to those who need to see it? A.k.a., customers just passing by? Or are you tucked away in an industrial estate or in an office building guarded by reception and security? For a head office, neither of these locations is technically bad.
But if you want to bring people in and advertise an open-door policy, your location choice is really going to matter. You need to be visible from the street, or at the very least, your above-door branding, such as a banner featuring your logo. If your name is visible, you’re going to catch the eye!
Is It Easy To Get There?
Are there strong main transport links between your office and anyone who’d want to get there? If not, it’s going to be hard to encourage people to come along and check you out. For both employees and customers alike, you’re going to struggle to keep up. Neither is good for your profit line, and both need to be addressed!
At the very least, make it easy for those with their own transport to stop and park. Have at least two spaces available for employee cars if you don’t have your own company fleet on loan. Similarly, do some research into public transport, such as trains and coaches, to ensure you can provide an accurate estimation of commuting routes and times.
How Much Equipment Will I Need?
This isn’t just a matter of space necessary for your company. It’s also about how your equipment needs are going to evolve over time. You may need to get in touch with an Access Mats Company, for the simple reason that your equipment usage has become a lot heavier than it used to be.
If there’s something covering the floor and/or ground within your office and outside property space, you reinforce the whole area, making it safer and much more practical to use. As a result, you have less to pay in the long term regarding ongoing maintenance. However, you should still regularly patch any software and update any hardware you may be using.
What Other Businesses Are Nearby?
This is a matter for both internal and external needs alike. If you’re in a highly prized location, you’re likely to be surrounded by similar businesses, meaning more customer footfall overall. It also ensures your employees have somewhere to go for lunch or to spend time after work before commuting home again.
Both of these are good things, as they make your office a more desirable place to be. Regarded as ‘amenities’, you’d look for the same things if you were buying residential real estate. You want to be near ‘fun’ and ‘interesting’ places to be, as it means you won’t have to go far, which equals convenience.
When you’re about to buy an office, stop to think about whether you’ve considered potential issues like these. It’s good that you’ve found a prime and affordable location, but is it really what your business is going to need? Never jump into a property deal before seeing what else is out there!
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