Choosing the Right Office Space for Your Business
Choosing the perfect office space can feel akin to dating, searching for “the one,” with features that suit your needs, are easily expandable as your business does and won’t strain your budget.
But with so many different types of office spaces on offer today, how can you know if you have chosen the appropriate option? Whether your company is just getting started or established at an enterprise level, this blog takes you through some of these office setup options so you can choose one that matches up best with your goals, style,and budget constraints.
The Home Office: King of Pajamas and Productivity
In today’s remote work era, home offices have seen an explosion of popularity as the best alternative work environment. No commute, lower overhead costs and the opportunity to wear your pajamas while working can make a home office perfect. Although potential distractions such as cat paw prints on keyboards or streaming Netflix episodes might prove challenging to overcome. Nonetheless, it can provide ample room to create an efficient working space.
Best Suite for:
- Freelancers
- Early-stage startups
- Remote first companies.
Coworking Spaces: Networking Meets Free Coffee
Coworking spaces are the cool kids of office life, like WeWork or Regus, offering shared workspaces filled with professionals from different fields in one convenient place. Boasting flexible leasing options, high-speed Wi-Fi connections and free-flowing cold brew, it makes an excellent solution for growing businesses that don’t want to sign a long-term lease contract while creating an environment conducive to networking and potential partnerships.
Perfect for:
- Startups
- Digital nomads
- Creative teams
Private Office Space: Peace and (Extra) Quiet
Need extra quiet to crunch numbers or close deals? A private office provides autonomy and focus away from the bustle of shared office spaces, whether renting it in a managed office building or creating it within a coworking facility. While more costly than shared options, its exclusivity makes it worth your while for businesses handling sensitive data or holding client meetings regularly.
Typically best for:
- Mid-sized teams
- Legal or financial firms.
- Businesses requiring confidential treatment
Virtual Offices: An Office Without, Well, The Office
If all you require is a professional address to impress clients or receive mail, a virtual office could be the ideal solution. Virtual offices provide access to prestigious business addresses, phone services and sometimes meeting rooms, all without leaving home. Just don’t expect an actual desk.
These virtual solutions work best with:
- Small businesses
- Startups with remote teams
- Companies expanding into new regions
Traditional Leased Offices: Long Term Commitment
Businesses looking for stability often turn to traditional leased office spaces as an affordable solution that meets each team member’s individual needs. Most typically committing to multi-year lease agreements provides long-term stability as well as brand control. From customizing break room furniture to installing giant screens in conference rooms, everything can be changed according to your team’s wishes. Whilst these leases come with the added responsibility of utilities management costs plus possibly upfront costs which must be managed as well.
Best for:
- Established companies
- Companies with large teams
- Organizations needing customized spaces
Choosing the Right Office Space for You
Before signing the dotted line and opening your champagne flutes, take some time to consider your business needs. Consider team size, budget, flexibility and company culture when making this decision. Will your team prefer busy coworking spaces like WeWork or prefer private offices with more privacy? Are you expecting significant growth soon or is scalability less of an issue for your company? Your answers to these questions can help lead you towards your perfect office space match.
Conclusion
Choosing an office space is more than a logistical decision, it sets the scene for innovation, expansion, and your team’s best work to take place. Remember, selecting an appropriate office space sets the tone for how your business runs each day. Take time evaluating each option carefully until you find one that feels like home (even if that means living somewhere different from where your team actually works).