From Digital to Real-Life: 5 Tips for Your First Office
October 9, 2019
Many businesses are now started from peoples’ homes, with entrepreneurs starting out with nothing but a kitchen table and a laptop. However, as your business starts to grow, you’ll probably start thinking about getting your own physical office space.
This can be a big commitment, as it means paying rent or a mortgage, but it can take your business to the next level. So, where do you begin when you want to design your first office?
- Think about your needs vs your wants
Workplaces have changed a lot over the last few years. Not many places have employees at their desks from 9-5, and they’re more likely to have an open plan office design with breakout spaces and meeting rooms. Think about how your business works and what you’ll need. While you may love the thought of a hip, open-plan office for collaboration, in some workplaces, this can be distracting and make it difficult to make confidential phone calls or concentrate on important projects. Try to strike a balance between your vision and what’s practical.
- Consider renovating a space
When you start the search for office spaces, you’ll find many sleek serviced offices and purpose-built blocks, but these can be expensive, and most start-ups are on a tight budget. You might want to consider renovating an older building such as a warehouse or even a home, if you can get the right permits. You can buy essentials such as joist hangers at https://tradefixdirect.com/joist-hangers, which will allow you to build mezzanine floors or decking, so you can completely change the look and feel of the space.
- Ensure the space is flexible
While your company might just be you and a handful of employees at the moment, in a few years, who knows where you’ll be? Moving into your first office is often the first step towards expansion, so as you take new people on, you’ll need more desks and more space. Don’t spend a lot of money on bulky furniture that can’t be moved around,and instead look for modular units that you can add to or move around as needed.
- Ensure you have space for meetings
In any business, you’ll eventually need to have meetings, and while many of them can be done remotely. A survey by HubSpot showed that in-person meetings generated more ideas, had a good close rate and helped generate profits. You’ll also need spaces for staff to discuss and broach topics confidentially and to get some quiet time if needed.
- Create a design that reflects your brand
Moving into your first office is a good time to reflect on your brand identity and values. You need to create an atmosphere that suits your business and what you’re trying to do. For example, if you’re an IT company, you might want an office that’s sleek and modern, while those in creative industries will no doubt want something stylish and a little quirky. You can also integrate your brand’s colors into the interior design.
When clients walk into your office, they should be able to tell what your company does and what it’s all about.
If you’re thinking of moving from an online-only business into the real world, then congratulations. Getting an office is a big step, and means there’s many factors to think about, so keep things flexible and ensure you get a space that reflects the company you’ve worked so hard to build.
