Home To Office Transition Tips For Moving A Business

The vast majority of business startups begin from home, but over time, you may find that your company has grown too big and you need to open your own office. The opening of an office is a big step in the life of any business, and it signals to your clients and competitors that you are really serious about expanding. However, it is not a decision that you should enter into lightly. After all, the overheads will be so much higher and there are a host of other factors that you need to consider as well. 

Essentially, you want the transition to be as smooth as possible so there is minimal disruption to your business. Here are a few points to consider before you make the move. 

What Are Your Reasons For Moving? 

There are a myriad of different reasons why you have decided that it is time to move your business from home, but it is not something that you want to do on a whim. You may have outgrown your current space or found that there are too many distractions working from home. You may need better office facilities or you are in the process of taking on a number of new staff members. When you have decided that it is no longer an option to continue working from home, it is time to move onto the planning stage. 

Plan Early

You will not be moving into your new place overnight, so the earlier you can start planning your transition, the easier it will be. You need to think about whether you will be sharing an office suite or getting one by yourself. The first option is obviously the most cost-effective, but you don’t have as much freedom with what you want to do with the place. But you do have more flexibility to change your plans and move out if things aren’t going well. When you lease a place, you should ensure that the landlord gives you a decent amount of freedom so you can do with the place what you want. Looking at the buying option, it will set you back more money, but you are able to really personalize the area and call it your own. The main advantage of buying a place is that you have complete control, and you really feel like you are building something of importance. 

Location Is Crucial 

You should never open up your own office without carefully deciding on a location that suits you. If you have a business in which you are directly selling to the public, an area of high footfall will be one of your big considerations. If you are planning to serve other businesses, you need to think about how easily they will be able to access your location. After all, moving your business from home isn’t only about giving yourself more space; it is also about the new opportunities that you will open up for yourself. Try to look at various different locations before you settle on one which is right for you. And when you are choosing a place, you also should think about whether or not you have any room to expand if your business is growing rapidly. 

Consider Accessibility 

Closely linked to the issue of location, you should also think about how accessible your new office is. It is worth considering issues like public transport links and the surrounding road network. If clients are travelling by car, what is the parking situation like? Do you need to think about investing in commercial garage doors for some added protection? How about the access for delivery vehicles? These are all questions worth asking before committing to a location. There is also the issue of how easy it will be for your staff members to travel to your new office. It may be more difficult to attract talented staff if you base your business in an inaccessible location. 

Assess Your Budget 

This is an obvious, but important point that you should consider; you don’t want to commit to anything until you have properly assessed your budget. You need to set an amount to spend and stick to it as best you can. Beyond the rent or price of the building, there is also the furniture, equipment, utilities, security, and a myriad of other costs. Your best way of keeping an eye on all these is with a detailed spreadsheet. Many businesses starting off in their own office cut costs by buying things second-hand. 

Security Issues 

All types of businesses are the target of thieves and burglars, so protecting your property from criminals should be high up on your priority list. The type of security at your new office is heavily dependent on whether you have decided to buy or rent the place. If you are letting, it is certainly worth asking questions about the type of security that is in place, as you may be limited with what you can install. On the other hand, if you are buying a property, you should check out all the planning regulations before installing equipment such as CCTV and alarms. 

Equip Your Office

We have already mentioned it briefly, but the type of equipment in your office will make a big difference to how effectively you can run the operation. First of all, there are the desktop computers and servers, and it is important that you have a network system that links them all together. You also want to consider some sort of system that allows employees to access information when they are offsite. And you also may need equipment like printers, scanners, and a whole range of stationery. Many businesses are also using virtual receptionists which help to keep track who is going in and out of the premises. 

Consider the Long-Term 

Moving into an office isn’t a goal in itself, but rather it should be seen as an opportunity to further develop your business and move onto the next level. So, do you plan on being in this space for many years or will you be moving on? Does the office space you have chosen offer a degree of flexibility so you can grow your business in its current location? Many businesses suffer because their way of thinking has been fixed in the short-term, so you need to make sure that you don’t fall into this trap. 

Block Out Time To Make The Move 

Once you have settled on a location and all the plans are in place, you need to set aside some time when you can make the actual move. It may be a good idea to do as much as possible over a weekend so you can ensure minimal disruption to the business. If you need more time, you could go for a month in which business is quieter, but you need to ensure that all your key clients are kept up to date with exactly what is going on. When it comes to doing the heavy lifting, it is worth hiring professionals and it will end up taking a lot less time and will help to protect you from unnecessary injuries. 

Update Your Contact Information

You should make a list of everyone that needs to know about your new address and send out correspondence to allow them to update their records. Also, you need to think about any online payment systems which could be affected. And you should also update anything else that needs altering such as your business cards and website. You don’t want to risk the discontinuation of any of your services or miss out on any business because people don’t have the correct information. 

Generate Some Press Coverage About The Move 

Moving to a new office is also a good opportunity to send out a press release and get some coverage from the media, so it is worth doing this well in advance. If you can turn the move into an event, it makes sense that you should do this so more people are aware that you have moved into the area. So, why not invite some of your important clients and other influential people in your field so they can come along and celebrate with you? 

Make Your Move Masterfully

Moving your business from your home to an office is a big step to take, so you want to ensure that you are fully prepared for everything this entails. Make a detailed plan and budget to start off with, and select a location that will work well for your business. Remember that the location and accessibility are both hugely important. Factor in all the equipment and services that you need, and make the move when you can ensure that there is minimal business disruption. Think about the long-term and how you can expand your company into the future. And finally, don’t forget to update your contact information and try to generate some media coverage so that more people are aware of your business and its expansion.

I hope you enjoyed this article about moving your home office to a new location or relocating your offices to a new city.

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