| Moving into an office is a big step when you | | | | of address you want.Certain areas are |
| run a small business or start-up, and finding | | | | associated with certain sectors so if you're |
| the right premises in the right location and | | | | a media company you would probably consider |
| at the right price is a daunting task. Get | | | | Soho versus a niche hedge fund that would |
| it right, and your office premises will help | | | | look at St James's or Mayfair.To attract |
| you improve productivity, attract and retain | | | | employees for your business, the best |
| good employees and give a positive impression | | | | location is to be close to good public |
| to your customers. But get it wrong, and you | | | | transport links. In addition, being close to |
| could be left tied into a costly lease with | | | | nearby shops and facilities will help to |
| premises that might not suit your needs in | | | | improve employee morale.If your business |
| the future. Philip Dodson, of Office Planet | | | | needs to take a lot of deliveries, then you |
| explains what businesses need to do to find | | | | may need to be positioned close to good road |
| the right office space to meet their | | | | and motorway links so that your suppliers can |
| requirements.What Type Of Office Do You | | | | deliver a quick and flexible service.Finally, |
| Need?Before you start the search for your | | | | with most things in life you get what you pay |
| office, you really need to know what type of | | | | for in terms of locations, hence the better |
| property will be suitable for your needs.A | | | | the location the higher the rent will be.Know |
| virtual office solution will provide you with | | | | Your RequirementsBefore you can start |
| a total office experience without having to | | | | searching for your business premise, you |
| physically lease office space. A virtual | | | | should list all your requirements so you are |
| office package will typically provide your | | | | clear on the priorities that your office |
| business with the use of a business address, | | | | space needs to provide.Some key requirements |
| personalised telephone answering, post | | | | you may consider, include: |
| handling and forwarding and in some | | | | |
| circumstances the use of private offices and | | | | - How many people do you need to accommodate |
| boardrooms on an ad hoc basis.The next type, | | | | |
| serviced offices are extremely attractive to | | | | - What are your likely growth plans |
| new start-ups as a first office or companies | | | | |
| that want flexibility in a professional | | | | - How do you occupy the space - individual |
| environment. Whether you need to move in for | | | | offices or open plan |
| a day, a month or a year, serviced offices | | | | |
| can be leased on a short term basis and as | | | | - What meeting facilities will you need |
| there is no capital expenditure required, | | | | |
| it's a low risk arrangement for your | | | | - Size and layout of the premises |
| business.There are a range of services that | | | | |
| your business will be able to benefit from in | | | | - Structure and appearance, both internally |
| leasing a serviced office solution, typically | | | | and from the outside |
| these include: | | | | |
| | | | - Any special structural requirements, such |
| - Semi or fully furnished offices | | | | as high ceilings, wooden floors |
| | | | |
| - Access to sophisticated telecoms and voice | | | | - Facilities and comfort for employees and |
| mail systems | | | | visitors - e.g. lighting, toilets and kitchen |
| | | | facilities |
| - CAT 5 cabling | | | | |
| | | | - Permission; including planning permission, |
| - A variety of broadband solutions on terms | | | | to use the premises for your kind of business |
| to suit | | | | |
| | | | - Access and parking space - e.g. for |
| - Reception with customised telephone | | | | deliveries or customers, including disabled |
| answering | | | | customers |
| | | | |
| - Secretarial support if required | | | | - Whether you need the flexibility to alter |
| | | | or expand the premises |
| - Meeting rooms and boardrooms | | | | |
| | | | - Whether the premises are suitable for your |
| - Kitchens and possibly catering services | | | | long-term needs or just for the short-termIf |
| | | | your requirements are too specific, you may |
| - Mail franking and collection | | | | find that your choice of premises is very |
| | | | limited or you cannot afford them. It's worth |
| - Fax and photocopying | | | | thinking which requirements are essential and |
| | | | which are merely desirable, and prioritising |
| - Office cleaning | | | | them accordingly.Starting Your SearchHaving |
| | | | decided on what type of office solution will |
| - Car-parkingIn a serviced office, your | | | | meet your needs it is now time to start your |
| business will also benefit from access to | | | | search. Before you set off, calculate your |
| more prestigious addresses and better | | | | budget including one off costs for items such |
| communications technology than you could | | | | as furniture and IT equipment as well as |
| possibly afford alone. The growth of your | | | | ongoing costs like rates and service charges. |
| business can be easily accommodated - by | | | | |
| taking over extra office suites as you take | | | | There are many ways to find potential office |
| on more staff, and thus effectively managing | | | | space for your business, one place you might |
| change within your business as and when it | | | | like to start is Office Planet provides a |
| occurs.The final type of business premises | | | | free office finding service by uniquely |
| you might want to consider is a conventional | | | | showcasing real time availability of both |
| office solution. If your office needs to | | | | conventional and serviced office space. You |
| accommodate 25 or more employees or you're | | | | can search through a database of available |
| fairly certain of your business's likely | | | | properties and create a shortlist of |
| growth over the next few years, then renting | | | | solutions that meet your needs or simply call |
| a leased office might be the best solution. | | | | an advisor at Office Planet who will be able |
| Whilst it is likely to be a major financial | | | | to offer you advice. |
| commitment for any small business, and a | | | | |
| decision we recommend not to be made without | | | | It is important, whatever your budget, |
| professional advice, conventional office | | | | location or type of space you want, to seek |
| space will give you a more competitive cost | | | | proper professional advice. If you sign a |
| per desk rate for larger requirements and the | | | | five-year or longer lease without having |
| opportunity to customise your office space to | | | | assessed everything properly it could cost |
| match your business's corporate image.The | | | | your company dearly over the course of that |
| Right LocationKnowing what type of property | | | | lease.To start your free search to find a |
| you need for your business is just the | | | | premise for your business, visit Dodson is |
| beginning. Equally important is finding the | | | | the co-founder of Office Planet, the UK's |
| right location so that your business is | | | | leading office finding service for |
| convenient for your customers, employees and | | | | businesses. Philip has worked in the serviced |
| suppliers - without being too expensive.Being | | | | office sector and commercial property |
| close to customers is essential for certain | | | | industry for over 10 years and prior to that |
| businesses coupled with the ability to meet | | | | he spent over 7 years with a specialist hotel |
| clients in an impressive surrounding, so | | | | sales and marketing company promoting 4 and 5 |
| choosing the right building can take time and | | | | star hotels across the world. |
| it is worth considering carefully what sort | | | | |