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