While working from a home office has many benefits, there may come a point when you realise you need to be in a bigger space and have to head into a retail office or shopfront.
Whether your business is expanding, you have hired additional staff and are no longer working solo, or you simply need more space for your work, moving into a retail office space or shopfront is a big decision and there is a lot to consider.
Here are five things you think about before moving from a home office into a shopfront:
Assess the cost
One of the benefits of working from home is not having to pay the costs of having a physical office building. Before you move into a retail space or shopfront, consider the overheads associated with doing so. Commercial premises are not cheap and you will need to make sure you have the financial capability to either buy or lease an office space.
Location
You should take time to consider your options for a location. You will want to ensure that you're not sacrificing too much time commuting to work, so finding a place close to home is important. At the same time, you will want to balance your desire for a short commute with the needs of your business. Your office should be positioned so that it is easy for your target customers and new prospects to access.
Make time for the move
Life does not stop when you are transitioning from a home office to a retail office space or shopfront, and it can be tough to keep operating your business smoothly during this period. A good idea is to move after hours or during the weekend, so that you don't lose any time during the transition.
Organise power and internet
It is important you make sure your new office space has working electricity and internet well before you open your doors. There is nothing worse than opening your business and watching productivity sink because you didn't organise the internet transfer in time.
Update your contact information
As soon as you have secured your new office, update your contact information on your website and email address. You may want to send an email to your database of customers to inform them of your move and to invite them to make an appointment to see you. Consider having an office warming event as a marketing opportunity for your business - this is a great way to reconnect with old customers. It is also important to update all of your collateral. There is nothing worse than giving your business card to a new contact with your old address printed on it.
