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4 Considerations Before You Buy Your First Business Property

Are you getting ready to open the doors of your company? If so, then you might be looking for the best business property. There are lots of factors that you should keep in mind here. These are some of the key points we recommend you do consider before settling on the right place.

Location

First, you should think about the location of your new business property. This is important for customers, clients, and even employees. Believe it or not, employees can be put off working for a business if it’s not in the right location. You should think about issues such as transport links as well as ease of access. A business property in the middle of nowhere might be available at a lower cost. But this won’t be useful if you can’t get people to come work for your company in the future.

Liability

You may also want to consider issues with liability when you buy your first business property. As the owner or manager of a property, you will be responsible and liable for any issues at the address. Essentially, you will be taking on all the responsibilities of a landlord. This shouldn’t be taken lightly because it can have significant ramifications for you. You may want to consult with a premises liability lawyer to find out exactly where you are legally exposed here and the steps you should take. For instance, you could consider hiring a health and safety officer.

Security

Next, you should think about issues with security. It’s important to be aware that these days it’s common for large and small companies in a variety of different industries to be targeted with hacks and security attacks. This doesn’t just include online attacks either. A criminal may go straight to the home point of your company to attack you and steal data or assets. That’s why you need to ensure that you do have the right security setup in place. For instance, you could choose a building with a remote CCTV system. This will allow you to monitor your property at any time.

Size

Finally, you could consider the size you need for your new business property. Don’t forget that a larger business property is always going to cost you more in the short and long term. This means bigger energy bills and a more expensive upkeep. It might be worth instead opting for a smaller hub for your company. If you do this, then you can use a hybrid working model. This essentially means that team members will alternate between working from home or remotely and working within the office setting depending on needs and requirements. You could even consider using a virtual office to cut the costs down completely.

We hope this helps you understand some of the key considerations that you do need to think about before you buy your first business property. In doing so, you can ensure that you choose the right home for your business now as well as in the years that lie ahead.

StrategyDriven Managing Your Business Article | 4 Considerations Before You Buy Your First Business Property

Your Office Space Just Isn’t Working For You Anymore

StrategyDriven Managing Your People Article |Office Space|Your Office Space Just Isn't Working For You AnymoreYour office space is a second home for you and your employees. There comes a time when we all outgrow our homes. Once we start adding to our family, we need a bigger place to live. The same principle applies when it comes to your office space.

If you have been operating out of the same offices for quite some time now, there is every chance that you may have outgrown them and, therefore, you would be better off looking to relocate. But have you really reached this stage? Read on to see some of the major signs it is time to move office.

There is nowhere for your employees to relax

You may assume that your workers do not need a place to relax. After all, they are here to work! Nevertheless, relaxation is critical in any workplace. All employees need somewhere they can go to refresh and revitalize. Taking themselves away from the computer and having a moment to get their energy levels back up is essential. If your office does not provide this, it is time for a change.

You have way more employees than you did a few years ago

This is one of the easiest ways for you to tell whether or not you need to hire a moving company or upgrade your office space. Roll back the clock three years ago and compare the number of employees you had then with the number that you have today. If you have way more employees today, you most definitely have outgrown your office space.

Your office feels messy and cluttered

Do you find that it is almost impossible to keep your office space under control? No matter how hard you try, it appears messy, cluttered, and like you have too many things. Of course, this does not necessarily mean you need to move. You could take advantage of business storage if there are a lot of things within the office that are not being used. However, if this is not an option, a bigger office space is a must.

Not enough space in conference rooms

The fourth and final sign that you have outgrown your office space is if you struggle to hold meetings in a comfortable and efficient manner. Whenever you hold an office meeting, do you need to squeeze workers between each other? Do you always need to source an extra chair in order for the business meeting to commence? If so, you probably need to locate a new building that has bigger conference rooms.

So there you have it: some of the clear indicators that you have outgrown your office space. If you have noticed any of the signs that have been mentioned above, it is important to take action sooner rather than later. This will have an enormous impact on your workers’ levels of efficiency and productivity because they will be operating out of an office that enables them to do more.

Finding the Best Business Property for You

A new business property can be one of the biggest commitments that you can make as a business owner. It is also, at its heart, a difficult thing to make a decision on as there are a lot of different elements involved. Especially if you have never owned a business property or rented one before.

Of course, some of your initial considerations will include a number of important factors, such as:

  • What’s your budget?
  • What size premises do you want?
  • Do you need a lease or a licence?
  • Where and when do you need to start looking?

Outside of this, there are also a lot of other considerations that you need to make in order to set your business off to a flying start. Including:

Transport Links

One of the most important considerations for any business – new or old – is the problem of transport. Can people, clients and employees alike, get to your location easily enough without it being a hassle? Buses, trains, parking for cars and just a generally easy to find entrance are a big part of ensuring transport is as easy as possible for everyone. If you choose to base your business in an office in the middle of nowhere, then you may find that very few people want to work for you. Nor will you have an easy accessibility that clients prefer. So, always factor transport into your property calculations.

Location, Location, Location

There are lots of places to look when it comes to finding the right property to base your business at, as many people say on the property hunt, it’s all about location, location, location. You need the right amenities, footfall and lots of other factors that come into play when choosing a property to be just right before you settle on a location absolutely.

Usually, your biggest concern should be being in the right area for your business. So, if you are a thriving digital agency then you will obviously want to be situated in a city centre. Or if you need foot traffic in order to generate enough sales then you need to be situated on a busy high street or at least somewhere a little more visible to the public.

Upgrades

Another important thing to consider is whether or not you plan to expand your business any time soon. If you do, settling on an office or storefront that is too small for your future business pursuits is not a good idea in the long run. Find a property which will be level up alongside your enterprise.

Getting advice from a commercial property agent could be the best solution for you when it comes to actually finding a good property, as it gives you more insight and knowledge to the sector that you might not necessarily have on your own.

At the end of the day, finding the right property for you may not be the easiest process to go through from start to finish. But, in the end, it will be worth it when you find yourself in your brand new business office.