Your home business can begin to grow over time. This means that you have outgrown your home office. You need to decide if you are going to stay or find a new space or location.
Image credit: Stuart Miles | FreeDigitalPhotos.net
There are steps that you can take to make a smooth transition from your home office to a new location.
Decide if you are ready to move on
There are several things to consider when you make a decision to move out of your home office.
A location outside the home can add credibility and value to your business if you decide to sell it. A commercial space can give you a professional image if you meet with clients frequently.
You have to decide if you are ready to give up the lifestyle you have generated working at home. You can consider arranging a temporary rental space in an office building or complex if you only host conferences occasionally.
This is a great consideration because it is a larger space. This will allow you to continue working from your home office most of the time.
Determine what you need in an office
You need to determine the square footage you will require, how far the commute will be, and the type of conference or meeting rooms needed. Zoning needs to be determined as well. These questions will need to be answered before you start looking for a location.
Hire a commercial broker or real estate agent
You can ask friends, customers, associates, or fellow commerce members to recommend a good real estate agent. The best agents have extensive networks. They will hear about office space going on the market long before an ad appears in the local paper or online.
Share office space to save money
There are spaces available that you can share with other tenants. You can share the space, phone systems, and clerical help. These spaces are called executive suites. If there aren’t any suites available, you can start your own.
You should find professionals from similar industries. You may form loose work alliances. You may even subcontract. Money can be saved by sharing an office among several businesses.
Consider an immediate move
A larger home can be considered if you need more space and are determined to work from home. You can rent a second apartment or condo in your facility as well.
This will probably be a deductible as a business expense because this extra space will be used for business purposes.
Physical security
Physical security is very important. It is about more than the cost of a stolen computer, fax machine, or printer. The stolen equipment could have very important information stored in it.
Any information that has ever been stored on a hard drive could possibly still be on that hard drive. Many modern copiers, fax machines, and printers also have hard drives.
Their hard drives store information long after the paper record has been removed. You should keep your home office door locked. Sensitive information should be kept off your desk and in your file cabinet if you are not in your office.
Keep your file cabinets locked if they are unattended. Your computers and other equipment should also be cabled down. Because the security situation is a lot different than your home, you should also consider alarm systems and even chain-link fences for extra precaution.
There are a lot you can take to make a smooth transition from a home office to a new location. You just need to make sure this is the decision you want to make when you are in the process of making this transition from your home office.
Information provided by Lynx Brand Fence Products Ltd., a Calgary security gate system company.
Erika Remmington
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Everything is agreeable Erika. Working in a home office is enjoyable but there are a lot of distractions, and it can really affect our productivity. An office space for rent is a great option because it has a lot of great benefits. I love the idea of sharing space with other businesses. It’s clear that you can save money and gain some new connections as well as friends.