How to Find the Perfect Office Space for Your New Business

Thanks to Austin Distel for sharing their work on Unsplash.

In the United States alone, over 600,000 new businesses start up every year. Thanks to advancements in technology, many of those businesses are “at-home” or able to survive remotely. 

But, there are so many startups that need a more concrete place to call home. So, it’s important to know how to find the right office space for your business, no matter what it is you do. 

Finding an office space for rent might seem like the easy part, but there are so many things to consider before you sign an agreement and move into a location. Unfortunately, if you let yourself get too overwhelmed by the office-hunting process, it can become a bit stressful. 

So, take a deep breath. Let’s cover a few tips on how you can find the perfect office space for your business venture. Doing so can help you to start off on the right foot and focus on growing your business from the ground up.

Pay Attention to the Space You’ll Need

You might be a small business now, but do you see yourself always being that way? Do you want/need room to grow? How many employees do you plan on having? What do you want your office culture to look like? 

Those are all questions you should be asking yourself when it comes to space. Everyone who works within your office space should be able to freely and comfortably move about. 

A 1,000-square foot office space is great for anywhere from 4-6 employees. But, if you plan on growing and hiring more people, you will want to take that into consideration before you decide on the perfect spot. No one wants to be cramped or feel like they don’t have enough space at work. 

Work With Someone You Trust to Find a Place

One of the best things you can do to make sure you find a great space is to talk to other business owners you know. Ask who they worked with in order to find their current space. If they have a particular real estate agent in mind, you can feel more comfortable using that person. 

Many times, finding success in any industry depends on who you know. If your fellow business owners or someone you trust has a glowing review of a specific agent or agency, you can feel better about working with their recommendation. 

It’s never a good idea to start looking for office spaces blindly, with an agent who has never done commercial real estate before. Working with someone who has been in the industry for a while will help to ensure you that you’re looking at the best possible locations with the best prices. 

Thanks to Dane Deaner for sharing their work on Unsplash.

Set Up a Co-Working Space

Most business start-ups don’t have a huge budget for things like renting or buying an office. But, that doesn’t mean you need to compromise on a safe, quality space for your employees. One way to be able to afford a great space is to turn it into a co-working building (often called a co-op). 

When you choose to start a co-working space, you can open up your options for the type of building you choose. You can even design the outside of your office to reflect that you’re a co-working space and that you’re open to other businesses joining in. 

In a co-op, multiple businesses work under the same roof. You might have closed off spaces for each business, or one giant, open space where everyone does their own thing. The beauty of a co-working space is that all of the businesses that use it contribute to things like rent and utilities. It’s a great way to save money while working in a quality space, especially when you’re just starting out. 

Think About Your Employees

If you’re starting a business with a small, core group of employees, think about their needs and wants when you’re first looking for an office space. Choosing a central location for your space will make it easier and more convenient for your employees to get to work each day. 

Though finding a space off the beaten path can often save you money, it also shows that you aren’t keeping your employees’ best interest at heart. In fact, one way to make sure everyone is happy with the space is to include your employees in the search or have them go along with you to look at potential options. 

Everyone will always have an opinion, and it’s important to take those into account while you’re choosing an office space. Starting off your business with happy, content employees will make it easier for them to want to put in the hard work so your business sees growth. 

Don’t Be Afraid to Negotiate

Have you found the perfect space, but it’s a bit out of your price range? 

Don’t be afraid to work with the owner or landlord to negotiate a better deal. Many times, especially when a place has been on the market for a while, people are willing to negotiate back and forth. After all, receiving some payment is better than letting a space sit vacantly and not getting paid for it at all. 

Try to aim for lowering the rent anywhere from 5-10%. That might seem like a lot, at first, but you might be surprised at how easy it is to get landlords to go down if you have the right negotiating skills. Come prepared to talk about why you feel the rent should be lower. Maybe the building is in a non-marketable neighborhood, or maybe you’ve researched what other buildings in the area are charging for rent space. Whatever the case, be sure to back up your request with facts and figures. 

Finding a new office space for your business should be exciting, not scary! It’s another positive step forward to really getting your business off the ground. So, keep these suggestions in mind as you start your search for the perfect space. By staying focused on the things you know you want and need for an office, the whole process will be much easier and less stressful.