| Making the decision to rent a separate office for your | | | | Now that you have made the decision to go beyond a |
| business can be difficult for some business owners. If | | | | home office, how do you go about finding one you can |
| your business is a retail, manufacturing or distribution | | | | afford? There are a few solutions besides the obvious |
| business this decision may need to be made early on | | | | one of leasing and furnishing a space of own. After all |
| in your start-up. After all you will need a place for | | | | this all important step may be more that you can |
| people to come to if you are in the business of selling | | | | financially afford especially when you are first starting |
| items to the public and if you are using large equipment | | | | up your business. Look for shared commercial space. |
| to manufacture a product or need storage space for | | | | These are offices within a building that provide all the |
| the products you distribute it's pretty obvious that a | | | | necessities for a business at a substantial saving over |
| home office is not going to work for your business. | | | | setting up your own office space. Each arrangement |
| But for those who are in a consultant or service type | | | | may different, however the most common scenario is |
| business, the solution might not be so clear. The | | | | one in which telephone and receptionist coverage is |
| question to ask is "Will I need a space to meet my | | | | provided, your mail is received and handled, a private |
| clients?". If the answer is yes, you will need to decide if | | | | or shared office is provided with a space for meeting |
| you can be creative with a space in your home or do | | | | clients and the use of standard office equipment such |
| you need to set up a separate office space outside of | | | | as a copier and fax machine. Sometimes computers |
| your home. I have a lawyer client who was able to | | | | and printers are also provided. Many of these |
| convert the downstairs of his home into office space | | | | companies also provide a virtual office arrangement in |
| while he and his wife occupied the upper floor as | | | | which you will not have a private office but a meeting |
| personal living space. The kitchen remained on the first | | | | area will be available for your use and your phone will |
| floor however the home was designed with the | | | | be professionally answered and your mail received. |
| kitchen in back and out of sight of the main area. And | | | | Secretarial services are often available as well. |
| their dinning room doubled as a conference room | | | | Another solution might be your local business |
| where he could meet with his clients. This seemed to | | | | organizations. Often these organizations will have |
| work out well for both business and personal needs. | | | | meeting space available for their members to use for |
| Most small businesses who are consultants or provide | | | | meeting with their clients or for presentation purposes. |
| services start by using a spare room, or a corner of a | | | | If you only need a space for client meetings then this |
| bedroom, living room, etc. Anywhere a computer and | | | | solution might work for you. |
| desk can reside often is the choice made. The obvious | | | | And lastly, think about sharing space with other |
| downside of this type of arrangement is that you | | | | businesses. If you can partner will businesses that |
| won't be meeting your clients in this shared space, at | | | | compliment each other you can share the cost of rent, |
| least not if you wish to impress them with your | | | | utilities, and staffing. By choosing businesses that are |
| professionalism. However there are other reasons a | | | | not in competition with you but add value to your |
| "shared office space" in your home may not work | | | | customer's experience you will not only save costs but |
| even if the space you have chosen is private and | | | | can share in the client base of each other. |
| separate from your living space. Unless you live alone | | | | Not all businesses will need office space. Only you can |
| it may be difficult to find quiet and uninterrupted time to | | | | decide what is the best solution for your business. |
| perform your work. And it is so easy to get distracted | | | | Make a list of all the pros and cons of "home vs |
| - relatives and friends drop by, personal phone calls | | | | non-home" and choose what works best for your |
| come in, and of course it's very tempting to work in | | | | business at this time. You may only meet clients at |
| less than proper business attire. Let's face it, if you | | | | their business or home, and you may have that private |
| have to be at "work" you will set hours to be open | | | | and quiet space in your home. It is all about your |
| and attending to business and you will dress for | | | | business, your clients and how you are the most |
| success. | | | | effective. |
