The task of setting up a new business office can be confusing and overwhelming.  There are so many things to consider and it’s challenging to determine what needs to be done first.  Combine this huge To Do list with signing a lease for your office space, hiring personnel along as well as purchasing office equipment and you can see why savvy business owners opt for serviced offices.

In a very basic sense, a serviced office is managed by a company that equips its offices then rents them out to other business owners. Some companies offer much more like the Servcorp serviced office solution.  Letting someone else handle the arrangements for everything is a huge relief.  Because—as we are about to see—there’s a lot involved with setting up your new business office.

Finding the Right Space

Finding the right space for your business means that the office must have enough space to accommodate the needs of your business. But if you’re just starting out, how do you know how much space you’ll need?

Determining the right amount of office space is based on the number and type of employees you’ll have as well as your type of business.  For instance, if you run an online business that supplies physical products, you might need additional office space for product storage. Make sure that you supply your office real estate agent with all of your non-negotiables for your perfect office space.  Otherwise, you’ll spend too much time looking at spaces that are not right for your needs.

Once you’ve found the right space, it’s time to consider the lease. In New Zealand, most office buildings require at least a three-year lease for their office real estate.  This long-term commitment can cause some problems if the space doesn’t work out for you.

Finding the Right People

 

Hiring the right people to support the day-to-day functioning of your office is critical to the success of your business.  If your business is large enough to support a hiring manager, make sure that that’s the first person you hire.  Otherwise, you will be spending most of your time in interviews as you try to connect with the right person for a receptionist position or the perfect IT professional.  No matter how well you advertise or recruit for new employees, hiring the best person can be a real challenge.

Finding the Right Equipment

 

Office equipment can include everything from office furnishings to computers to photocopiers to telephones.  And depending your business, your office equipment needs may be very different from another business.

For example, will your employees be sitting at a computer for the majority of each day?  If so, those employees will need ergonomically correct desk chairs, desks and monitors. If employees stand for a large part of their day, they may need rubber mats to ease leg strain.

Be sure to start with a minimum of office equipment and furniture for each employee.  If the equipment can be rented or leased, that’s even better. You can try different options to see what works before investing in purchasing the equipment.

Purchasing computers, laptops and other communication devices will vary according to the business. Phone lines and telecommunication systems will also be based on the amount of phone traffic you expect to receive.  And if your business plans include onsite meetings with clients, you’ll need furniture and audio/visual equipment for meeting rooms.

Because there are so many facets of setting up an office, no matter how large or small your new business office is, your first priority is to make sure that your choices benefit the health of your business.  If your time can be better spent growing your business rather than creating an office, perhaps a serviced office is your best bet.

• Business