Wed 16 Jul 2008
Searching for Office Space
Posted by Megan Dorn under Small Business, Starting Up, Tips for Startups
Location may be the most important thing to consider when searching for retail space, but the particulars of the space itself are important in office space searches. Though location can still be factored in to your decision, office spaces don’t thrive off traffic the way that retail spaces do. Instead the focus needs to be on meeting the needs of the business and the employees, and knowing exactly what you are getting always pays off in the end.
Lease
Don’t sign anything until you fully understand every last part of your lease. Of course you’re going to know how much the space costs, but what are the other terms of the lease? What kind of Internet connectivity does the space have, and is it included? What are the hours of use for the common areas of the building? What happens if you have to break the lease? Any number of problems can creep up on you if you don’t read carefully and ask plenty of questions.
Another thing to remember is that when the landlord presents you with the written lease, consider it the starting point. If you like the space but are not completely happy with the terms of the lease, negotiate. You don’t have to immediately accept the lease as is. Landlords are often willing to give a little to get their spaces rented.
Space
The quality and quantity of the space itself is usually the deal maker or the deal breaker. For starters you’re going to want to make sure that you have enough space for your employees. A good rule of thumb is to have at least 1,000 square feet for every five employees. You also want to make sure that the building has ample parking for your employees. If at all possible, try to avoid buildings with only reserved parking. If any unexpected visitors come to the lot, your employees may spend valuable time trying to find an unoccupied parking space.
Consider the other tenants in the building. If your building is also occupied by a media outlet, government agency or high-profile company, you may want to think about security. Even minor mishaps or controversy can disrupt anyone’s day. Though this may seem like a give in, being aware of the structural integrity of the building is also important. Make sure you know when the building was built and if it has had any renovations.
Management
Occupying a building with quality building management can save you a ton of headaches during the duration of your stay. You don’t want to have to worry about menial issues like office repairs. You have bigger things going on, like starting, growing or running your business. Ask existing tenants about the landlord’s response to maintenance requests. Find out if the service is adequate or if requests are constantly being ignored or repeated. If it seems like the landlord doesn’t invest time and energy into the day-to-day operations of the building, then maybe you should consider looking somewhere else.
