Whether you’re starting a new business, relocating or opening a new office, it’s important to choose an office location that’s best for your business overall, in both the short and long term.

It’s not as easy as it might first sound, as premises in the most prestigious locations can be hard to come by, and you might be on a tight budget in terms of refurbishing and decorating vacant premises.

Here are our top tips to choose an office location that’s best for your business, and why serviced offices are worth considering, rather than occupying premises that are currently completely bare.

1. Set a budget

Impressive premises might help you make more money in the long run, but you have to be able to cover the cost of your office space in the short term, so set a budget and be realistic about sticking to it.

That might mean compromising on the luxuries like tea-making facilities and on-site shower rooms, but you can also budget by opting for serviced office space.

By renting only the amount of space you need for the short term, you get access to all the on-site facilities, and if you outgrow the room available you can either expand if neighbouring offices are available, or move to larger serviced offices or your own premises nearby.

2. Prominent postcodes

Look for desirable locations, for example single-digit city centre postcodes like M1-M5 in Manchester.

Again, the best locations for offices in Manchester, London and other major cities are not often just sitting there vacant, but serviced offices can give you the postcode you want, without the anonymity of asking customers, partners and investors to write to a PO Box number.

3. Why not a PO Box?

Just to elaborate on that point – it can be tempting to set up a PO Box for the illusion of a central address, but savvy customers know exactly what you are doing when you try this.

It’s a technique that raises suspicions that you might ‘suddenly disappear’, and there’s no need when you can rent serviced office space or a virtual office and get a full postal address rather than a unprofessional-looking PO Box.

4. A fair reflection

Find a location that fairly reflects you as a business (or even as an individual, if your brand is very personal).

That might mean steering clear of the absolute most prime locations, as they can often be associated with more expensive brands – and a postcode in the M3-M5 range might paint a more accurate picture of your business than an M1 or M2 central Manchester office location.

5. Take a look

No provider of serviced office space, or landlord of rented business premises, will begrudge letting you see the site before you decide to move in – and if they do resist an in-person viewing, alarm bells should definitely ring.

As you look around, imagine moving in your equipment and people. In a serviced office space, take note of the available plug sockets, wired and wireless networking options, telephones and so on.

And make sure you know where the tea-making facilities are, so you can celebrate moving in on day one with your first cuppa of many!

There are lots of proverbs about first impressions, especially in business, from the classic “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” to rules of thumb about investors making their decision within the first five seconds of arriving.

So when you invite anyone – investors, partners, customers and prospective employees – to a meeting room for an in-person conversation, it’s important to make sure the meeting room itself makes the right first impression on them.

It’s no exaggeration to say that in some cases, the quality of the premises where you meet with an individual can make a significant difference to whether or not you close the deal.

Kerb appeal

The phrase ‘kerb appeal’ usually applies to selling houses, but it’s important when selling anything from physical premises, which makes it equally significant for business, if not even more so.

Well appointed premises on the outside put the visitor in the right frame of mind to expect more elegant interiors and a generally higher standard of welcome, so ensure you choose a meeting room that looks good from the exterior of the building from the moment of arrival.

Ease of access

Getting to the meeting is all part of the first impression, so make the journey from their door or own workplace to being greeted by you as seamless as possible.

Good public transport links and on-site parking are part of this, as well as facilities like clean, fully stocked toilets and even shower rooms so guests can freshen up if they wish.

Reception areas with comfortable seating mean that even if they have to wait to be greeted by you in person, visitors can do so in comfort and don’t have to feel anxious about it.

And premises with fully working lifts mean nobody faces a flight of stairs to reach an upstairs meeting room at the end of a long journey to get there.

In the room

Despite all of the old adages and wise sayings, at the end of the day the real business takes place within the confines of the meeting room, so make sure you choose a space that puts the client, investor or candidate at ease.

Spacious, brightly decorated rooms help to encourage debate and free thinking, while comfortable designer office furniture will mean you and your guests don’t start to feel numb or sore if the meeting is expected to last for a while.

Have beverages available – not just tap water, but hot drinks too – as you don’t know if your visitors have had a chance to hydrate during their journey.

We provide beverages and kitchen facilities as part of the package, and you should never underestimate the impact that a fresh, hot cup of tea or coffee can have when making a positive first impression on an investor or customer who has travelled since the early hours to get to your meeting.

Find out more about all of our serviced offices, meeting rooms and conference spaces – call us on 0800 319 6600 or check our Contact Us page for our other details today.

An office conference is a great way to get an important message out to groups of employees large or small all at once, or to meet with stakeholders, clients and others in your industry. Continue reading “Top tips to hold a conference”