If you are looking for commercial space for your business, then Wadham and Isherwood are a great place to start. Before you start at looking at properties, however, you need to have an idea of just exactly what your business need is in terms of space. Commercial properties are usually discussed in terms of square footage, but most of us aren’t that great at visualising the real size of a space based off of raw numbers. If you’re planning to move your business into a new venue, how much space do your really need? It’s an important question that needs to be considered from many angles, including concerns that are legal as well as financial and technical.
Legal Requirements
By law, an unoccupied room must provide a certain amount of space per worker that occupies it. The rough standard is 53 square feet (11 cubic metres) per employee. Consider this to be an absolute minimum; the amount of space required to furnishings and equipment will likely expand your needs considerably. Note that there are few specific sorts of commercial spaces where this general rule doesn’t apply. Examples include machine cabs and sales kiosks.
Beyond legal requirements, what factors should you consider when choosing between different commercial spaces.
Other Factors to Consider
Maintaining an optimistic look ahead is important. You should be planning for expansion in the future. Smaller spaces will be cheaper and there’s a reason that start-ups usually begin in cramped conditions. Remember that Apple computer got its start in a garage. If your business in on track to succeed and expand, you’re going to need more space sooner than you think. This makes it sensible to look for spaces that provide you with room to grow. Adding more employees will obviously require more space along the lines discussed above. Keep in mind that your equipment needs are likely to grow at an exponential rate as you expand. If your organisation relies on networked computers, for instance, you’ll need dedicated space for servers and IT infrastructure as you grow beyond the very smallest scale.
Short Term Leases
If your business plan doesn’t dictate any growth, you have a range of other options for saving money on commercial space without limiting your flexibility. Short-term leases, for example, will allow you to rapidly shift venues if your circumstances change. You might also secure negotiation rights so that you’re in an advantageous position to secure adjacent properties if and when they open up.
Give plenty of consideration to the specialised nature of the work your employees do. Working groups that deal with large volumes of phone traffic will need extra space and soundproofing measures to keep the level of ‘rumble’ to a minimum. If your business requires regular deliveries of merchandise, you need to consider needs beyond sheer storage space. Is the property laid out to make deliveries efficient and fast?
The way you conduct your business can also impact your property needs. Truly paperless offices reduce the need for filing space and supply storage. Take a look at the benefits of switching to paperless operations including reduced space and lower rents. Alternatively, going paperless could open up an existing space and give you room for expansion without relocating.
Thinking in Three Dimensions
It’s also a good idea to think in three dimensions. Make sure you’re fully utilising the vertical potential of your space. Stackable shelving is a cheap and effective way to maximise limited floor space. Opting for modular shelving allows you to expand in increments and saves you from purchasing more storage space than you need. Creative storage solutions also give you an opportunity to give your work space a more decorative character.
Though it would be tremendously convenient to unlock an accurate formula for choosing an office space, no such universal guide exists. You will have to approach the problem with a firm understanding of your unique needs. The good news is that a little creativity can make virtually any space more flexible and useful than it might appear at first glance.
