Finding the right business premises is essential for start-ups, growing companies and established corporations. Whether you’re looking for your first base, or you’re considering relocating to expand your business, it’s wise to work through some steps to ensure you make the right decision. Here are some tips to simplify your search.
Determine the importance of location
Location is incredibly important for some businesses, but for others, it’s much less critical. Before you start looking for premises for your company, determine the importance of location. Do you need to be in the center of a town or city, is it crucial that you’re close to transport links or is the location far down the list of priorities? If the location is the top priority, pinpoint your search zone and start researching the local market. If you’re less concerned about the location, you can cast your net wider. Often, being flexible can help you to save money on renting or buying. If you aren’t certain there’s something perfect for you right now, look a little further, be a little more patient, and you may notice excellent commercial property development projects you could potentially make use of in the future.
Outline your requirements
The next step is to outline your requirements. What do you need your business premises to offer in terms of space, layout, facilities, features and amenities? Are you looking for serviced offices that come with access to perks and extras, such as a gym or restaurant, for example, or do you need a budget-friendly base? Do you need parking? Once you know what you need, you can narrow down your search.
Organize viewings and inspections
It’s useful to browse listings online and look through brochures, but it’s more beneficial to organize viewings. When you walk around a site, store, office or venue, you can get a feel for the building, learn more about the location and get an accurate idea of the size and the amount of usable space. If you find an office that seems perfect, it’s wise to contact a company that offers commercial property inspection services. This will enable you to check the condition of the building and learn more about maintenance costs. It’s always advantageous to visit premises more than once to make sure that you’re 100% sure before you make a decision.
Promote your brand
Choosing business premises can help you to promote your brand if you welcome guests, visitors or clients to a physical store, office or building, or you’re keen to attract passing trade. If you rely on footfall, or you interact with people at your office, consider the impact of aesthetics, signage and curb appeal. You want to make sure that the base creates a positive impression and encourages prospective customers to have a look around or get in touch. If you don’t interact with customers or clients on-site, aesthetics may be less important but it’s still beneficial to ensure the building looks smart to portray a professional image.
There are many reasons why it’s important to find the right premises for your business. If you’re hunting for a new base, branch, office or store, it’s wise to determine the importance of location, outline your requirements, organize viewings and inspections and choose a site that will help you to promote your brand.
