Office Options for your Start-Up Business

When you start a new business, you will most likely need some sort of office space. While the type of business you run will determine the amount of space you will need, sooner or later you will need somewhere to work and where you can keep things more organised.

Here are four office options for your start-up:

1 – For most new businesses, money is tight. A popular option for start-ups is to set up a home office in your spare room, or in a quiet corner in your house. This will mean you’re not committing to spending money on valuable office space in the unstable early days and give you time to work out your ideal set-up. Spare room offices are perfectly fine for businesses which don’t need masses of office working space or file storage, and for homes which have permitting working environments. You can claim for the cost of running your home-office against your annual tax bill, but consult a financial advisor for more details as this can get complicated.

2 – While you may find that the convenience of having your office at home is a blessing, you may start to need more space to work, or crave somewhere you can concentrate without being disturbed by family members. A garden office is a good idea where free space is limited but you want to avoid a daily commute. A garden office can have a power supply, lighting, sound-proofing, and even plumbing if you need water for studio work. They can provide a peaceful, dedicated space you can close off at the end of the working day but still have access 24/7.

3 – If you don’t have an abundance of room at home, and don’t yet have the budget to pay for your own office, then hot-desking is a good option. Hot-desking is paying for access to a communal office suite, turning up whenever you need to work, and using whatever desk space is available. This can be pot luck and it may turn out that you can’t use the same desk every time you arrive. You may be given storage space for your equipment and files, so ask. Hot-desking will not suit everyone, but it can be a good way of getting access to a professional work environment without having to commit to renting an entire office, especially if you won’t be using it all day every day.

4 – If you need something a bit more professional, then a serviced office is worth investigating. These are business centres with your own dedicated office but with access to a range of other services which generally include car parking for yourself and any visitors, use of communal kitchens and bathrooms, access to meeting and training rooms, post-room and telephone answering, and internet connections. While serviced offices can seem expensive, generally your rent will include utility and business rates, so it’s easier for you to budget, which is important for start-ups with erratic cash flows. For example Stanta Business Centre’s serviced offices offer a range of different sized offices with many services included such as a pay-per-use meeting room, on-site free business advice, and free membership of the St Albans District Chamber of Commerce. Working in a serviced office is like being part of a small business community, and you will have an instant useful network on your doorstep.

Whatever your business, and whatever your office needs, there will be something to suit you with the many office options available.