Making the Move to Office Premises

Many small businesses start from humble beginnings, the kitchen table, the downstairs bedroom or a desk within a friend’s office.  For many business owners, keeping costs down in that initial set up stages are crucial to get the company off the ground and this is often at the sacrifice of professional office space. As the company starts to grow, so too does the requirement for office space and this can mean making the move to specific business premises.  Finding the right location which meets the required criteria and, most importantly, cost can be a challenge. Karen Pugh, Director: Business Centres, at Enterprise North East Trust (Enterprise) explains the options available.

“Taking on an office can be a daunting and exciting prospect for small business owners, as it signifies the development of the company but it can also be a costly exercise.  Prior to starting the search for the right space, it’s worth creating a checklist of key things required, this could be ample parking, board room and meeting room space, to a reception area, kitchen area and the room to grow.  This checklist will provide a good basis for searching and reviewing potential options. When moving the business from home to an office, there will be the added expense of purchasing office furniture, ensuring all of the required cabling, computer and telephone systems are in place so it’s crucial that this is included into the financial budget for the move.

“If you are planning to lease office space its important to check the lease length so you know how long you are going to be tied in for.  If you are only able to find lengthy lease terms within your chosen area it might be worth considering renting serviced office space.  This option also provides the additional benefit of being able to test the water and ensure you have chosen the correct location prior to committing to a fixed term lease. Business centres also bring the added benefit of fully equipped meeting room space, kitchen facilities and reception services within a fixed monthly fee, so this can provide cost savings when making the initial transition.

“The long term plans for the business can also have a significant impact on the office space selection. If the company is likely to grow further, you will need more office and or storage space, so bearing this in mind will help to whittle out those premises which may restrict expansion. All businesses will have different requirements and it’s important that the final selection meets the ‘must have’ requirements rather than the ‘nice to haves’ as this will ensure you remain on track and in budget.”

Enterprise is one of the largest providers of purpose built offices and meeting rooms.  Working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council, Enterprise has centres located across the north east in Aberdeen, Inverurie (Crichiebank & Thainstone), Banff, Huntly, Aboyne, Newmachar, Oldmeldrum, Portlethen, Stonehaven, Turriff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead (Burnside), Ellon and Westhill.  Enterprise also has centres in Dundee, and Brechin.