If you’re in business, or are in the throes of launching a new venture, then the area of office space is one that will invariably take up lots of your time. Even with a recession producing plenty of good and affordable office space for rent, finding it isn’t always as easy as you might think.
A new way forward
However, one of the more recent developments to help find office space has been the advent of the online comparison and search site. It works in the same way as any other comparison presence, allowing you to quickly and easily search for office space, from simple one-desk setups through to fully managed offices.
The benefits of using this system are numerous, because it does a lot of the hard work for you.
Any business needs to have a credible postal address, ideally in an area that is likely to attract more clients through the door. So, by using the search facility in an office space search site, you’ll be able to pinpoint the location that you want by postcode. Add on the capacity for adding the number of employees that you’re looking to house along with an idea of price that you’d like to pay and you’re up
and running.
What to look for
The type of office space you need obviously depends on how big or small your business is. If you’re just one person then the desk space rental option is a great idea. This allows you to rent one desk – or more if you need them – in an already established office environment. You’ll get basic utilities plus everyday
essentials such as broadband internet.
What’s more, the main appeal of going down this route is that you have much more flexibility. Many arrangements have flexible contracts, often short-term, so you don’t have to commit to something that you’ll be stuck in for years. Locations are generally excellent, and the benefit is that as an individual, your business gets a solid, respectable postcode and address too.
What kind of business
It actually doesn’t matter what kind of business you run in order to enjoy the benefits of shared office space. Look too at more sophisticated rent-a-desk schemes that offer more extensive features if you’re looking to expand. Serviced office space, for example, allows you to enjoy all of the befits of a professional
office environment and will often come complete with features such as a reception area, full IT support and also post facilities.
If you’re just looking for a pretty standard office to rent, then the same site can be used to scour a database of all available property. You’ll need to bear in mind the size that you want – a rough guide to work by is to allow 50 to 75 square feet per person. Costs are generally quoted in price per square foot or square metre, per year of rental. So to work out the monthly cost, simply take the price and multiply it by the area of office space. Divide this by twelve to arrive at the monthly costs. Then divide it by your chosen area/person ration to calculate the cost per person.
By doing these provisional sums before you start out on the office rental trail, you can at least have a better idea of what sort of budget you’ll need to factor in. And that’s always wise if you’re about to head off to the bank for a chat with the manager.
About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of Office Genie, the UK’s first proper online marketplace for desk space and shared office space.
