Time to Move Your Startup Out of the House? Four Solid Reasons to Get Your Own Office

When your home-based business is growing, you might start thinking about the possibility of moving your “work” out of the house. Exciting times! But when can you be sure that your baby startup is ready to leave the nest? If you spot a few of these telltale signs, it may be high time you started packing up your desk.

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Your Home Office is Holding Your Business Back 

Launching a startup from home is a brilliant way to give your new business a sure start in life. You have very little in the way of overhead to pay (note, you may be even able to claim some of your home utility bills back from tax as a business expense!) and not having to keep “normal” business hours means you can throw yourself into your work, day, and night.

But once business starts picking up, being located far from your city’s business district coupled with a cramped workspace and lack of professionalism could be dragging you down and will eventually take its toll on your rate of growth. If you’re beginning to get a little antsy in your small space, or you’re driving down the road to hold your important meetings in your local coffee shop, you may be sacrificing crucial expansion opportunities.

Your Business Can Definitely Afford the Rent

If you weren’t already a financially savvy entrepreneur, you wouldn’t be in a position to consider getting your own office at all. That said, signing that dotted line on an office lease is a scary prospect for a small company. Of course, you will aim to secure cost-effective space, but this is easier said than done as a small business, as office space leased for short-term periods is extremely pricey. And remember that rent is not the only expense. You’ll also have office running costs, like utilities and office supplies. Moving costs can also be high, especially if you have a lot of equipment. Check out https://www.mybekins.com/location/sarasota-fl-movers/ for an excellent, cost-effective option when the time comes. If getting an office is not looking like an imminent prospect, after all, you might consider co-working as a lower-cost option.

You are Confident in the Future of Your Business

To get a lower-cost monthly bill, you’d need to sign on for up to ten years, and what early-stage business can afford to be so bold? But how do you know whether your business will continue to thrive?

Before you take the plunge, it’s crucial to understand how sustainable your business model is. Moving you into an official company location is a pricey undertaking, and if demand doesn’t continue to increase, the financial shock of high rent and utilities could be a real setback for your accounts in the long term. If you’re even considering workspace solutions, you should be feeling confident in your cashflow projections. If your profit has been stable for at least a year, and your projections show blue sky for the foreseeable future, then you should totally go for it.

You’re 100% Certain That Running a Business is What You Want to Do

If you’re thinking of signing a lease on an office, before you sign up for even a couple of years, you need to be sure that your business is here for the foreseeable future. Even if you’re doing well, you must be sure that this is your calling, and you won’t be tempted to throw in the entrepreneurial towel and take a tempting job offer when potential employers head-hunt you for the skills you’ve shown in starting your own business.

Whether you employ a couple of helpers or you’re a one-man-band, moving into your first office can be daunting for a small company. But if you see the signs, it could be time to take the plunge.