When you first start in business, you generally start by working from home. As things progress and expand, you may consider renting out some office space. This will allow you to take on staff and develop a more professional look. But setting up an office isn’t necessarily the easiest thing to do. You’ll have a whole lot to think about, from design to representing your brand image.
Here are just a few things you need to consider so you can get you set your office up for success.
Outfitting Your Office Space
Before people can begin to work in your office space, you need to ensure that it’s adequately outfitted. This will ensure the space is safe and functional for everyone who will be spending time in it. Your office design can also dramatically boost productivity.
Make sure you have appropriate signage. Now you probably read this and thought the signage outside the building or office so that customers will find you. However, it’s more than that. You can have some fun tech like eco-friendly LED neon signs to really draw passers-by into the premises, or even to give your office its own branding. Also, LED neon signs can be powered by solar energy, saving you money on utility bills, and you won’t have to pay for replacement bulbs.
You have to consider any safety signs you need as well. This can vary from signs indicating fire exits to warnings highlighting uneven floors, low ceilings, or even wet floors. You should also ensure there are sufficient fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and other necessary health and safety equipment pieces.
Next, focus on furnishings. Ensure all of your office furnishings are ergonomically designed for the sake of your staff. You also want to make sure you have the necessary technology for everyone to perform their required task. These include copy and fax machines, desktop computers, laptops, and telephones or company cell phones. Think about what you need to get started in an office setting and add more or upgrade as you generate more revenue.
Don’t buy the first items you see. Take time to look around at different furniture stores. You may also want to look online. You can find many great deals there, and shipping and delivery fees can be inexpensive as well. Once this is in place, you can start focusing on more aesthetic features, such as wall paintings and specialist equipment.
Make Sure You Have IT Support
You have great computers and laptops for everyone, and now you have to make sure you have the right software and tech support. Many business owners will put everything in place in the office without ensuring IT Solutions are readily available. When something goes wrong, and nobody knows how to fix it, you can lose a whole lot of valuable time. You could also possibly lose a lot of helpful information. Ensuring you have IT Support up and ready to go, you can minimize the number of IT-based interruptions throughout the day and quickly put any tech problems to rest. Generally speaking, outsourcing is an excellent way to go, especially when first setting up your office. It reduces your responsibility at the same time as ensuring the job is done!
Ensure There’s a Meeting Room
Every office should have at least one meeting room. This should be separate from the rest of the working space and should be relatively private. Meeting rooms ensure you have space where you can interview potential candidates, meet with partners, or even have meetings with your employees to develop new ideas or get to the bottom of problems. There’s always bound to be conversations that require a little more privacy or the need for sessions where people can leave their usual working space and let their creativity flow!
If you are starting small and don’t have room for a meeting room, see if there is a shared conference room in the building your office is located in. You can also consider meeting at a local restaurant or coffee shop with a private area you can use. This will help you establish relationships with other local business owners. You support them, and they will support you as well.
These are just a few areas to focus on when you set up your office. Hopefully, they will help you to get started in the right direction. When it comes to your office space, always have a mind open to suggestions and constructive criticism. This can help you continue to create a more productive and pleasant office space for yourself and your employees as time goes on!
Carolyn R. Owens has over 25 years of proven experience and serves as a Career Strategist, Leadership, and Life Coach. She is the Chairwoman and CEO of Infinity Coaching, Inc., where they help you up-level your skills so you can up-level your income. Infinity Coaching, Inc. provides one-on-one and group coaching, organizational training, and personality assessments. Carolyn is certified to give both The Energy Leadership Index and Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessments. You can find out more about both assessments and other products and services athttps://infinitycoaching.net.
