If you’re starting out in business then one of the main things to think about is where you’re going to be based. While working from home used to be a handy way of keeping costs low and avoiding a tedious daily commute into the bargain, people are increasingly seeing the benefits of renting desk or office space.
Thanks to comparison websites that work along the same lines as those you use to find the best broadband or mobile phone deals, it’s now quick and easy to locate this sort of rental work space within mere minutes. The recession may still rumble on, but it has also been to the benefit of people seeking space, as prices are better than ever.
Why do it?
Small businesses are always keen to cut their overheads and going down the route of a rented desk or office can actually be a great way to do this. For starters, you simply rent the desk or a whole office from a landlord, who has to take care of the building and its upkeep. That also means he’ll have to look after things like cleaners and also provide amenities that you’d otherwise have to spend time thinking about.
And those costs will be much lower than you might think, because renting out a desk in a shared office is a tactic being employed by landlords who are anxious to get more of a return from their office dead space. Therefore, you’ll generally find that contracts are cheaper, short-term and on a rolling basis.
Renting a single desk can be a real boon to someone, such as a freelancer for example, who doesn’t want to work from home anymore or has outgrown the space in a spare bedroom, study or even the garage. A desk in an office complex also makes for a great shop window for your business activities and will almost certainly increase your chances for networking.
Location, location, location
With a glut of ready to go office space currently available it also means that you’ll be able to pick pretty much exactly where you want to be based, without breaking the bank. Many rented desk and office schemes are available either in prime inner city real estate locations or on plush purpose built business parks.
Either way, because there is so much of it around, this means you can pick a location that’s easy to get to and also features all of the things you need. Although single desk rental schemes come with little in the way of frills, you’ll find that renting a shared office could bring with it receptionists, post and IT support facilitates.
With flexibility and convenience being the mainstays of desk and office rental options, there is also plenty of provision for expansion too. Thanks to those short-term contracts, it should be easy to either add extra desk space if you need it or move on up to a fully-fledged rented office if the time ever comes that you want to employ other people.
The next move
It may seem like a needless outlay if you’re currently working on your own at home, but the appeal of renting a desk or office space is easy to see. After all, it lends an instant credibility to your venture and will prove to be an attractive meeting place for protective new clients too. What’s more, many of us tend to feel a little stifled working from home, either from the space restraints or endless interruptions from our loved ones.
So, making the move to a desk or office in a properly organised complex could end up being the best thing you ever do. Better still, thanks to those easy-come easy-go contracts and hugely competitive prices, it won’t cost as much as you’d expect either.
About the author: Rob Clymo writes on behalf of www.officegenie.co.uk, the UK’s first proper online marketplace for desk space and shared office space.
