Whether you’re a newcomer to the world of business leadership, or you’re looking for a second site or room for expansion for an existing successful firm, finding the perfect office is never easy.
You’ll want to balance the cost of the premises with giving your staff a site that’s easy to commute to, and easy to work from, without depriving them of much-needed amenities to help the day pass enjoyably.
On top of that, office space in London gives you the commercial benefit of an address in the nation’s capital, and that’s a boost to many businesses, particularly in professional services or the finance sector.
So how do you go about finding the perfect office, with all of the essentials, but without breaking the bank?
Location first
Step one, as with house-hunting, is to choose your perfect location, and centre your search on that postcode, street or specific building to see if you can get what you want, where you want, at a price you want.
Although it might be impossible to get something within budget in the exact location you want, it’s worth aiming first for exactly what you want, and then working out where you can make some compromises.
This might mean widening your search area slightly, or it could be about finding out what properties are available with the address you want most of all, and deciding if any of them could be made to serve your purposes.
Services second
Once you know where you’re looking, you need to work out what kind of office space you need – are bare-bones, unfurnished premises enough for you, or do you need furniture to be provided?
If you’re buying premises, you’ll probably have to furnish them yourself, but if you’re renting you should be able to find anything from an empty shell, right through to fully-furnished serviced office space that’s ready for your employees to walk right into.
Again, this is an area where you might be able to make some compromises – if your employees buy their coffee on the way to work, you might not need to provide them with a kitchen at the office too.
Amenities third
Third on the list of considerations, and leading on from the question of nearby coffee shops mentioned above, is the issue of whether the area provides the amenities your workforce needs.
Off-road secure parking is at a premium in central London locations, but could be a crucial element if you provide your employees with company cars.
Nearby public transport, meanwhile, might make it easier for car-less employees to commute into work, as Londoners have been doing for generations.
Prioritise the amenities you cannot do without, and let the rest work itself out as you find out how far your budget can stretch – and you’ll soon have the office space you need for your business to thrive.
