In these ever evolving times how and where you work can make a massive difference to both you and your business. Regardless of whether you are a consultant looking to get out of the home office or a business looking to shake up your work environment there are plenty of office styles available. It can be hard to know what type of office is best going to suit you and your businesses and many people avoid shared office space as a result. However what many people don't know is that a shared office space is predominantly flexible, offering users freedom from restrictive contracts among other things. So whether you are a fast growing, small business who wants to have the option of increasing your desk space in the near future; or a contractor who only wants to pay for the facilities they use on a adhoc basis, shared office space can be customised around you and your business.
Don't Be Afraid To Ask
By discussing your needs and wants with those you are looking to or are already sharing with you can find a solution that suits everyone involved. No office is necessarily ideal for every business and many business owners can be reluctant to share office space for the fear that they will have to compromise on their needs and wants. However, this does not need to be the case. Regardless of whether you are sharing your existing office space or moving in with another company, shared offices can offer you the flexibility you may not realise your business needs. It is also important to remember, when searching for office space, if you are not sure, ask! If you are really looking for an office with both break out spaces and private meeting rooms but you can’t see in the advert if they offer both there is nothing wrong with phoning and asking.
Remember, not everyone is an advert writing master and not everyone values the same features while some may assume that some features are as standard and therefore may not have felt the need to mention it!
Knowing What You Want
When it comes to finding an office space (shared or not) that suits you and your business you first need to identify what are your needs and wants! This could include:
- How many desks do you need?
- Do you need the space to come furnished?
- Do you need 24hr access?
- What security do you want your office space to have?
- Do you need private space or meeting rooms?
- Where do you want to be? In the city center? An industrial area?
- How will you or your staff get to work? What transport links do you want to be near? Do you need car parking?
When it comes to sharing office space it is also vital to ask yourself:
- Would you be open to collaborative opportunities with other businesses you are sharing with?
- Would you be interested in the option to be able to outsource work to a business you are sharing with?
- If you are a creative business would you like the ability to share break out space with other companies who may also be in creative industries?
It is important to note that these lists are far from extensive and what may be important to one business is not as important to another regardless of whether they are in the same industry or not. This brings us back to our previous point; just because it does not specifically mention it in the advert doesn't mean that it's not offered or not an option!
So What’s Next?
So now you have made a note about what your needs and wants are, you can start looking for office space but where do you look? From Gumtree to a customised platform there are a wealth of agents and sites offering the ability to advertise and find office space. If you are looking for shared office space do your research, look around and don't be afraid to ask questions when considering a space to ensure it meets all your needs.
However, if you are looking to share your existing office space it is important to note that many of these sites charge a form of commission or act as a middleman for enquiries and discussions. This, in turn, can put office owners off the idea of sharing that spare office space but this does not have to be the case. At Share My Office we allow you to create your own advert on our platform for a simple one off fee and leave the rest to you. How you price your advert, what access you want to allow, what facilities you are willing to offer or what type of businesses you want to share with is completely up to you.
So whether you are looking to share your existing office space or rent space within another larger office the most important thing to remember is communication. By opening up discussions with those you share your office space with; you can find and create a work environment that is perfect for you and your business.
