Office - Setting Up an Office
Streetwise Tips

Streetwise Tips on Setting Up an Office

Lease space as cheaply as you can. It may not be all you've ever dreamed of, but you're more likely to get to your dream space and stay there if you play it conservatively now.

Leave some extra space
If you envision growth for your company, especially in terms of employee count, leave some space open to accommodate new hires comfortably.

Try for one floor layouts
Like lots of other business people, I've learned from experience that having all of your office space - especially warehouse, manufacturing, or engineering space - all on one floor is much more efficient for interacting with everyone and getting work done. Discount the effectiveness of commercial space that you look at that requires additional floors.

Of course, multiple floors is a lot better that multiple buildings - a situation that I am in right now. Our warehouse is a mile down the street and is really inconvenient for a couple of dozen people - and a much bigger drag on productivity than I though it would be when I leased the facility.

First appearances count!
Even if you won't receive many customers in your office, put a little extra effort into the entrance of your office. Set up a couple of decent chairs for guests and for job candidates.

Don't spend tons of money, even on your "front' office. But a little energy expended on creating a pleasant atmosphere in your front office will definitely be worthwhile. Employees and visitors alike will appreciate it.

Creating an office that people want to work in
If you can create an office environment that people really want to work in, you'll be lot better off. You don't want your employees to be scared off or unhappy. Great locations and pleasant interior surroundings aren't the most important assets either. More important is how you run your business, and how much fun it is to work at your company.

Nevertheless, how you set up your office will have some impact on employee morale. Set aside a small space as an employee lounge area for use at break time, lunch, or even for a late-night rest when work gets demanding. Supply soda and candy - the little touches that keep people going.