Making the Jump from Home-Based Business to Office-Based Small Business


So much is often made of making the jump from operating a home-based business to an office-based small business but the biggest challenge you face is in your head.

That’s right, although there are challenges you’ll naturally face making the jump from the spare bedroom to an office, the biggest challenge – and often the greatest obstacle – is the business owner’s mind-set, with many subconsciously willing themselves to fail before they even get started.

Sure, most home-based business owners have their doubts as to whether they have what it takes to make the grade, though when you think about it, with the exception of office rental overheads to budget for, what exactly is so difficult about moving from the garage into an office?

Admittedly this depends on your expectations and whilst it’s naturally advantageous to aim high – no one who succeeds by aiming low – you have to set yourself realistic expectations of what you’ll achieve by making the jump from home-based business to office-based business.

When the Time is Right

Most home-based business owners know when the time is right to make the jump, though if you’re unsure as to when that is, here are a few ideas.

  • You realise you’re violating zoning restrictions by operating your business from home
  • You’ve hired employees and working from home is becoming uncomfortable due to limited space
  • You’re meeting your clients on a regular basis and need a professional meeting space
  • You’re tired of working at home and need to get out or you find that there are too many distractions at home to be productive

When you realise it’s time to make that jump then it’s time to make that jump; however, before you rush out and start sourcing a fancy office with all the trimmings, stop for a moment and ask yourself a very important question – What do you need from an office?

That’s an important question to ask yourself because there are many types of offices, many kinds of office arrangements and many varieties of office contracts, so you naturally want to get things right the first time.

The right office for your business

So what do you have in mind for an office? One with all the trimmings – a chesterfield sofa, a secretary or receptionist, a private office facing a waiting room crowded with clients – or do you just want somewhere that empowers you to work without distractions, provides you with ample space to operate, access to admin and business services and networking opportunities and put your businesses best foot forward by conveying a professional image?

If you want a functional office that empowers you to convey a professional impression of your business and yourself to your business peers and clients, then depending on where you’re located, you’ll find that you have many options to consider.

Moreover, don’t forget that you don’t need to hire an office on your own because office sharing is an option to consider, as are serviced offices with flexible contracts that lend themselves well to home-based business owners making the jump from home to an office.

Office sharing and serviced offices

Of the many benefits that office sharing arrangements and serviced offices have to offer home-based business owners who realise the time has come to start operating from an office, the low overheads and flexible arrangements – especially serviced offices – are two that really stand out, as does not having to spend a great deal on office outfits.

Having said that, you still need enough office equipment and furniture to operate comfortably and there are also a few other investments that you should consider making, like having a sign created to display on or above your office door so as to further awareness of your business and convey a more professional image to your business peers, clients and employees.

If you’re interested in office sharing and you’re a still feeling a little uncertain about moving your business out of the spare bedroom and into an office, it’s probably wise to look for a business that’s looking for a co-tenant rather than hiring an office yourself and then looking for someone to share with because this provides you with considerably more flexibility.

However, if it’s flexibility to retract or expand that you’re looking for in an office, then serviced office space is an excellent option because many office rental providers offer flexible contracts, plus in many cases you can also access admin and business services when you need them, reducing your need for fulltime employees and keeping your overheads competitively low until you’re ready to upgrade, provided you feel the need to.

Making the jump from home-based business to an office-based small business is a challenge; however, it’s likely to be much easier and less complicated than it’s often made out to be.

Author Credits ::

Juliet Martin is a freelance writer for Regus IE, a global workspace provider. You can contact her on her email address: julietmartin2013@gmail.com. For more information on Juliet, add her on her google (https://plus.google.com/u/0/103767676176481297958) and on linkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/juliet-martin/94/bb3/339).