There are numerous reasons why the location of your office space matters. It can have an impact on employees, customers, vendors and everyone else you deal with. You want your location to be convenient and accessible and to create a favorable impression about your brand. Getting your location wrong can have a negative effect on your company. Getting it right means you can grow your credibility, attract and retain top talent, increase your revenue and much more.
Brand image
You don’t want the location you choose to give the wrong message about your brand. If you have your legal firm in a dodgy area, this contradicts your clients’ expectations and can make them trust you less. The type of city and neighborhood where your office is located says a lot about your company, and you want that all-important first impression to be favorable.
If you’re a tech startup, an office in or near Silicon Valley could make the right impression. An office in New York would put you with some of the world’s iconic brands. Washington DC is home to numerous top companies, and renting office space could offer many opportunities. Coworking spaces are often an attractive option as it gives you the flexibility to add, subtract and move desks on a monthly basis at locations all over the city.
Costs
Most business owners prioritize costs when choosing an office space. The location of your office affects the amount of rent you will pay. You will have to weigh up the benefits of having an office in a more expensive location if it offers more opportunities to find new clients etc. City centers are often great for accessibility and talent, but they are more expensive, and utilities and rates are high if you want to lease a building.
If you spend less on a location that isn’t really that suitable, it could affect your revenue. If you end up spending too much on an expensive location, it could be difficult to pay the rent every month. The happy balance could be to consider up-and-coming spaces that are not yet popular enough for the rent to be exorbitant.
Convenience
If you’re operating a retail business, you can’t afford to be too far away from customers, or they will choose to buy from stores closer to them. It’s best to be in a location where you have some foot traffic. If you rely on suppliers for physical products, make sure they don’t have to drive too far to deliver to you, as this will cost you more.
If you have many clients in one location, you shouldn’t move too far away from them, or you may lose them. It is vital for your offices to be in a location where your clients live and work. Convenience for clients is key if you’re in a human-based business.
Your office must also be accessible to your employees. Think about where they have to commute from and whether they use public transport to travel to work and back. Make sure there’s ample parking for employees who drive their own cars.
Amenities
You need to consider access to desirable amenities for employees. If your building isn’t full of amenities, you can utilize amenities close by. Try to find out what your employees want and then see if there are amenities in the location that they could use. Local gyms might be open to giving you special rates for employees. Employees may want access to healthy food, in which case, a nearby restaurant that sells healthy meals could appeal to them. Are there green spaces near the office where they can get some fresh air and sunshine? Are there local coffee shops they can go to on breaks?
Competition
Depending on the type of business you operate, the closeness of competitors can be good or bad. If you have a small business, it is a bad decision to choose a location where you have a competitor who sells the same products as you but for lower prices. Generally, if you want a substantial share of the market, you want to be the primary supplier in the location.
Sometimes it is beneficial to be close to competitors, such as if you’re in an industry where comparison shopping is popular. You may catch the overflow from existing businesses, particularly if you're located in an entertainment or restaurant area. Healthy competition can encourage innovation and promote more traffic and more business.
Image source: sbmarketingtools.com
