By Rebecca D’Souza
There comes a point in every successful start up’s journey when they will outgrow their first office space and will need to look at moving premises. Most often, this is due to an expanding workforce resulting from increased sales.
It is an exciting time but can also be overwhelming. Moving office is no easy task; the project must be managed properly throughout to ensure a smooth transition. Getting it right first time is essential since small errors in the process can have a catastrophic impact on a start-up’s bottom line.
Follow our top tips to help you plan and execute the perfect office move.
Planning is key
Ideally, you will want your next office space to last at least 10 years so it is important to sit down and really understand what it will take to grow your business and how many people it will take to reach the goals you have set.
A useful exercise to complete before you start looking for a new office, is to note down your reasons for this move and your business objectives. Getting this information on paper will help to structure your thought processes, keeping you focussed on the bigger picture. Some key questions to ask yourself at this stage include the following:
- When does the lease on your current office run out?
- How much space are you looking for?
- What is your budget?
- What is your wish-list of features for the new office space? From this list, which ones are you willing to compromise on?
- When will you be looking to move?
Be sure to factor into your plans all of the things that could potentially impact you hitting your targets such as political climate, industry changes etc.
Call in the professionals
Once you have found your dream office space, you’ll need to decide how you are going to execute the move. It is worth investing in a respected removals company to help with a business move – their expertise can help protect you from serious mistakes being made further down the line that could directly impact your company’s profitability. Having professional guidance throughout the process provides peace of mind, taking the stress out of moving and significantly reduces the risk of error.
Appoint a project manager
Choose a trusted employee, in a position of seniority in your company, to internally oversee the move. This is not a small side project and therefore needs to be delegated to an individual that has enough time to dedicate to the office move project. The ultimate project manager will have the ability to multi-task, have experience of working with budgets, an effective communicator and importantly, be exceptionally organised. The Executive Team should be regularly speaking with the Project Manager to ensure that everything is on track and be closely involved in the process.
Organise the chaos
Moving office is an upheaval of the everyday routine but there are measures you can take to ensure that the chaos is as organised as possible to reduce stress all round. Being a small business makes it easier to ensure that all team members are involved in the moving process and have the chance to ask questions and raise concerns. It is also important to communicate to your team what is expected from them around the move and what they can do to help. Drawing up floor and seating plans for your new office space in advance is also highly recommended in avoiding unnecessary chaos on moving day. Asking the team for feedback and ensuring they are well informed will ensure the transition is smoother.
About the Author
Rebecca D’Souza is a freelance writer covering all aspects of business, including online marketing and PR.
