A Place to Work

Factory or Kitchen Table

If you are just starting a business you will need a place from which to operate. In this day and age, an actual address is not always necessary. For example - to run an online business, all you need is a laptop computer and internet service. Your clients don’t know, and most likely don’t care that you may be in your RV by the lake, or the other side of the world, just as long as they get what they want, when they want it.

Here are some examples, starting with the more traditional - 

1. If your business is manufacturing or warehousing for a distribution company, then you are going to need a factory or a suitable warehouse. There are lots of things to consider depending upon what you are doing, first thing to make sure the property has the appropriate zoning.
   
   
2. If you are in the medical field for example, you’ll need to look for a suitably zoned location, one with high volume parking, and one with easy access for patients.  Buildings designed especially for this industry, are a perfect option.
   
   
3. If you are in the retail business, you need to work somewhere with a high traffic of people who are you potential buyers. For example - a Shopping Mall may fit this criteria.
   
   
4. If you are in the service industry, all you really need is office space in an office building. These spaces can be leased by the SQ FT. If you anticipate growing to the point where you’ll need more space, make sure expansion is an option.
   
   
5. If an office space is too much, consider an Executive Office. Executive Offices are available through a management company. Included is a small private office - usually fully furnished (desk, chairs, filing cabinet, bookshelves, phone, etc., etc.)  They offer a variety of services, but their main attraction is, they cater to small businesses, and they are convenient in as much as they present a professional business environment.  They come with short term contracts, and there is usually room to grow. Furthermore, many of the services are shared.  These services include a common reception, meeting rooms, postal and copying facilities etc.  Many a small business has started out on this route.
   
   
6. If you do not need a full time office, but just a place to meet customers for example, Executive Offices also offer a Virtual Office. In this case, all the facilities are available, except for an actual office space.
   
   
7. Many a business is run from the kitchen table, or from a small desk in the corner of a bedroom or den - whatever. The advantage here is, part of the home expenses can become a business expense.
   
   
8. Next, your local WiFi coffee shop. Sometimes, all you really need is a computer and access to the internet. The only cost to using your local coffee shop is the occasional coffee and a donut. If this is doable, then a recommendation is - rather than use the Cafe’s WiFi, which is often over-crowded and unsecure, pay a small monthly fee to increase your data limit on your phone plan and use your mobile phone as a ‘hotpot’, and ‘point’ your computer WiFi to your phone. If you opt for this, be respectful and don’t take up a table for 4 during their peak hours.

Where and how you operate your business is mostly dictated by your business, but for many businesses these days, you do not need to be on the top floor of a downtown office tower. The view may be nice, but the rent - not so much.