Do you feel as though you're running out of work space? Every
business eventually approaches the point where a home office just doesn't cut
it anymore. It may be time to get your own commercial or retail space,
especially if you're finding yourself lacking square footage. Here are some
signs that it's time to go commercial.
One of the worst aspects about working from home is that you're
often interrupted. Your spouse, children, family members, and roommates may be
constantly interrupting your work. They may not even think about it when it
happens — it's easy to assume that you aren't busy because you're at home.
You may even be interrupting and distracting yourself. If you
have a television or other entertainment options close to your office, you may
be tempted to procrastinate and get less work done.
Businesses can outgrow their offices. If you can't find any more
storage for your items and your materials, it may be time for you to get a
commercial office. Renting storage space outside of your house could be nearly
as expensive as renting a small office, with less benefit.
Better storage within your office space will make your business
more productive and will also open up space for product inventory if you need
it. You will also be able to expand your business and could even make space for
equipment.
Are your clients starting to meet you at your home? If so, you
may need to get more parking and a more professional space. Clients are often
going to judge you based on where you work. If you have a professional office,
they may assume that you're better at providing your products and services.
Parking can also be an issue in a residential zone.
If your business is expanding to encompass employees, it's very
likely that you're going to need to move out of your home and into a
professional space. Not only will it be much easier to complete your
professional business processes in this new space, but your employees will have
more space and comfort. It can be very difficult for employees to work out of a
home, especially if you have multiple and/or full-time employees.
Are your neighbors starting to complain about your clients
coming in and out of the area? Are you running into issues with your post
office? These are problems with zoning.
If you're zoned in a residential area, running a small home
office is fine. Running an entire business out of your house, however, is not
going to be. Before you start running up against fees and penalties, it may be
better to move into a commercial space.
You can also argue to change your property's zoning, but this is
a difficult process. It's very challenging to try to zone a residential area to
be a mixed-use area, especially since there are likely mixed-use areas
relatively close by.
Is your internet service not fast enough? Are your phone systems
not reliable? Commercial utilities tend to be faster and more reliable than
residential utilities. If you find that your service is often interrupted, you
may need a better service.
If you're ready to move out of your home office, it's time to
contact a real estate agent. A commercial real estate agent will be able to
give you more information regarding what's available in your area.
Contact Missouth
Properties to get started.
