Whether you’re just starting your business or looking to move from your home office to a more formal location, renting your first office is a big decision, especially in an expensive market like Washington DC, Arlington VA and Alexandria VA. The biggest challenge for many people is finding a space large enough to fit their budget.
To ensure you find the best office space for your business, spend some time researching and thinking about how you envision your business now and in the future. Before we dive into our tips for finding office space, you should first determine your space needs.
Every business has different needs, so there is no one standard size or location that makes sense for everyone. That being said, there are some basic factors to consider.
One of the most important factors when looking for office space is location. Do you need to be near a particular business for your business to be successful? For example, if you need to deposit your checks every day, you need a bank nearby. Or maybe you have many customers in a particular region. You may want to keep your office nearby. Office Space then makes it easy to visit the office. And vice versa. Don’t forget to take care of essential public amenities like high-speed internet and access to public transportation.
Office space is one of the largest running costs of a business, especially in District of Columbia. Before you start looking for office space, make sure you know your budget. From there, work directly with the broker. They will tell you what is realistic in your price range. The cost of office space varies greatly by region, building class, and equipment. So if you’re on a tight budget, you’ll have to head to the suburbs, where you’ll pay for electricity and internet if you rent a private room. In some cases, a water bill is also required. Always check with your landlord and agent what is included in the rent before signing the rental agreement. If you choose a coworking space, most utilities are included in your rent.
In addition to the base rent, you should also consider whether you will have to pay a security deposit and some building taxes, insurance and maintenance costs. Oh, and don’t forget his one-time agent fee when signing the lease. Remember these are all negotiable. Just because office space is listed as $3,000 per month doesn’t mean you have to agree to that amount. You can usually negotiate 5-20% below list price. You can even charge your rent for free for the first few months. Arlington Virginia office space is still looking for tenants as more businesses start going remote.
If you’re an entrepreneur looking to start a new business or expand into a new market, you may be wondering whether to jump on the coworking bandwagon or opt for a private office. As you can imagine, both have their pros and cons. The biggest advantage of coworking spaces is their low cost. For one person or a small team, coworking is probably the best option. Get the benefits of physical location at a fraction of the price you’d pay for a private office. Also, most coworking locations provide furniture, electricity, internet, and other utilities. As your team grows, you can use this space to move to larger offices on the floor.
Coworking may not be the best option if you have a lot of client interaction. In general, you don’t have much control over what your office looks like, and you don’t have much privacy. Private meeting rooms can be reserved, but must avoid the schedules of other companies in the building. Plus, it can be difficult to create that feeling of intimacy in those open floor plans often found in coworking spaces. If your company handles a lot of sensitive information, you should choose a private office.
