If you’re setting up a new office or relocating a current one, there’s a lot of decisions to be made. One of the biggest decisions is where to locate this new office. Where should you go and set up? There are a few things to consider as part of your decision.
Commuting
The main thing to consider when deciding how to relocate your office is how easy the office location is for your staff to access. If you’ve set up an office in the middle of nowhere that requires people to have long, frustrating commutes, then you aren’t going to get the best out of your team. Even a city-centre location might not be that convenient if will mean sitting in hours of traffic for those travelling to and from the office.
Choose somewhere with good transport links. Ideally, you want to be near the main road to suit those who drive, and near a train station or bus stop for those who don’t drive. Make sure there is some way for those who don’t wish to drive to reach you, so you don’t accidentally limit your hiring pool.
Footfall
What kind of business are you opening? Do you need to attract people in from the street to buy products? Even if you don’t, an area with high footfall can be helpful if you’re trying to build brand recognition. If people often walk past and get used to seeing your logo, then they will begin to recognise your business and be more tempted to engage with you. Footfall is essential for shops and other businesses that rely on customers coming into the location.
Safety
Is your business located in a safe area? If your business is located in an area known for low-crime rates, than your insurance costs may be lower, as well as having a lower risk of your business being broken in to. Working in a safe area will also be more appealing for your staff, especially if they have to leave the office later in the evening.
You can improve office security by making sure parking areas are well lit, and fitting security options like parking barriers and door entry systems.
Community
What kind of people live in the area? Is there a community of people in the area who might be interested in your business? Do your target audience live nearby? Consider too the potential hiring pool in the area. If you want to attract the right talent to work for you, you need to know they can get to you, and ideally, live nearby so they will apply to your company first.
If you need people with certain qualifications or like to hire recent graduates, then setting up near a university campus or a trade school could be a wise idea, as you have a ready-made hiring pool on hand.
Choosing where to open your business is a big decision, with a lot of factors to consider. Make sure you weigh up all the options before you decide.
