Choosing the right office and storage space is crucial for your business. This article outlines 5 key considerations to ensure you find the perfect fit before you sign a lease, saving you time and money in the long run.
It’s difficult to backtrack once you’ve made the final decision about where to set up your office and storage facilities, which makes it all the more important to carefully consider your requirements before deciding on the right business storage solution. Here are five questions to ask before signing on the dotted line.
How much is it going to cost me?
Running a successful business is a game of balancing numbers. It’s the one fundamental consideration that takes precedence above all else: Can the business afford it? When looking at storage and office facilities, compare the cost of a turnkey office and storage solution against separating the two business functions at different locations. The first option may be more budget-friendly in the long run.
The size of the offices and storage facilities also factor into cost. U Can Store has different storage options for small and larger businesses that range from compact storage units to larger warehousing facilities.
Where are the facilities located?
Location. Location. Location. To steal the old maxim from the real estate fraternity, location is one of the first considerations when it comes to deciding the best office space and storage facilities for your business. There are two factors at play here:
The location of your office
The location of the storage facilities in relation to your office.
Offices need to be conveniently and centrally located for ease of doing business and other logistical reasons, but it can also be beneficial to have storage facilities on-site, which means immediate access to your stock. These efficiencies can drive down costs in the long term.
U Can Store business facilities are centrally located in key business areas around Johannesburg, with storage and warehousing facilities on the same site as our office spaces.
Does the business space have the necessary amenities and offer key services for my operations?
Speedy internet, meeting rooms to host clients, along with comfortable chairs and desks are non-negotiables at any office. Before deciding on an office space, it’s best to figure out exactly what your company needs are and check these requirements against the amenities of the space you have in mind.
Does your day-to-day operations include in-person meetings with clients? If so, look out for meeting rooms in the space. On the other hand, secure and consistent internet is an absolute must if you’re doing most of your business virtually.
Similarly, for on-site storage, it’s important to consider the services and infrastructure available to you. Are there forklift operators to safely move stock? Do they offer packing supplies, and other stock materials and equipment at the site? U Can Store has all the supplies right there at the storage facility to make the storage of your inventory as quick and painless as possible.
Are the premises secure?
Naturally, security should be a top priority for any retail business holding stock over time. Check the security measures of the office and storage facilities. Are the premises monitored 24/7? Are there surveillance cameras in place? Are there security guards on patrol? These are all questions to ask your potential business facilities provider. At U Can Store, we can confidently answer yes to all of the above.
What is the leasing period on the contract?
Everyone has a story about that one time they signed up for a gym membership only to end up never going, but being locked into the contract, anyway. It’s ok, lessons were learned, now apply them to shopping around for the right office and storage facilities.
Moving into a new office space is never going to be a fly-by-night exercise, but ideally you want some flexibility to accommodate potential shifts in the business. Businesses change and you should be able to adapt, even if it means upscaling or downscaling your business facilities.
At U Can Store we understand that business needs change, which is why we offer short/long-term leases with deposits required (‘normal storage’ unit month-to-month contracts and 6-month office unit leases), so business owners can adapt their storage and office requirements as their company evolves.
Learn more about our business solutions and gain everything you need to know today. Get access to your checklist to help you make sure you make the right decision for your business needs.
