It is very rare for a business in London to stay in the same location or office for its entire lifetime. If a company is expanding, the current space may no longer be suitable, and there are a number of other factors which contribute to a relocation. Moving office can be extremely stressful and can disrupt the normal running of the business, so the decision shouldn’t be made lightly.
How do you know if you’re ready to take the leap into a new office? Furthermore, if you know it’s essential to relocate sooner rather than later, how do you start the long process? As office relocation specialists, we’ve put together some top tips for business owners considering moving to a new business premises.
Should I stay or should I go?
Moving office is a lot of effort, so you need to be able to justify a relocation. There are loads of reasons why a new office could be a good idea.
Save money – perhaps your current lease is up and the rent is increasing, or you’re not willing to sign a new long term lease. You might have found the perfect office in a cheaper neighbourhood, which would be a great business move.
More space – whether you’re hiring more staff or investing in extra equipment, you’re going to need a bigger space. If the current office is becoming a squeeze, it’s time to upgrade to a larger space.
Changing business needs – there may be other reasons why the company requires a new type of space. Perhaps you need to be closer to your clients or more accessible, or the current building no longer fits the business requirements.
Planning an office relocation
If you’ve decided that a move will be good for business, then it’s time to get planning the relocation. Moving a company is different from moving house – there is much more to organise than a man with a van! Most businesses use an office relocation service to manage the project and ensure everything runs smoothly.
Allow enough time for packing up and cleaning the old office, and setting up the new office. Remember you’ll need technical IT support to help set up the computers and networks in the new building. Another good idea is taking photographs of the original office layout and servers and computer wiring if you might not remember how to set everything up again.
Of course, you want business disruption to be at a minimum so the actual moving of furniture and equipment should be completed as soon as possible. Keep employees updated about when they can return to work as normal, and most importantly let clients and customers know that your phone lines will be down for a short period when relocating.
If you need professional help with an office relocation, get in touch with our friendly team.
