First and foremost, the company location you choose will be determined by the kind of business you run. Business parks, retail malls, strip malls, professional buildings, and other structures are all built to suit the unique requirements of different companies. If you’re transitioning from online-only to online plus brick-and-mortar, your requirements will be quite different from those of an accountant seeking to expand your business and bring in new customers. You need to pick the right location before you even start working with a great mortgage lender.
Planning and study and a desire to fully evaluate all of your choices are required for a company location strategy. With these valuable hints, you can choose the ideal location for your growing company:
Types of Location for Businesses
Here are the five most popular company sites, although innovative alternatives such as co-working spaces are constantly emerging. Keep an eye out for these and other kinds of locations that may suit your requirements.
- Home-based company: If you work from the house but need additional space, you may want to consider relocating to a new home or building to your current one to make the necessary office space.
- Don’t restrict yourself to downtown shops and strip malls in the retail industry. Retail space is also available at airports, free-standing buildings, and special event kiosks.
- Mobile companies: Previously, the only businesses that moved were circuses and festival vendors. However, with the advent of mobile card readers, your restaurant can now add a roving food truck location, and your used book store may establish a new pop-up shop near the beach.
- Commercial business space: Commercial business spaces provide flexibility for future development but are usually best suited for companies that do not depend on high customer traffic.
- Industrial site: If you own a manufacturing or distribution company, you will have unique requirements and will most likely have restricted options for establishing a new location. Businesses that need significant warehouse space, enterprises requiring access to major transportation routes, or companies that may generate pollutants as part of the production process all require industrial sites.
Local zoning laws in your neighborhood will almost always determine where you may place your company. Don’t sign anything unless you’re sure it’s legal for you to run your company in the targeted area.
Budget-Friendly Locations
Of course, selecting a site that falls within your company’s budget will be one of your top concerns. However, when it comes to money, it is not the only thing to consider. Aside from the purchase price or monthly rent, there are often additional location-specific expenses to consider. Taxes, renovations, utility improvements, minimum wage regulations, and economic incentives are hidden expenses that must be regarded in almost every area. When deciding on a new company site, even mobile companies must consider the cost of permits and vehicle registration.
Considering all the above can assist you in making an informed decision about your future company location. Before making any decisions, talk with other company owners in the neighborhood to ensure they are satisfied with the site. Although it is impossible to anticipate if a new site will be successful, you can conduct as much research as possible ahead of time to ensure it is the best available match for your expanding company.
Brand Impact
When establishing your company location plan and considering alternatives, keep your brand in mind. For example, you probably wouldn’t want to locate your new office supplies store in the heart of a high-end, boutique retail area. Similarly, an expensive restaurant may struggle amid a college town or rural region, where consumers are used to spending less money on food.
Working with Suppliers
You’ll need to choose a location that allows you to interact with your vendors and suppliers easily; otherwise, you may face significant delays or chronic problems with inventory levels. When weighing your choices, evaluate which geographical site it makes simpler and less expensive to get the raw materials you need to function.
When choosing a company site, pricing, availability and parking, and market attractiveness are all variables to consider. Choosing the right location for your company is critical to its overall success, so do your homework before committing to a site. Business location can impact your company more than you can even imagine. So be careful and deliberate.
Remember to consider your location as a company owner and an employee, and prospective customer. A well-informed company placement plan can guarantee that you locate the ideal spot to open your doors for business.
