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Five Things You should Look for When Scouting for Business Locations

Kara Masterson

March 27, 2014

If you are searching for a new location for your business, you may be concentrating on finding the right place at the right price. While cost is important, there are other aspects that merit your attention in order to keep your company running smoothly. Here are five top considerations to keep in mind while scouting for a new business location.

1. Ample Parking for Employees and Clients

The best office location in the city is not going to keep your employees or clients happy and engaged if they have to hike five blocks from an expensive parking garage to reach it. Dicey on-street parking or being forced to feed a meter every few hours are not good solutions, either. Ideally, your business space would have adequate parking for both employees and clients in a lot adjacent to the building. If this isn't possible, look for alternatives such as lots or garages that offer a shuttle.

2. Pleasant Neighboring Businesses

An office space may seem perfect until you move in and realize the stench from the nail salon underneath you is wafting up through the heating vents and the pollen from the florist in the next unit over has three of your employees sneezing and coughing. Even if the people running those businesses are the most pleasant folks in the world, you will likely need to move again to get any relief. Think carefully about the types of businesses in the surrounding area before making a decision.

3. Adequate Utility Hookups

Depending on your city, office space may not come standard with industrial-load electricity or high-speed Internet cabling. Before you sign the lease on any space, you need to make sure that all of your utility needs will be met.

4. Room to Expand, if Necessary

An office space may be perfect for what your company needs right now, but what will happen if your business grows and you need to hire a few more employees? While you don't necessarily want to lease a larger space than you need, ideally you will want to have the option of expanding if your situation changes. Renting the last small office in a full building is only a good idea if you are certain your space needs will not change.

5. Tight Security

The last thing you need is to move into a new space and come into the office for your first day to discover thieves have carted off thousands in electronics. Your office building should have a security system in place and, possibly, a guard in the evenings and overnight.

When scouting out a new business location, there are a lot of issues you need to keep in mind. Attending to these five items will allow you to make the best decision for yourself and your company.

Kara Masterson is a freelance writer from West Jordan, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah and enjoys writing about business and finance and spending time with her dog, Max. Information credited to Security System Mentor, OH.

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