Are you running your business at home? If you do, then you’re one of many business owners who are enjoying the benefits of having an office at home, cost savings and easy commute included. However, as your business grows, there comes a time when you need to go out and look for other space for your office. Here are some signs that your business already outgrows your home:
1. Your home office has adverse effects on your clients
Does a crying baby interrupt your phone call? Or does some loud music played by your neighbour irk your visiting customer? If the answer to these is yes, then it’s time for you to consider moving your office out of your home.
2. If you’re struggling to separate personal life from work
One of the downsides of having to work at home is the challenge to separate family/ personal life from work. If you’re having a hard time focusing on your project proposal because you’re thinking of the pile of dishes on your sink, or if you can’t sleep well at night because you can readily see your blinking computer, then perhaps it’s better if you have a physical separation between work and home.
3. Your house looks more like an office, than a house
Another sign that your business is outgrowing your house is when your house doesn’t look like homey anymore. There are piles of documents on your dining table, boxes on your floor, computers on your living room, etc. If you see that work is already invading your home, then you should probably get more space.
4. Increasing need to meet with vendors, suppliers and customers.
Meeting vendors, suppliers and customers in your home on a regular basis can have a negative impact on your business identity. It can also adversely affect your relationship with your family or housemates. If you need to hold meetings with various stakeholders, then it’s time to get new space for your business.
5. You hire employees to work with you.
Your employees need some kind of workspace that’s away from your home. Remember that not everyone would want to work in your house, and use your personal bathroom, or eat in your dining room. Provide a more conventional office environment for your employees so that they could have the space and resources to effectively and efficiently perform their job.
6. Your business needs more visibility.
Having a separate/ different office address could actually help your business’ visibility. If you have an official business office with signage, then your business brand could be made more known to your target market.