Businesses and offices used to go hand in hand. If you had a business of any kind that wasn’t a shop or showroom, you would need an office. However, in recent years, more and more people have been starting their own businesses, with startup businesses booming everywhere from London to Los Angeles and beyond. Couple this with increasing numbers of people now working remotely rather than from an office as previously and things appear very different.
When starting out though, many businesses still want and need an office. After all, if you are inviting clients and customers to meet you and your colleagues at your new business, you can hardly take them to your place of living and to your bedroom desk. It is inevitability that many will need office space rather than an office per se.
If as a business you can get a work space that is more comfortable, more cost-effective and more fit for purpose, why would you seek to buy or rent an office space somewhere that is unnecessary?
There are so many types of office and workspace around nowadays. From communally shared spaces to small ‘cubicle’ type offices and even bespoke pods built in your back garden and made to measure, there is something for everyone who is after workspace of any kind for all types of work and business.
Home Offices
As simple as going downstairs to the morning room, opening your laptop and turning on your phone, a home office can save you a lot of money and has a number of benefits to it for anyone starting out or working in an industry that doesn’t require constant face to face meetings with clients. Also, having a home office allows you the flexibility of when and exactly where to work.
The main advantages of home offices are:
- Reduced overheads
- Comfortable working space allowing increased productivity
- No commute and savings through not having to pay for travel to work
- Everything is in one place – kitchen, place of work, relaxation areas
- Easy to arrange external commitments around work (appointments and meetings)
- Personalised and familiar work space
- Ability to move to locations as you like such as coffee shops
However, whilst there are many advantages to working from a home office or dedicated space in your place of living, there can be a few pitfalls that you should be wary of such as getting distracted from work, not being able to separate business and home life and ensuring it doesn’t impact on your social or home life as a whole.
For a wide range of home office items and furniture, visit IKEA (https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/rooms/home-office/)
Co-Working Spaces
These are a fairly new phenomenon and are a firm favourite with freelancers, startups and new businesses that need and want a dedicated office space, whilst keeping costs down and maximising networking opportunities. These office spaces have everything you need under one roof. Many of these communal office spaces have on site cafés, phone lines, internet and Wi-Fi access and stationary and office supply retailers.
There is also a wide variety of options of how to use the office space with hot-desks available. For those who like an increased degree of permanency, but still want to reduce costs of an office, rooms, desks and spaces can be rented out and allocated for a monthly fee.
Advantages of these types of office space include:
- Reduced overheads
- Easy to network and mix with other like-minded businesspeople and office workers
- Ability to pick a package to suit you and your needs
- These office spaces are usually very nicely and centrally located
- Many locations to choose from
- Can bring your own equipment/ computer/ laptop
- Great atmosphere
It should also be taken into account that in order to utilise a co-working space, you will need to pay your monthly fee (similar to rent). Also, unlike an office where everything is accessible and available, drinks, food and refreshments as well as anything purchased will cost you. Also, whilst these spaces allow for very effective networking, it is important not to get too distracted by others there. Some packages, such as ‘hot-desking’ doesn’t guarantee you a spot either, just access and a table and chair, somewhere inside.
We Work offer a variety of co-working spaces throughout London. Prices start from £250p/m – https://www.wework.com/l/london
Pod Offices
Pod offices are purpose built structures that are usually found in the back garden of those with them. They are made to measure, fit for purpose offices that are tailored to your needs and requirements. They offer a wide range of customising opportunities, options and designs and you are sure to find something you like that suits all your work needs.
Office pods, like co-working space have taken off since more people took to working remotely. This mixed with more startups springing up everywhere and the prices of office space in London and other major cities has caused people to look at what space they have and what they can do with it. Office pods are the perfect mix of home working and office working. You are within reach of your home, but not close enough that you don’t feel like you are at work.
Advantages of office pods include:
- Most office pods are fully customised to a customer’s needs and requirements
- Built to measure in your garden
- Secure and protected from the elements
- Very short commute to work
- Can hold small client meetings away from home but not too far
- Saves on commuting time and costs
- Comfortable, heated and safe working environment
While these office pods are a great way to work and are made to measure, they can be pricey. Many may therefore feel that these are out of budget and unnecessarily expensive, with some costing upwards of £20,000. Also, it may be easy to go back into the house if you are easily distracted, detracting from your work and productivity.
Armadilla have a wide range of garden offices and office pods for all purposes and in all shapes and sizes.
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