Business Building Basics

Setting up your business is one thing, but when you’re settling into your own business location that can be something else entirely. You’ve put countless hours into your business concept, now you need to know about buildings and all the regulations that come with them. You could need the building for a storefront, a warehouse or a restaurant. There are a myriad of reasons for using a building location but there are some clear pitfalls and tips that apply to most of not all types of business usage. Even if you’re at the latter stage of this process the tips can help you and stop you from hemorrhaging money or making a mistake which can prove vital down the line.

Fixer Upper

If you’re moving into a building that already exists, which is more than likely, then you’re going to have to check it’s all in working order. This is especially the case if you’re purchasing the property. If you’re renting, you need to formulate a checklist for your landlord. A fixer upper can be great for the initial outlay, but the work needed might suck up a lot of money. You need to check the standard of the building. Get on the roof, make sure it’s in good order. If it isn’t, Western Colloid can help you. Check the walls for damp or mould. The windows might need checking over too. Once the basics are in order, you can get to work on the fun stuff. Decorations and key fixtures and fittings. Budgeting at this point can be hard, especially if unsuspecting things crop up so it’s always good to have some extra funds just in case.

Office Space Visionary

If you’re moving into an office space, make sure it’s set up for what you need. Check the electrics. You’ll likely be running computers, printers, networking points etc. so you need to ensure the current wiring can take the throughput. It can be surprising by how much you can do with small space. It might be worth getting some help at this point. Remember, try to keep some space for a general meeting room. More for a break room. Planning things out at the outset can save you a lot of hassle down the line. 

Final Footfall Factor

If you haven’t purchased or hired the property yet, then one of the most vital things you need to look at and research is the footfall factor. This might not apply to all areas of business, for example an office doesn’t need to worry about footfall. If you’re operating a retail store or a restaurant then footfall is huge. You need to make sure people are walking past your business to be able to pull them in. If this isn’t the case, you need to put a lot more into marketing, making sure people know about your business. The trade off is in rent. Buildings with good footfalls are more expensive. It’s all about trade off and time. Do you have the time to invest into marketing, or the money to get a building in a better location?