How Do I Know When It’s Time to Move Out of My Home Office And Into An Outside Office?

Question: How do I know when it’s time to move out of my home office and into an outside office? Can I afford such an extravagance?

Answer: I am asked this question a lot, and the answer is very personal to you and your business. Some people love their home office and wouldn’t have it any other way. It saves them commute time, and allows them to be close to their family while working. Even with employees there are ways to set up your office so that you can maximize space, and minimize impact on your home life. Others, like myself, need to have a clear separation of work space and home space. The constant traffic of employees coming in and out, or the uncontrollable urge to check your business email after hours drags some people down and makes their time less effective then it could be. If this is you I recommend that you seek an outside office as soon as you can afford it. Sometimes the office itself can be a catalyst for your business growth.

In most parts of the country you can find a small office place for as little as $300-$400 a month. An ideal place would have a space for laundry, but if not you can always use a laundry service. Gaining just a handful of new customers will pay for that expense. So, if an outside office is important to you, then set yourself a goal to pick up 5 new regular customers and then pick out your new office. Set aside flashy features in favor of good parking, a comfortable bathroom, convenient location and storage for supplies and equipment.