As a startup or small business grows, it will always encounter some challenges in expansion. One of the most common of these is running out of space in a first headquarters. Though many business owners try to avoid the expense of a larger headquarters for as long as possible, the time eventually comes when the restrictions of a location that is too small outweigh these costs.
Here are four definite signs that it’s time to move your small business into a new headquarters to get more space.
Customers Mention Feeling Cramped
If your business model involves customers actually coming into your main location, they can be your best gauge of whether or not you need more space. A customer who mentions that your location feels small or cramped is a sign that you need to move to a more spacious environment.
If you hear something along these lines from your customers on a regular basis, you should start looking for a new location immediately.
Your Staff are in Each Other’s Way
As business growth occurs, the labor requirements of a company also increase. After a certain point, this increase in staff may result in the people who work for you being in one another’s way at work.
If you have desks clustered to within inches of each other or can’t seem to find space for new employees, it’s time to look into a larger headquarters.
Storage Space Becomes an Issue
Most businesses will require at least some storage space for materials. If your company is struggling to find room for storage in your current headquarters, it’s a good sign that you’ve become large enough to justify moving.
Though some business owners will try to solve this problem with off-site storage, the increased cost and delay of transporting materials to your headquarters as needed often makes this at best a stop-gap solution.
Where storage sites can come in handy, however, is while your business is in the process of moving. Aussiemove International Movers SA Pty Ltd and similar business moving services will even offer temporary storage while your business is moved into a new location.
Your Space Impacts Your Business Image
Though there’s nothing wrong with a small business being headquartered in a small, out-of-the-way building, your headquarters will shape public perceptions of your company. If you feel that customers or other business owners might question your business’s pedigree because of a headquarters that doesn’t match its size and experience, it’s an absolutely undeniable sign that you need to find a more appropriate location.
Gauging this reaction can be difficult, but a good place to start is asking your own employees whether or not they think the location you have now matches the image of your company.
Although a larger location can be costly, it also has several benefits in terms of how people perceive your business and the amount of space you have to work with. Ideally, all small business owners should start out with the goal of one day expanding into larger headquarters.
If you think your business might be getting ready for this transition, keep an eye out for these signs. If you see them, you’ll know that it’s a good time to upgrade.
