The most important factor in choosing your space is the old adage - location, location, location - whether it is within your home, your community or a larger region. Being conveniently located for your customers is key, but the location should also meet your business and personal needs.
Whether at home or another location, the space needs to be capable of serving both your present and projected needs. Before actively looking for space, your first move should be to map out your facility needs in some detail. Carefully consider the functions that the facility must perform for your business.
Once your needs are clear, alternatives can be explored. Think about the interior space that will be needed. Does it need to be subdivided into rooms or work areas? What types of work will be done in the space. For the exterior, what should the appearance and surroundings convey about your business? What about parking and loading docks?
For the home based, it is important to set up a distinct place for business activities that separates your personal and professional lives. Can you grow from this space? Other possibilities are leasing or buying space, sharing a facility or joining a business incubator.
Gather as much information as possible about the community in which you wish to locate, looking at prospective sites and buildings. Allow yourself time to conduct a thorough search. Network, testing your plans out on trusted associates. This is a critical decision to the business so take ample time to think through all the ramifications of cost, space and location.
Designing Your Office Space
Designing your space should happen simultaneously with choosing
the space. The most efficient layout will make a major difference
in your space requirements. Map out an efficient work flow. Group
the equipment you use most frequently closest to you. If at all
possible, plan flexibility into the space with movable equipment
and desks and adjustable shelving. Then as work flow changes,
the space can rearranged appropriately.
Consider how systems work together. Multiple pieces of equipment can work at odds with each other. For instance, most equipment requires some type of electrical outlet. Be certain that the circuits do not get overloaded and that adequate outlets are available.
Good lighting is critical, but different lighting is needed for different tasks. Arrange lights so you can turn them on and off in various work areas as the need arises.
Noise can be a major distraction, especially if you need to make numerous phone calls. Place noisy equipment away from work areas that need quiet. There may be other special needs for your particular business. Look at the equipment you will be using, not only from a convenience standpoint, but also from what it needs to function properly and what type of output it produces.
Don't forget comfort. We all should be very aware by now of the consequences of long-term exposure to poorly designed environments. Ergonomics , the study of the spatial design of job requirements and work sites in relation to human physical and psychological capabilities and limitations, has become a critical component in any work environment.
Two of the most important ergonomic considerations are the human interaction with equipment and the range of motion each job entails. Human interaction problems relate to how working with a particular piece of equipment affects the human using it. For instance, chairs at the wrong height for working at a computer keyboard. Range of motion problems arise from maintaining the same position or repeating the same physical motions for a long time. A key appears to be movement. Introduce variety into activities to allow the muscles to stretch and move. Variety also is good for mental activity.
Making the work space an enjoyable place will pay off many times in productivity and positive attitude towards work.
