Image by theotherworkspace from Pixabay

By Rosana Beechum

Not every business needs to have traditional and expensive offices. As a small company, or if you are just starting out, an issue you may encounter is finding appropriate premises for your company. A common misconception is that you have to rent or buy office space when starting a business, but this is not the case.

There is a wide range of alternatives to a traditional office that you could consider. Some offer additional services, such as receptionists, to add to your business growth. When starting your business journey, it is worth researching alternative office solutions to find out which would be the best fit for your company. Below we look at the top three solutions small businesses and start-ups are considering as alternatives for their office spaces.

However, before diving into the different office solutions, we need to mention an important budget breaker associated with traditional offices: Telecom bills. Most businesses run disorganized and chaotic bills that can drain their budgets. Moving to a non-traditional space is only beneficial for your small business finances if you can also avoid costly office organization mistakes. As communication is not an option regardless of your office choice, telecom expense management services can help manage wireless and wireline communication and transfer, offering  better control over data services and mobile voice in any office environment.

Shipping containers

Shipping containers have evolved from simply shipping goods across the globe to storage solutions and now innovative offices. Many businesses are utilising the versatility of storage containers for their organization’s needs.

Pop-up stalls and restaurants were among the first to use their personal style and creativity to turn containers into imaginative businesses. Now new businesses are that need office space that is both practical and inexpensive are turning to containers. All it takes is some imagination to transform them from metal boxes into studio offices or workshops and provide small businesses with their own professional space.

Converting a storage container into the office of your dreams is a cost-effective way for any new company to begin their business journey. Check out Jennings Containers to find a range of options and get started on your shipping container office.

Shared office space

A shared office space allows multiple businesses to operate in the same building. In this setup, you share equipment, facilities, and occasionally staff, such as receptionists and IT specialists.

Shared offices are usually far cheaper than renting or buying premises and are perfect for small companies or start-ups. When you are choosing a space to share, it would be ideal to pick one where your would share with another business that can complement your own. For example, a graphic design company would work well in the same space as a marketing company as you could share contacts and work together, growing each business faster.

Home-based

Since the beginning of the pandemic, working from home has become an increasingly popular choice for many start-ups. An advantage of having a home-based business includes claiming a proportion of costs affiliated with your company, such as mortgage and utilities. Saving time and money on commuting and having more time to spend with your family is another benefit.

Many businesses can be run from homes, such as cake makers, virtual assistants, content writers and online sellers. These companies don’t always need to pay businesses rates when only using a small portion of their home; this is worth checking with your local council before you begin as individual circumstances may differ.

Permission may also be needed from the landlord or mortgage provider before a business can set up at home if you employ people to work at your property or sell to customers who visit your home.

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Rosana Beechum is a business and marketing undergraduate from Nottingham Trent University in the UK; she is attempting to share her knowledge through writing articles for small business owners.