How to choose the right office space for a growing business

Businesses usually grow because something’s changed, not just for the sake of it. This change could include newly agreed plans to hire talent or an increase in client/partner meetings, either of which leads to the question of where your business should be based and what kind of space will actually support those changes.

For growing businesses, finding the right office space isn’t just about picking the first space you view but rather moving in somewhere that matches where your business is now, and where it’s heading.

There’s no such thing as the “perfect office”, and the right choice will depend on priorities, timing, and maybe a few trade-offs… 

In our latest blog, we break down how to choose the right office space so that it supports growth without creating unnecessary risk. 

Start with your growth stage, not the building

The first mistake businesses make when looking for a new space is immediately looking at what buildings are available for them to move into, rather than pausing to think about what they need from a new office.

Your choice should reflect where the business is headed, and your needs will differ based on what kind of growth you’re experiencing. For instance, you could be:

• Expanding your headcount and onboarding people for new roles
• Moving out of coworking spaces into something more permanent
• Bringing teams who were permanently remote back together two or three times a week
• Planning for the next 12 to 24 months

Even with the best laid plans, annoyingly, the growth of your business isn’t straightforward. Teams grow in phases. For instance, one or two new hires could join, and then, out of nowhere, someone hands in their notice. Working patterns continue to evolve, too, and people’s priorities change in ways that affect how an office space will be used.

Understanding all this makes those trade-offs clearer as you get closer to signing on the dotted line. It also reduces the risk of picking an office that feels too cramped in just a few months.

What to prioritise and what to compromise on

Growing businesses often face several different pressures all at the same time. These pressures often lead to leaders having to make trade-offs to find a solution that works.

Location vs space size

Being based in a central location in Manchester or Liverpool might provide a level of convenience for people looking to work and live in the city, but opting for an office in a congested city centre may stop you from moving to a bigger space when the time comes. 

Flexibility vs long-term cost certainty

Shorter commitments on office space can be great for new businesses that need agility and may need to move again quickly as headcount grows. On the other hand, longer terms do offer predictability, giving businesses peace of mind that they have a home for the next few months or years.

Immediate needs vs future-proofing

Your team might need the desk space and areas to do deep work now, but in a few months, as teams expand, they may well require more collaborative zones or meeting rooms to carry out project work and brainstorm ideas. Working with your landlord to understand business growth plans and potential upsizing of space is crucial 

Image and client experience vs operational efficiency

Of course you want to have a space that can host clients, and better yet, leave them feeling good about doing business with you. But the impact of giving up practical elements like desk space or phone booths may need to be thought of.

Prioritisation in these areas reduces the dreaded decision paralysis, which can help you avoid overcommitting in the wrong areas.

Choosing the right size and layout for a growing team

Square footage formulas are all well and good when you want a number, but these fancy calculators don’t factor in your needs or the issues that crop up from putting all your faith into numbers.

Leaders often underestimate how quickly teams grow, leaving them with an office space that can’t accommodate the team. In fast-paced industries, a raft of new hires can join in a matter of weeks if the circumstances are right, and the last thing you want is to have no desk for them!

Another issue is choosing an office that offers just enough space to try to keep costs low. Not having enough room to expand puts a ceiling on your growth plans before you’ve even moved in.

Other risks of choosing a size that might feel enough but is actually too small for your business in just a few months include:

• Teams are not able to work together because they have to work to a weekly rota for visiting the office.
• Cluttered working environments don’t promote the greatest culture and lead to frustrated team members who don’t have the space to work
• More disruption once a business realises that it’s outgrown its office and needs to move.

A focus on layout over size allows you to see the value in spaces that can be tweaked as roles and workflows change. The right office for your business will give your teams room to work in a flexible manner that avoids issues as headcount increases.

Flexibility as a growth safeguard

In industries where people have greater freedom to move between roles based on what suits them, being a truly flexible business is a real pull for those who want to work how they prefer.

Growing businesses in particular benefit from adaptable arrangements. One clear example, and one that’s been brought up a couple of times, is changes in headcount. It’s not unrealistic to expect five or six new employees to be brought in across the business in a couple of months. In their early days at the business, having them in the office and being able to offer them desk space makes them part of your culture from day one.

Being flexible also reduces how keenly your business will feel at risk. With adaptability part of your workflow, there is less pressure to predict the future, and it’s easier to make changes without causing major disruption.

Of course, there are instances where longer commitments can make sense, and stability does have value when growth is predictable. For instance, a business might have decided to bring teams together more regularly, making a long-term office agreement a good choice. A stable office location supports routine, and teams know where they’ll be working in the long-term.

Three mistakes growing businesses make when choosing office space

1. Not thinking about the future: Your brand-new office may work for this version of your team, but as you grow in ambition and headcount, you’re soon left with a space that you’ve outgrown and still have to pay for, while also facing the inevitable disruption (and eyerolls from teams) that is to come by moving offices again.
2. Agreeing to inflexible arrangements: Old-fashioned terms that don’t reflect how modern businesses operate cause growing organisations to suffer cash flow issues because they are paying for a space they no longer want. 
3. Choosing based on looks: Your priority should always be looking for an environment that allows you to work with as little friction as possible, rather than opting for something will look nice on an Instagram feed. You can make a functional space aesthetically pleasing far quicker than turning a “nice looking” office space into something useful.

How The Base supports growing businesses

Our time helping businesses has allowed us to make our services even better and offer space that can be changed as teams evolve.

For businesses in Warrington and further afield in Liverpool and Manchester, The Base provides them with a space to transition into, as well as benefiting from flexible arrangements from a group that knows exactly how quickly things can change for growing businesses.

Giving your growth plans room to breathe

Choosing office space while your business is growing is about making smart trade-offs to find the most suitable solution that supports change as well as stability.

It’s about being honest about priorities and thinking beyond the immediate pressures being felt, so that when future challenges arise, you can be assured your new space can accommodate them.

Why not explore some office space options that may well align with your current needs and your plans?