Getting Started Overview

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Overview: Your Office

The best office at the start is no office at all. Office space is yet another fixed expense to be avoided if possible at the outset. Of course, if you need to have a group of people working together, or to host clients, you need space. Today, it is increasingly possible to have multiple people working in multiple places, notably their homes. The best place to start, if town regulations permit, is your garage and spare room in your parent's house or in your own apartment or home. Chances are, if your work doesn't require machinery or frequent comings and going, you can start in a home.

If you just need space, and it doesn't have to impress anyone, consider finding what's called an "incubator" building, sometimes known as grade "C" office space. This is often raw space in an old factory or retail space converted for start-ups or businesses that have just made that first step out of the home. Believe it or not, some of your clients will actually be impressed you're starting this way. It's a sign you're putting your resources into the product or service you're providing, rather than into material trappings.

Those in need of more impressive circumstances can lease space in office buildings or spaces specifically set up for small businesses to share a conference room, office equipment, and reception area but only need an office or two. Most of these have a very corporate ambiance at a reasonable price and provide support services and access to copy machines, etc. You might also consider sharing space or subletting from a local business that has some extra room.

Even if you get a nice chunk of startup cash from a friendly angel, resist the temptation to pour a lot of money into real estate. Remember, real estate is another fixed expense, something you have to pay no matter what, month after month. And, landlords often want multiple-year leases and a personal guarantee if you go out of business. It's very hard to guess in which direction a business will go when you launch it, so you want to avoid long-term commitments of any kind.

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