When planning out your business, a checklist is probably one of the most important documents you will have to create. It helps stay on top of everything you need to do as you check the items off your to-do list. However, most people forget to put an office space on their checklist, especially when they need to meet face to face with clients, which will determine how your clients perceive you and your company. So here’s a guide to choose the perfect office space.

Location

You must determine where you want your office to be. You may want it near your home or find it more convenient to be close to the factory where your products are being produced. No matter what you choose, you need to consider if the area has a good reputation, who your neighbors will be and whether your clients will feel comfortable when they meet you. The last thing you want to do is lose potential clients because they have an uneasy feeling about the place. Also, make sure the location is convenient for your target audience.

Transportation

It’s important to check if there’s public transportation nearby to facilitate the way people can get to our office. A good idea is to visit the place during rush hours to analyze if there are any traffic patterns, alternative routes to avoid any difficulty and if there are various ways of transportation in case of a street repairs. Plus, personally you want your day to start as best as possible and transportation will definitely affect that!

Business Center

Now that you have a location and considered transportation, the next thing is to study the building’s amenities and services. Although most of them offer a support team for maintenance, receptionist, and IT assistance; it’s necessary to ask the business manager to avoid any surprises. You don’t want to add more money to your budget to hire staff.

Another thing to take into consideration is whether you like how the receptionist welcomes clients. After all, that is the person responsible for the initial contact with your client. For those who prefer to work late at night, it’s crucial to know if the office has 24/7 access and if there is always security personnel around. Remember safety and overall well-being comes first.

Space

Will the office space give you enough room for your workers? When you expand your business, will the space be able to accommodate new members? These are some of the questions you need to answer before you make your final decision. Apart from that, you should figure out if the office is fully furnished, if there’s the possibility to decorate the space with your brand’s personality, get some plants for offices, and if it’s already wired and ready to use. Check out FSC Lighting Rancho Cucamonga for lighting solutions for Californian offices.

Entertainment

A good work-life balance is a must for any busy entrepreneur. Take into consideration what restaurants, banks and local amenities are near by for both lunch breaks and after hour handouts. If your client base includes people that come from outside the city, it will be much easier if your office space was located in a place with hotels and nice places to take them after meetings. After all, we want to be great hostesses, right?

If you need further guidance you can contact OfficeList to find the ideal workplace for your business.

Camila Restrepo is a passionate story builder and journalist. As OfficeList´s Communications Manager, she’s building an online community for entrepreneurs.