Moving from a Home Office to an Executive Suite

So you've successfully ran a business from your home, but you think you may need to expand your territory and your budget supports this. In this situation you may want to consider the benefits of an executive suite. They help you make the transition from home-based business to office without demanding a chunk of capital or a long lease. They're sort of like the starter-home of businesses, helping realizing your business's potential without putting a huge strain on your budget-or your sanity.

Executive suites give you greater control over your available resources, flexibility at a time your business needs it the most, and the opportunity to create the cultured, professional appearance for your company that you desire. If this is what you want, an executive suite may be just the ticket.

The biggest plus about executive suites is the fact you won't have to worry about any construction or renovation of the building, nor is there any need to purchase any equipment or furniture. Consequently, this also means you won't have to finance such endeavors, either. Bookkeeping is also an easier task, since your monthly expenses will be included on a single invoice. All utilities, phone, equipment, and furniture rental will be on the bill, so you have no hidden costs and can more easily manage your cash flow.

A company that rents out executive suites will usually take up an entire floor (sometimes more) in an office building that's located in a prime section of town specifically for this purpose. They partition the space into several smaller offices, similar to apartments, and lease them to business owners looking for a space. Floor space ranges anywhere from a few to several hundred square feet to meet the needs of anywhere from one to ten people.

Another key benefit of an executive suite is flexibility in the lease for businesses that are quickly on their way to bigger and better, allowing you to make arrangements based on your budget and other needs. Most offer six or twelve month terms, but many offer even shorter terms, or even month-to-month rent. This is a helpful option for individual business owners who need more space but can't afford the overhead of a longer term lease right away.

Since executive suites come already equipped with everything you need, expect to use high-end technical equipment for communications and a high-speed Internet connection. These types of offices routinely present the cutting edge in technology. You can also expect a refined look to the suite, including a businesslike carpet, elegant waiting room chairs and desks, and even professional-looking paperclips. This is handy if you have clients who meet you in your office, especially if you request the use of a receptionist or other clerical staff during the meeting or need to utilize videoconference technology. Your small business will start to make those important first steps towards looking well-polished and organized, the kind of impression every company needs to succeed.

Keep in mind, executive suites aren't for everyone. They're located in prime locations, in fancy office buildings that are impressive by themselves. This image will work for many corporate-inclined small businesses, such as lawyers or other white-collar professions, but it may actually be detrimental to those whose company leans on the creative side (such as artists, independent web site developers, etc.) For the latter group, help is on the way: executive suite companies have been making strides towards office buildings with a hip, trendier feel to them to cater to these more imagination-based businesses. You might also run into a problem if you have a large number of people who work for you. Five or ten employees will work just fine in an executive suite, but any more than that and you should consider upgrading to a regular office. (Chances are, if you can afford more than ten employees, you're already well on your way to becoming successful and don't need the benefits an executive suite has to offer.)

Most importantly, renting an executive suite will give you the chance to clearly delineate a border between your business life and personal life, something that's nearly impossible to accomplish working out of your home. This line is essential for your own sake, so you won't feel like you literally live at work anymore.