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If you’re a small business owner and you’ve started to see continual growth, that’s something you should be proud of! Small businesses are currently playing a huge role in overall economic growth in the U.S, and they have been for a while. The first three quarters of 2014 alone saw small businesses add 1.4 million jobs. 

With business growth, however, often comes the issue of “outgrowing” your current workspace. Whether you started your business from home or you’ve always had a small office, it’s never a bad thing to upgrade – especially if you’re adding more employees to your operation. 

If you really want to move forward with your business, you’ll need the right space to do so. But, moving to a new location for the first time can feel overwhelming. With that in mind, let’s look at a few tips you can use to make the transition to a new space easier on you and your employees, so you can continue to grow and achieve success.

Set a Budget

As you start looking at new spaces, it’s important to have a set budget in mind. While you consider the cost of the building itself (or the monthly rent), don’t forget about other fees and hidden costs you might face. 

Additionally, it’s important to think about any upgrades or renovations you might want to do and include those in the cost. Things like upgrading appliances, putting in new carpet, using roof coating, or even just painting and remodeling can all cost money, so include renovation factors into your budget before you make a final space decision. 

Research the Right Locations

You might think you’ve found the dream location for your business, but there are many things to consider aside from the size and functionality of the building. 

Will it be easy for people to get to, including your employees, suppliers, clients, etc.? What is the crime rate in the surrounding neighborhood? Are there any other businesses nearby? When you move into a building, you want to become a part of your community as quickly as possible, just like when you move into a new home. If the area around that building feels like a ghost town, it might not be the best place for you. 

Give Yourself Plenty of Time

Moving is stressful, no matter what. Even if you have everything perfectly organized and you have a timeline in place, it’s not easy. So, give yourself plenty of time to transition from one building to another. 

You might even consider a “staggered” move so operations can continue in your current business space while you slowly integrate more employees and equipment into the new space. It can make the move easier for everyone and won’t feel as overwhelming. Staggering your move will also have less of an impact on workflow, so you’ll still be able to meet deadlines and work directly with your clients without feeling disrupted. 

Congratulations on outgrowing your initial business space. Keep these tips in mind to make your growth easier, so you can focus on an upward momentum, instead of getting tied up in the details of a building.