While moving your office out of your home can be stressful, it is also an opportunity to take your business to the next level.
As a mompreneur, you are aware of what it means to run a business out of your home. Some of the benefits are clear. No need to commute, which means more time with your children, and no rent. However, there are downsides as well. One of which is the blurred line between home and work.
So, when do you know when it is time to relocate your business out of your home? The answer is simple. The time to move is when your business is busting at the seams and it no longer makes sense to keep running everything from your home. This is a good problem to have, but it does not answer a core question. That is, how to relocate your business out of your home?
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For some people, moving offices means packing everything in boxes and then putting it in the back of a pickup truck. But as a business owner, you know it is not that simple. Mail needs to be forwarded to your new address. Computers and networks need to be set up. A phone system needs to be moved or put into place. And don’t forget the furniture. As you can see it can be a complicated process and this blog post on moving offices will give you some idea of the mistakes you need to avoid.
Let’s start at the beginning. One of the first signs that it is time to relocate your office out of your home is when your business starts to take over your home. You know the feeling. Hallways are full of boxes and your kids and unwittingly become your employees. Don’t get me wrong, involving the entire family in your business can be fun. But the first step to moving it knowing that it is time to move.
From there you need to consider your options. Do you relocate your entire office or just part of your office? Do you need a swank commercial office, a co-working space, or maybe a private office? The best fit will depend on what your business need to be successful.
If your business involves food, then do you need to consider getting your own commercial kitchen – an expensive proposition – or do you opt for a shared commercial kitchen? Or if you are trying to make it big on Etsy, then do you need warehousing services. These questions come into play when deciding how to move your business out of your home.
Once you have decided the destination, then one of the next steps is to put together a budget. What new equipment do you need to purchase and what will remain in your home – this way you can sneak away on nights and weekends to get a little extra work in. If you are planning to move furniture and equipment, then you need to iron out how it will be moved and reinstalled.
In addition, you need to have a packing and unpacking plan. If you are like me, then you probably don’t have the original boxes for everything. I mean, who has space? Especially when you are running a business out of your home. However, you need to have a clear plan of action on how everything should be pack, and importantly, unpacked.
This is where a mover can help. Not only will they support packing, but they will also load everything so that you can get your most important files, equipment, or inventory off the truck first. In this way, your business will hardly skip a beat.
Another thing to consider when you are relocating your business out of your home is to communicate the move to your customers. This includes letting them know the dates and times of the move and having a plan in place for them to contact you during the move. Even if your business is very small, you want to make sure that someone will be there to answer the phone during the move. This way you don’t miss any opportunities.
If you want to take it to another level, then hold an office warming party. Invite your best customers and even open it up to the public. Regardless of your business, it is a great opportunity to meet your new neighbors.
While moving your office out of your home can be stressful, it is also an opportunity to take your business to the next level. Almost every successful mompreneur has gone through the same process. In some ways, the move is like watching your children grow.
