While many companies prefer to purchase an office for their employees to work at, sometimes, the best option is to rent one. Whether it’s due to your business rapidly expanding or you don’t want to get tied down to a specific location yet, renting can be a viable option. However, renting an office space means your responsibilities will vary, so here are some important things to remember before going through with the rental.
Figure Out What You Can Change
One major plus about owning office space is that you can do whatever you want with it. Many companies will paint the walls and heavily redesign the office to fit their company’s culture. While this isn’t entirely off-limits in a rental office, you’re limited on the changes you can make.
For example, it’s unlikely the owner will be okay with you removing a wall to open up the office. However, if you can later revert the changes you make before you leave, most owners will be OK with them.
Be Aware of What You’ll Need To Take Care Of
Before committing to a location, one of the first questions you should ask is what utilities and other building functions you’ll need to take care of on your own. This will vary drastically between owners. Some cover water, electricity, and gas, while others don’t.
Also, determine if the landlord includes maintenance in their services. Let’s look at air filters as an example. If you’ve noticed some signs that your commercial building needs a new air filter, would it be up to you or the building owner to replace it? These are the type of things you need to know before signing.
Ask About General Amenities
On top of utilities, you should find out if your office space will have any amenities. Some rentals provide furniture and other office equipment for companies to use as a part of their rental fee. Others might have a full-service cafeteria or gym for employees to utilize. Most importantly, many buildings already have built-in internet services. This last one is the most important to know about beforehand.
Double-Check Leasing Agreements
Finally, the last thing you should make sure you remember before renting an office space is to double-check all the fine print of the leasing agreement. Since this office likely won’t be a permanent location for your company, it’s crucial to know the penalties for breaking the lease if you find something better.
Also, you’ll want to see if they include renter’s insurance and other such legal protections. In general, the more flexible the leasing agreement is, the better it will be for your company. If your business is still on the smaller side, surprise fees and legal trouble could sink you unexpectedly, so it’s crucial to remember these things.