Make Your Small Business Look Bigger
Let’s be honest here. At some point every small business owner has puffed up a bit and pretended their business is larger than it is. A new client wants to meet at your office. Your “office” is a corner of your dining room, so you say, “I have a meeting in your area that day, so I’ll just pop by your office and save you the trip.” A prospect calls and gets your voicemail – again. You call back and mention that you’re in the process of hiring a new assistant. Sometimes you have to pretend to be at the next step in order to reach the next step. Sometimes, your business just needs to look BIGGER.
It’s no surprise that having a place to actually do business is a huge priority – but that doesn’t have to mean a huge expense. In this age of entrepreneurship, small business owners have new – and affordable – options.
Let’s look at some possible scenarios:
You work from home, but you don’t want to seem small to prospects and clients. You need an affordable way to present your business to the world and look professional.
Solution: A Virtual Office
For around $200 a month, a professional receptionist will answer your calls using your company name and direct them according to your instructions. You have a business mailing address, not a home address or PO Box, but a real office building address. You’ll also have access to conference rooms for meetings and presentations. Additional business services (administrative support, fax, copy, courier, video conferencing, etc.) are available with ala-carte pricing. You’re working at home, keeping your overhead low, saving commuting time and gasoline, while your virtual office adds credibility and flexibility. Whenever you need to roll out the red carpet and meet clients in a more formal atmosphere, you can. It’s “virtually” perfect!
Your business has outgrown your home office – or you’ve started a business that requires office space right away. You want a simple, affordable and manageable option.
Solution: An Executive Office Environment
For less than you’d think, you can rent an office (or more than one) in a professional business center designed just for small business owners. You’ll have parking, a formal lobby, receptionist, professional staff, phone, internet, copiers, conference rooms and more. Just like the big businesses – but without the big bill.
Our business is housed in one of these centers. We pay a flat monthly fee for a sunny private office in a well-kept building. Our lease includes phones, high-speed internet, utilities, parking, maintenance, snow and lawn service, plus a few hours of conference room time each month. Our calls are answered with our company name. Clients are greeted by a professional staff and seated in a formal lobby. Coffee, tea and chilled water are waiting in the kitchen. A cleaning crew keeps the place immaculate. If we need high-speed copies, faxing, more conference room time or any other business service, we can pay a little extra and get what we need without leaving the building. Here in Metro Detroit, we have reciprocal use of any of their 6 locations. We can set up a meeting or presentation wherever it is convenient. We’re living large. All we have to do is show up for work and get down to business. The rest is handled. We write one check a month for everything. It’s a wonderful life.
If you’re interested in learning more about Virtual Offices and Executive Office Environments, contact me at e@detailsinretail.com and I can put you in touch with the Executive Office Network we use. They have offices in Michigan, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Just send me your name, contact information and the location you need.
You need retail, restaurant, warehouse, industrial or office space for your business. Picking the perfect spot can not only make your business seem bigger, it’s a vital part of making your business actually become bigger!
Solution: A Commercial Real Estate Broker
Need your own space? A commercial real estate broker can help you find exactly the place you need for your business, whether you’re looking to lease or buy. Choose a broker with expertise in your industry. Their input and experience can be invaluable in finding the right price, location and terms. Many business owners learn too late that they should have had professional guidance. A broker can run reports on demographics, traffic patterns, occupancy rates and more. Picking the right location and making the right decisions about cost and terms are critical to the success of your business. Get expert advice. You can’t afford not to.
Details In Retail is affiliated with Locations Real Estate and Investments. If you are looking to buy or lease commercial property in Michigan, contact paulb@locationsmi.com. Locations Real Estate and Investments also works with investors find property in other areas of the country.
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