Business Relocation - Avoid the common pitfalls
Business Relocation - Don't make these common mistakes!
It's surprising how many companies make mistakes when they relocate; whether it be poor decision-making, lack of budgeting or underestimating what is involved - the results can be costly and a real drain on valuable business time. Planning your business relocation right (from the very beginning) will help keep your business in full operation throughout the move, and you will be better placed to keep your office move on track should difficult issues arise.
In this article, I want to address five of the most common mistakes I see businesses make when they move office. Though the list certainly isn't exhaustive, it should give you a good starting point in planning your office move well from the outset, and crafting a defense against making decisions that could affect the ongoing success of your business.
1. An Unclear Motivation about the Relocation
There are many reasons behind why a company chooses to relocate, such as space, cash flow issues, or the need for a new location. You will need to weigh up your options and consider all the practical and financial factors before you decide whether a relocation is even necessary. If your motivations for relocating are not clear, it can affect the decisions about your new office space and leasing negotiations. Top Tip: Liaise with key stakeholders within your organization so you are all crystal clear as to the motivations behind the move.
2. Poor Budgeting
Many companies ignore the financial commitment that a business relocation takes. Even if you are downsizing to smaller / cheaper offices, you still have the new office build out costs and moving costs to consider. Companies who do not budget adequately for their relocation tend to run out of money before they've even prioritized where they most need to allocate their spending. To help you to get a better understanding of how much your office move is likely to cost, use the Moving Office Budget Template. It gives you a breakdown of all the likely cost items within your business relocation so you can prioritize accordingly.
3. Ignoring your Staff
Your staff are your most important resource, so they need to be informed early on in the process about the relocation, and be kept in the loop about progress. Where possible, you should try to involve them in the process to encourage buy-in. A business relocation can have a huge impact on your staff, but by consulting closely with them throughout the process, the transition will be seamless and you'll have a far happier workforce.
4. Not getting Help
There are many different stages to an office move; finding suitable office space, negotiating the lease, designing and build out of the new space, relocating your phones and IT equipment, and the migration of all your office furniture. Each of these stages require an external professional to undertake this part of the move on your behalf and advise you accordingly. Failing to get professional help and trying to do everything yourself can lead to poor decisions and costly time delays. Top Tip: Use our full listing of Office Relocation Providers in your area.
5. Not allowing enough time
Planning an office move is a huge undertaking, yet many businesses fail to realize just how much planning ahead is required. Most companies need between 9-18 months to plan sufficiently for a smooth office move. So start organizing your relocation now with this Business Relocation Checklist, set deadlines and get the right team to help bring all the aspects of your move together.
Read more about the common pitfalls made by companies relocating and make sure you avoid them!
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