As part of starting a business in a place like Dubai comes picking and renting a space for your business. While facility management can be overwhelming for entrepreneurs, a work environment is much more than just a display of cubicles.
What’s important is finding the right balance between affordability, location, and functionality as the workspace not only impacts the daily business operation but also serves as a strategic corporation mechanism that reinforces the business cultures and values.
When buying an office space there are diverse options available such as home offices, co-working offices, virtual offices, and unfurnished and furnished offices. If you are setting up a new business or expanding your operation, there is a wide choice spanning from the poshest and ultra-modern to the affordable and cheap.
Types of Office Workspaces
1. Co-working space
As we navigate through the future of work, the concept of coworking office space will continue to shape the dynamics of workplace environments, organizational strategies, and the experiences of employees. Co-working spaces have become increasingly popular as more people are embracing the concept of remote work and entrepreneurship.
These shared workspaces provide a collaborative and flexible environment for individuals to work alongside each other, sharing resources and ideas. Coworking spaces offer a variety of amenities, such as high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and communal areas, making them an attractive option for freelancers, small businesses, and startups.
2. Hybrid office space
This type of office space encourages a flexible work environment that combines elements of remote work and in-person office attendance. In a hybrid model, employees have the option to work from a physical office location, from home, or from other remote locations.
There is greater flexibility in how and where work is conducted, in doing so accommodating diverse work styles and preferences.
3. Traditional office space
The traditional office space operates in centralised locations to streamline production and management. The layout comprises rows of desks, private offices for executives, and designated meeting areas.
The hierarchical structure of these spaces reflects the organizational dynamics with clear distinctions between different levels of authority and responsibility.
4. Creative office space
In a fast-paced work milieu, creativity is valued as a top priority. Therefore, creative office spaces emerged as an innovative way to design work environments that tend to foster employee creativity and collaboration.
These spaces are marked by open layouts, flexible furniture arrangements, bold colours, and unique design elements that inspire creativity and boost productivity.
By breaking away from traditional cubicle-style offices, creative office spaces encourage employees to think outside the box and approach tasks in fresh ways.
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How to Find a Suitable Office Space for Your Business?
Several factors can impact the hunt for the right office space location, here’s some of the top concerns you need to be mindful of:
1. Gauge carefully if you need office space
If you are contemplating how to find office space for a small business consider the assessing factors such as the number of employees, the nature of your work, and your budget constraints will help you make an informed decision. After all, office space can be a significant expense, therefore becomes a pressing need to determine if it is an urgent investment.
Before committing to an office space, evaluate whether renting, leasing, or purchasing office space is the best choice. Consider factors such as location, size, conveniences, and lease terms when making your decision.
2. Think about which location suits you best
If anything has to do with office space investment, location is a key factor when selecting a home for your business. Finding office spaces in Business Bay, Sheikh Zayed Road, Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT), Downtown Dubai area, or Al Barsha are among the top locations for businesses.
Establishing an office in such areas will help in building your brand image by adding credibility and authenticity to your business.
Plus, location comes into play as there are six different types of commercial licenses running: free zone licenses which require the commercial workspace to be located in a particular area.
Then, your office spot should be suitable for your business type and the streamline of your daily operation. Ask yourself the right questions before making your final call:
- Is the area easily accessible to your clients and employees?
- How is the traffic flow in that area?
- Are there good public transportation options around?
- Are there budget-friendly facilities such as coffee shops, restaurants, and gyms nearby?
3. Observe your company culture
The office space should reflect and suit the values, beliefs, and practices of the organization. Assume that if your company values collaboration and teamwork, getting an open-concept workspace with meeting rooms and common areas would be terrific.
On the other hand, for a company valuing privacy and focus work, opting for individual cubicles or private offices would be more fitting.
Plus, when you buy an office space, the company’s brand and image should be given thought to. The physical environment of the office can hugely shape employees’ attitudes and behaviours, and influence clients’ perceptions of the company.
For instance, a tech startup may opt for a trendy and modern office space to attract top talent and impress potential investors. Rightly so, a law firm may choose a more traditional and formal office space to convey professionalism and credibility.
4. Get down to budget and paperwork
Pricing is another major criterion to consider in your search for a new office space. As a potential tenant, you must carefully scrutinize similar properties in the area to ensure that you are getting value for money.
With the help of your real estate agent, assess the lease agreement to ensure all terms and conditions are mentioned in the contract to avoid any disputes in the future.
Also, check if there are any hidden costs such as maintenance and parking. Know your budget limits and set a target to be viable in the long run by taking into account any potential rise in rental price when renewing the tenancy agreement for your office space.
5. Sort the flooring space and lease length
Having a clear picture of your goals will help in dictate whether you engage in a long-term contract or opt for a short-term lease as you do not want to be tied up in a contract that does not adhere to your long-term business plan.
Take into consideration whether you are planning to expand your company in the coming years and make sure there is enough room to accommodate more staff, especially if you are in a free zone where the number of visas that can be obtained depends on how big the office is. You cannot keep on moving every time you hire a new employee.
6. Figure out the work environment, layout, and amenities
The work environment and layout are also important factors to take into account when it comes to looking for office space. For example, an advertising or media company will probably look for an open-space office design while a law firm will prefer a more traditional layout for meeting clients.
Likewise, the work environment should also be pleasant and comfortable for your team. So, bear in mind the amenities in terms of the pantry, storage facilities, and parking spaces. This can truly make a difference.
You certainly do not want your employees, clients, or yourself to struggle every morning while trying to find a parking spot. In the end, your final choice should be made after verifying if all the primary facilities are available so that you can focus more on your business operations.
7. Seek help and professional advice from a Specialist Real Estate Agent
Consult a real estate agent for the right piece of advice, suggestions, and guidance throughout the whole process. While agents are aware of the latest market trends they also have strong negotiation skills to get you the best possible deals as they are constantly dealing with the daily market behaviour.
Stick to making a list of every possible query and clarify all your doubts with your designated agent in terms of the number of cheques payable, accessibility, price, amenities, flexibility of the lease, and any other factors.
Back in the COVID-19 era, many entrepreneurs particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) were considering sharing space with other companies or opting for a virtual office to lower operational costs and stay afloat.
Having a clear picture of your business goals can have a huge bearing on your final decision when picking an office space whether it is a small business or a large corporation. While it may seem obvious, our expertise and deep knowledge of the market have taught us how to choose an business office space and this needs more thought and deeper evaluation over the years.
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