NEWS

However, it is only the first step and once secured, it is vital that businesses work hard to maintain a successful tenancy by nurturing relationships and reaping the potential business benefits to be had simply from being in the right location.

The company officebroker.com was founded by entrepreneurs Jim Venables and Andy Haywood five years ago.

It has grown into a multi-million-pound enterprise with offices in the UK and US.

According to Jim, businesses looking to take on an office tenancy should apply a highly strategic and considered approach in both searching for the right premises and then managing the resulting space.

"Instead of jumping in feet first and taking the first available office space, we advise businesses to take their time as the right location can make or break a business," said Jim.

"And once you move into your new office, that strategic approach should continue to be applied to developing and maintaining a good relationship with the landlord or office management company.

"This relationship can be as important as the relationship you develop with customers and suppliers or indeed other stakeholders in your business."

He said: "Being a good tenant is like being a good neighbour.

"Not only will it bring social benefits to the company and its employees, but it can also reap considerable business benefits such as being the first to hear about new business leads or great deals with local suppliers."

officebroker.com offers the following advice: Before you make a decision:

• Consider a short-term and flexible notice period, which allows you to take the space you need right now but with the option to expand as your business grows.
• Think of your employees' needs as well as those of your business. Is the office close to public transport? Are there shops and leisure facilities in the local area?
• Ensure there are ample parking facilities for your employees and clients.
• Find out what extras are included in your tenancy such as access to meeting rooms, admin support or video conferencing. Are these included in the rental price or would you be better off opting for an office space where you can buy in these additional services on an ad hoc basis?
• Will you be looking for offices in multiple locations - or perhaps access to meeting rooms in other parts of the country of the world? If so, choose an office provider which has multiple sites and negotiate access to other meeting facilities or a discount for additional office space. The added benefit of this is that it allows you to 'punch above your weight', giving your company a national or international image without the additional investment.