Relocating your business can be a daunting idea, but sometimes changes have to happen, and if you are planning on relocating your business then you have come to the right place.
You need to plan your relocation carefully and thoroughly to ensure a smooth transition without any unforeseen problems. To help you make this happen we have put together 7 of our top tips for moving businesses and offices.
1. Start Planning Now
There is no time like the present, and as soon as you have made the call to relocate your business you need to start planning immediately. There will be a lot of details to consider and a lot of things that you need to research. This might sound as though moving will be an overwhelming process, but if you get a grip on the planning stages early on then the process will be very manageable.
Naturally, if you leave everything to the last minute this is when things can get tricky and obstacles that you did not plan for will certainly arise and cause issues in the moving. Ideally, prepping at least 6 months before a move will give you enough time to plan all the nitty-gritty details.
For instance, will you need cables and wires installed at the new office? Do you need to hire engineers to set up systems? The last thing you want is to arrive at your new office and find that your employees cannot do their jobs because the office is not ready.
2. Compare Office Removal Quotes
Office relocations can be complex and you need to hire a moving company that can provide special care and planning. There will be plenty of options to consider and so to make sure you pick the right office removals teams you will have to invest your time to research options thoroughly. When relocating your business you will have to think about moving documents, IT equipment and office furniture.
All of these are important to your business, so having a team that understands the importance of business relocation will ensure that your things arrive safely and on time in the new location.
3. Prepare Your Employees
Another way to ensure a smooth relocation of your business is to prepare your employees early on. Talk to senior staff first to make sure everyone is on the same page and then talk to all employees. Make sure you give staff enough time to process the news and reiterate that they can come and talk to you / other senior members of staff about what the move entails.
Consider all the information that they may need prior to the move and make sure this information is given to them with plenty of time prior to the moving date.
4. Update Business Branding
Relocating your business does not just involve moving offices, in fact, there is a lot of admin and paperwork that goes with it. You will have to update business cards, contracts, mailing lists, email footers and billing addresses. Do not leave this to the last minute because you will find that this part of the process does require a good chunk of your time.
This is also a good time to upgrade your businesses branding, and so if you want to make any amendments to your logo or your businesses’ style as a whole, then now is the time to do it. Relocating businesses provides the perfect excuse to make changes within the business and in the branding of your business.
5. Hire The Necessary Business Services Beforehand
When moving to another office it is important to know what is included in your office rent. For example, are cleaning services included? If not you ought to think ahead and plan to hire cleaning services, maintenance services, security services and any other services that your business will need. Once again, do not leave this to the last minute because these services are vital to a smooth and successful running of a business.
Your employees won’t be very happy if anyone and everyone can come into the building because there is no security. Likewise, they will also not be happy if the office turns into a dump because no cleaning teams are operating. Always think ahead.
6. Map Out The New Office
Get a blueprint/floorplan of the space you are moving into and take the time to map out your new office. A good layout is vital to your business, as research has shown that how an office is laid out can positively impact productivity and staff performance. Consider using software such as Photoshop to help create a visual guide.
Play around with different ideas and create options for staff to give their feedback on. This is a good idea for several reasons, namely, it helps your staff feel more involved in the move and it allows them to voice their opinion, which makes them feel valued. The importance of this is not to be underestimated, as employees who feel valued often work far more effectively and efficiently.
7. Business Address Change Notifications
Your business address will need to be changed and you will have to think about the best way of letting your customers, partners, business banks, supplies and the post office of your address change. There are more people/services than you might initially expect who need to be alerted of your business relocation. Consider sending out emails, texts and newsletters to your customers. While it might seem like overkill, it is better to cover all grounds and make sure that all your customers are aware of the change.
When it comes to professional services, you will likely have to write letters of verifications, make calls and have meetings in person. The latter will take more time, as unfortunately, you do not have control over how long the banks and other professional services will take to update the relevant information.
Relocating your business is a big step, but it does not have to be overly complicated or stressful. Take the time to plan and research thoroughly, and this will set you up for a smooth transition. The more prepared you are the better because you can be ready for any unforeseen nightmares.
