Open Office Space

Why Are There No Coworking Spaces In Long Island? Inspired By The Centre For Social Innovation

I just finished reading Emergence - The Story of the Centre for Social Innovation. Emergence is the first of a three part series published by CSI entitled Shared Spaces for Social Innovation. The three part series offers a comprehensive overview of the CSI shared space model...talk about sharing.

Part 1 - Emergence - The Story of The Centre for Social Innovation

Part 2- Rigour - How To Create World-Changing Spaces

Part 3 (coming soon) - Proof - How Shared Spaces Are Changing The World

I dare any entrepreneur to read this book and not feel at least a little ping of interest in opening/ working out of a coworking space. As a matter of fact, I was so personally inspired by this book, I am seriously considering putting out my feelers to see if there is any real interest from others in starting a coworking space here in Long Island, New York. 

Based on my preliminary research there are a grand total of ZERO coworking spaces on Long Island.

I want to know Why?

Is it because Long Island is just too spread out?

Is it because mass transit is somewhat limited and getting to a space would require a car?

Is it because there are not enough entrepreneurs on Long Island? 

Is it possible that there are coworking spaces in Long Island and I just don't know about them?

I did find a couple of random past threads from others looking to start coworking in Long Island but these folks never seemed to get beyond the planning stages. Why?

With the amount of colleges situated in such a relatively condensed area you would think that some young motivated entrepreneur would have led the coworking charge by now. But to my knowledge, this has not been the case. 

So for the last time, as quickly as coworking spaces are popping up throughout the country, WHY hasn't anyone launched one in Long Island? It seems to me that Long Island can certainly benefit from an infusion of entrepreneurial energy.

To quote from the book Emergence "If you're in, I'm in..." If you have any interest in exploring the concept of coworking in Long Island, please reach out to me as I would definitely be willing to coordinate a meeting. I can be reached at david (at) openofficespace.com

Here are a few of great excerpts from the book:

Animation As Practice. Community animation is what turns "a place to work" to a space of social innovation. We've been building the practice of animation and developing its role as a central feature of successful shared spaces.

Openness & Light. "...light is how you achieve openness...I don't think people should be anywhere where they can't have access to natural light."

Equally essential to creating and sustaining this sense of community are common spaces. Everyone coming into or out of their office in CSI has to pass through the common area, and much like the living room in your house, it contains all the essential for a comfortable break: an arrangement of couches, a rug or two, a coffee table piled with newspapers, a few plants and knick-knacks that have been picked up over time.

There is much wisdom in the old adage that bonds are forged and friendships formed over the breaking of bread. It is wisdom that hold to this day, and it was over shared meals and communal lunches that CSI's members first and most strongly developed connections to one another.

The selection process itself was an exercise in breaking traditional workplace models in which factors beyond a potential member's ability to make rent were taken into account.

Animation as opposed to programming, is all about enabling community rather than directly trying to create it: it's a philosophy of supporting and fostering an environment in which collaboration emerges naturally rather than intervening to try to instigate collaboration by sheer force of will.

Now, on to the next book in the series, Rigour.

Content Source: Centre for Social Innovation

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The Current Trend in Office Furniture. Encouraging Collaboration In The Workplace.

   
In Part 2 of a two part interview on Officebytes TV, Jenny-Lynn Georgiades, Director of Architectural and Design Support Services at Waldners Business Environments, offers entrepreneurs & small businesses insight into the current trend of furnishing the workspace with "collaborative" office furniture.

A few quotes from the interview: 

"One of the biggest trends in the office furniture industry today is the decline of the cubicle. The cubicle walls are coming down and their allowing employees to interact and collaborate."

"They're using the open office space that's left over when they shrink those workstations and doing more with the in-between areas."

"Companies are intermixing lounge areas where people are working with their laptops. They're incorporating informal meeting areas at regular height or even cafe height for more of that Starbucks feel." 

"The worker of the future is going to be more mobile than ever, they're going to utilize new technologies. But they're still going to need to collaborate with their fellow employees, and colleagues, and exchange that information in real time. So, the workspace of the future is going to have to be more flexible and open to support those activities."

About Waldners Waldner’s Business Environments Inc. markets office furniture of brands such as OFS, Metro, Kimball, Steelcase, KI, and Hon. The company also offers furniture storage and refurbishing services. Its clientele include SAP, Ernst & Young, PrimeMedia, Readers’ Digest, MTV, HomeLoanBank, PepsiCo. Random House, GE Capital, Canon, and Sony. The company has strategic alliances with Adden, Buro, Falcon, Golden Oak, ISE, Jofcon, Lucia Group, and Vitra. Waldner’s Business Environments was founded in 1939 and is based in New York City.

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If you or your company has a knowledge that would help entrepreneurs or small businesses to improve the quality of their workplace, openofficespace.com would love to interview you.

 

Topics might include:

- Commercial Real Estate Expertise

- Workplace Wellness

- How To...(any topic related to improving the workplace)

- Creating an Eco-Friendly Office

- Office Products and Office Furniture

- Workplace Interior Design

- Streamlining Office Expenses

- Property Marketing Solutions  

A VERY COMPREHENSIVE List of Resources To Recycle Your Used/Old Office Electronics

 
Donating/recycling your used office electronics (computers, monitors, laptops, flash drives, cell phones, televisions, scanners, printers, hard drives, keyboards, speakers, cables, cords, ink and toner cartridges, appliance, cameras) can not only go a long way to help the environment, it can also aid many people in remote and underprivileged communities, schools and organizations by providing them with access to technologies they could otherwise not afford.

Below is a VERY COMPREHENSIVE list of resources to help you sell or donate your used office equipment:

Goodwill partnered with Dell Computer to create RECONNECT, a comprehensive electronics recovery, reuse and environmentally responsible recycling opportunity for consumers in participating communities. RECONNECT offers FREE drop-off recycling and reuse options for unwanted electronics.

CollectiveGood collects used cell phones and donates refurbished phones to both the developing world and organizations in the US, such as Planned Parenthood, United Way, Center for Domestic Violence Prevention, etc.

Inveneo, a non-profit social enterprise whose mission is to empower people in remote and underserved communities and the organizations who serve them through access to computing and communications will take old flash drives (otherwise known as USB Memory Sticks) and get them into the hands of students, aid workers and small business entrepreneurs in the developing world.

Close the Gap makes reused and refurbished computers available to underprivileged individuals in Africa and other developing countries.

Digital Linkshas provided more than 65,000 computers to schools, hospitals and NGOs across Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Your business can help provide technology solutions for development.

World Computer Exchange helps to bridge the global digital divide for youth all over the world by expanding local capacity for the educational use and responsible disposal of computers.

Interconnection'smission is to make information technology accessible to underserved communities around the world.

Source: Digital Tips

Find a Local Program

Earth 911
Earth 911 is a comprehensive communication medium for the environment. Earth 911 has taken environmental hotlines, web sites and other information sources nationwide, and consolidated them into one network. Once you contact the Earth 911 network, you will find community-specific information on eCycling and much more.

My Green Electronics
Provided by the Consumer Electronics Association, this site is a resource for consumers wishing to purchase green products and/or searching for local opportunities to recycle or donate used electronics.

Electronic Industries Alliance's Consumer Education Initiative
The Electronic Industries Alliance's eCycling Central Web site helps you find reuse, recycling and donation programs for electronics products in your state.

TechSoup
TechSoup has compiled a comprehensive body of information to promote computer recycling and reuse. This site provides resources for those who would like to donate hardware, those who would like to acquire recycled hardware, and refurbishers.

Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC)
RBRC can help you recycle portable rechargeable batteries commonly found in cordless power tools, cellular and cordless phones, laptop computers, camcorders, digital cameras, and remote control toys. Search for collection sites by zip code.   

Manufacturer and Retailer Programs

Manufacturers and retailers take different approaches to give you several options to donate or recycle your electronics. The following programs developed by EPA's Plug-In To eCycling partners may be national or regional in scope and may:

• Offer takeback, mail-in, or trade-in programs;
• Support local organizations that collect equipment;
• Host collection events at retail locations; or
• Support local recycling events with cities and municipalities.

Government-Supported Donation and Recycling Programs 

e-cycle St. Louis: Electronics Recycling for the Region
This consumer electronics collection program has been developed by the St. Louis Regional Partnership for Electronics Recovery to encourage reuse and recycling of unwanted electronics in the St. Louis region.

eRecycle.org
This Web site provides guidance and information to consumers in California about recycling electronics.

Federal Electronic Challenge
If you are a government agency or a business, check out the Federal Electronics Challenge for tools on how a large institution can donate or recycle its used electronics.

www.ecyclingtools.com
This resource kit provides information on the entire lifecycle of electronics and contains useful information to help you address your e-waste concerns.

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

Some More:

E-cycling Central

PC disposal

Gazelle

You Renew

Electronic Recycylers

Turtle Wings

FREE GEEK

Recycle Spot

Green Citizen

Freecycle.org

Buymytronics.com

My Bone Yard

Green Phone

Cell for Cash

If you know of other resources to help recycle your used/old office electronics, openofficespace.com would love to hear about them so we can share with our audience.

  

Your Office Space Is An Extension Of Your Brand

 
Lets face it, from the first second a potential client, partner, investor or employee steps foot into your office space, your company is being judged. Whether consciously or sub-consciously, a visitor to your space will make some initial assumptions about your company based on the aesthetics, cleanliness, culture, design, vibe, lighting, noise levels, floor plan, temperature, furnishings, etc. of your office.

Does this mean that every office needs to look like Google's headquarters?

NOT AT ALL.

It simply means that if the elements above are not consistent with the rest of your brand/corporate message, you could be creating an unnecessary strike one against your company.

Here are a few examples of an office sending an inconsistent brand message:

- You're an interior design firm but your reception area is cluttered with torn furniture that looks like it was purchased at a garage sale.

- Your start-up company is playing host to a group of penny-wise investors and your space is decked out with the most expensive italian leather furniture that money can buy.

- You're a corporate attorney dealing with very sensitive information and your client's files are openly displayed on your desk.

- Your an office furniture company and your space is completely furnished with another companies furniture. 

- You're a graphic design/branding firm with an outdated corporate logo emblazoned throughout your office.

Stepping back and really looking at your office space from an outside perspective can be difficult if not impossible. By clearly defining your brand, identifying the types of visitors you will be hosting and being crystal clear about what you want your space to portray about your company, you put yourself in a much better position to get valuable 3rd party input.

Perhaps you can create a short survey and invite a few friends and family members to visit your space and offer feedback. This exercise might give you a much better idea of what vibe your office is giving off.

Of course if you're an entrepreneur or small business looking to share space within an existing office, your ability to control every element will be somewhat limited. With that said, you can still do your best to search for available options that best represent your brand. 

Much like your companies website, your office space can go a long way to help ensure that your brand message is consistent.

Save the strike one's for next months opening day.

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Shared Office Space Part 1 | An Entrepreneurs Perspective 

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Shared Office Space Part 2 | A Space Holders Perspective

Question: Have you recently downsized your staff?

Question: Did you overestimate the amount of office space your company needs?

Question: Did your subtenant move out unexpectedly?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it is quite possible that you have been left with unused office space. Assuming your company is fortunate enough to absorb this financial burden, you might want to consider the following great ways of utilizing this open space. 

- a full court nerf basketball hoop

- an indoor current pool

- an octagon

- a paint ball course

- a puppet theater

For the rest of us, sharing our unused office space with another company can mean the difference between business as usual and defaulting on a lease.  In addition to the revenue and cost sharing benefits, the networking opportunities provided by sharing office space can also be quite valuable.

While sharing your office space with an entrepreneur or small business can certainly seem like a "no brainer", there are quite a few things space holders should consider before deciding to go this route. Some of these considerations include: 

- Does your lease strictly prohibit subleasing? If so, perhaps you can try re-negotiating with your landlord. The commercial real estate crisis has made some landlords more flexible than in the past. 

- Is the subtenant required to sign a formal sublease?

- Is the subtenant required to sign a non-disclosure agreement?

- Will the subtenant have 24/7 access to the building? To the space?

- Will the subtenant be required to submit a security deposit?

- In addition to the rent, what expenses will subtenant be responsible for sharing?

- What furniture/supplies will be provided to the subtenant?

- Will the culture of the subtenant's company mesh with yours?

- Will the subtenant have their own private office?

- Will subtenant be provided keys to the space?

- Would it make sense to install 24-hour security cameras in the space?

- Does the shared space require any type of build-out?

- Are there any events, meetings or happenings in your space that would prevent the subtenant from being able to come in the office?

Clearly sharing office space has its inherent risks and rewards. If you do not know the potential subtenant, in addition to a formal background check, you might also want to consider doing some research on venues such as facebook, twitter, linked in, etc. If the subtenant seems sketchy on these platforms, you might want to think twice before making a decision that could cost your company dearly in the long run.

If you are a space holder and have additional considerations that you would add to the list above or even have a horror story about a shared office space, openofficespace.com would love hear from you. You might just help prevent a fellow space holder from making a VERY costly mistake. 

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Shared Office Space Part 1 | An Entrepreneurs Perspective

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Shared Office Space Part 1 | An Entrepreneurs Perspective

 


One thing I have realized from bumping around from one shared office space to another is that the coolest, hippest and most impressive "looking" spaces do not always make for the most productive.

When I launched openofficespace.com last March, I was sharing office space with an extremely "hip" advertising agency in the heart of trendy SOHO, NYC. From shelves lined with Orange Crush soda bottles to the sliding wall enclosing the conference room, the space reeked of AWESOME! Every single client who came to visit me in that SOHO office was visibly impressed.

The only problem, I was completely unproductive. 

Possible reasons: my toetapping neighbor, the heat banging through the pipes, the construction in the building, the action going on outside, the elevator that took 20 minutes to come, the every company for themself culture, the extra 45 minute commute, etc.

By way of comparison, my previous office, (2 blocks from Madison Square Garden) looked like a garage sale threw up in a second hand store. It was dirty, the furniture was barely standing and there were more random artifacts and used video equipment than the Smithsonian. And guess what, between the collaborative atmosphere and pure energy that flowed in that "dirty" space, I was never more productive.

The moral of the story, while sharing office space can certainly seem like a "no-brainer" for cost conscious entrepreneurs, it is vital that your final space decision extends beyond simply the decor or monthly rent. If the space does not cultivate a productive environment for YOU, then all the "cool" orange crush bottles in the world won't matter.

To help ensure that you find the right shared office space environment for your company, we have compiled a list of important factors to consider before making your final decision:

General
- Long and short term business and real estate priorities

Location
- Location (travel time, accessibility via public transportation, proximity of: clients, customers, competition, suppliers, vendors, partners, hotels, etc.)
- Branding image (What does your office space say about your company? Do you care?)
- Space requirements (How much actual space your company requires?)

Culture
- Is there white noise music played overhead? (yes or no)
- Are you allowed to bring pets to work?
- Does the space offer dress down Fridays?

Maintenance
- Does entire space get cleaned regularly by a professional cleaning service? -     - Is there construction happening in the building? In neighboring buildings?

Supplies/Furniture
- Do spaceholders share a refrigerator?
- Does space com furnished?     - What equipment will be shared?
- Which utilities will be shared? (electric, cable, internet, phone, etc.)

Space Considerations
Open space plan
Closed Offices
Natural Light
Windows

Building Considerations
- Hours of Building Access
- Will every tenant get their own key to the building? To the space itself?
- Does space offer 24 hour air-conditioning?
- Does space offer 24 hour elevator access?

Legal & Privacy Considerations
- Is it required for new tenants to sign a confidentiality agreement? (yes or no) - Are you comfortable with hearing others hearing details of your day to day operations?

Environmental Considerations
- Is space eco-friendly? (yes or no)

Networking Considerations
- What type of business are you in?
- What types of businesses do you want to connect with?
- What types of businesses would complement yours?

If you are an entrepreneur and have additional considerations that you would add to the list above or even have a horror story about a shared office space, we would love hear from you. You might just help prevent a fellow entrepreneur from making a VERY costly decision.

Shared Office Space Part 2 will review things a spaceholder needs to consider before deciding to share their unused office space with a potential stranger.

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Feature Update: Improved Commercial Property (Office) Search

Today's feature update comes as a result of a phone call from one of our users which actually made me laugh. It was either laugh or cry, I chose the former.

The user pointed out that when she did a search for office space and typed in Boston, Massachusetts, it returned a certain number of results, whereas when she typed in Boston, MA, the site returned quite a different number of results. In other words, if someone abbreviated a state or entered just a zip code, the search feature was not effectively capturing all the properties in our database for that given location.

All together now..."Hey, that sucks!"

To overcome this issue the "brains" at openofficespace.com have built a new and improved "smart search" feature. The smart search will auto-suggest a location as a user begins to enter a city or zip code, ensuring that all relevant properties for that location (in our database) will be returned. 

As part of this upgrade we have also applied this technology to assist users that are POSTING unused office space. To maintain consistency I think we will call it our new "smart post" technology.  

Similar to the smart search feature, the smart post will auto-suggest a location as a user begins to enter a city or zip code. If for some reason that location is not already part of the database, it will automatically be added and shown on future results.

If you are posting or searching for unused office space in Canada, simply click the international link and select Canada from the dropdown. This will automatically change the data of the "smart search" and "smart post"  to reflect locations in Canada.

Check back in the next few days as we will be launching another new feature that will be very helpful to commercial real estate brokers, executive suite operators or any other spaceholder with multiple properties.

Please continue to give us feedback, good or bad, and we will do our best to accommodate your suggestions.

Here are a few screenshots of this new feature:

SMART SEARCH

SMART POST

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Entrepreneurs and Startups, How "Walkable" Is Your Office Space Location?

Openofficespace.com is proud to announce that our property listings now include Walk Score which calculates the "walkability" of an address based on the distance from an office to nearby amenities. We believe this is pretty important information as a walkable office location can save an entrepreneur, startup, or small business time, money and even help the environment.

 
  
As bootstrapping entrepreneurs, we are always on the lookout for ways to save a few bucks. Knowing how close or far away a potential office space is to public transportation, grocery stores, restaurants, coffee shops, bars, movie theaters, schools, parks, libraries, bookstores, fitness centers, pharmacies etc. can help determine if a car is required or if we can travel via the Q-Footy-Footy (as my mother used to say). 

When reviewing property listings on openofficespace.com, the walk score can be found right below the property description as a new tab.

 
  
What does my score mean?

Your Walk Score is a number between 0 and 100. Here are general guidelines for interpreting your score:

• 90–100 = Walkers' Paradise: Most errands can be accomplished on foot and many people get by without owning a car.
• 70–89 = Very Walkable: It's possible to get by without owning a car.
• 50–69 = Somewhat Walkable: Some stores and amenities are within walking distance, but many everyday trips still require a bike, public transportation, or car.
• 25–49 = Car-Dependent: Only a few destinations are within easy walking range. For most errands, driving or public transportation is a must.
• 0–24 = Car-Dependent (Driving Only): Virtually no neighborhood destinations within walking range. You can walk from your house to your car!

Why Walking Matters

Walkable workplaces offer surprising benefits to our health, the environment, and our communities.

Better health: A study in Washington State found that the average resident of a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood weighs 7 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.  Residents of walkable neighborhoods drive less and suffer fewer car accidents, a leading cause of death between the ages of 15–45.

Reduction in greenhouse gas: Cars are a leading cause of global warming. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.

More transportation options: Compact neighborhoods tend to have higher population density, which leads to more public transportation options and bicycle infrastructure. Not only is taking the bus cheaper than driving, but riding a bus is ten times safer than driving a car!²

Increased social capital: Walking increases social capital by promoting face-to-face interaction with your neighbors. Studies have shown that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.³

Stronger local businesses: Dense, walkable neighborhoods provide local businesses with the foot traffic they need to thrive. It's easier for pedestrians to shop at many stores on one trip, since they don't need to drive between destinations.

Content Source: Walk Score Website

Please check back over the next few days as we have some very cool new feature updates on tap. All of these updates are a result of "spot on" feedback from our users...please keep the feedback coming.

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Entrepreneurs - 10 Reasons Why You MUST Bring "Health and Fitness" Into Your Office

Entrepreneurs - Are your thumbs the most fit part of your body? 

Entrepreneurs - 10 Reasons Why You MUST Bring "Health and Fitness" Into Your Office

Before I get started I just want to clarify, when I say bring "health and fitness" into your office, I am not suggesting that you need to make room for a treadmill, I am strictly speaking of bringing the "health and fitness" mindset into your office.

Why I'm qualified to write this blog post - I hold a B.S. in Adult Fitness from Cortland State, have worked in the corporate fitness programs of several Fortune 100 companies, was the managing partner in a 30,000 sq. ft. health club and for over 17 years have been a personal trainer to hundreds of clients just like YOU.

So in no particular order, here are 10 reasons entrepreneurs MUST bring "health and fitness" into their office:

1) Stress Relief - As an entrepreneur, it is inevitable stress and you will become intimate coworkers. How you manage this stress will have a direct impact on your ability to perform at work, your general health and your sanity. A 30-45 minute exercise session is one of the most effective ways to keep your stress at  manageable levels.  (i.e. walk, jog, run, hit the heavy bag, hit the weights, go for a  swim, whatever)

2) Productivity - Let me guess you work long hours and don't have time to fit exercise into your day. Some of the most successful/busy clients I have ever worked with were able to fit exercise into their schedule, but you can't? I cry Bu** sh**! You need to re-organize your schedule to make it fit.

An hour spent exercising before, during or after your workday coupled with a proper eating plan can help ensure that you have a generous amount of energy during the day and sleep more soundly at night. Two important commodities for entrepreneurs...so its worth organizing your day accordingly.   

3) Monkey See/Monkey Do - Whether you like it or not, you are a role model (the head monkey) to your employees.  If your employees see that you are passionate about health and fitness, it is very likely they will follow suit. The result: more productive/creative employees, less "sick days" and possibly a better looking staff picture.

4) Self-Confidence - Your ability to sell your concepts, products and even yourself will often boil down to the level of self-confidence you are able to portray. Regardless of the starting fitness level of clients I have trained, one thing always held true, a noticeable improvement in self-confidence after only a few weeks of consistent exercise.  

5) A Direct Connection Exists Between Exercise and Brain Performance - In today's challenging business environment, the slightest competitive advantage could mean the difference between a homerun venture and Chapter 11. Over the past several years, several research projects have delivered indisputable proof that exercise and brain performance are linked. Perhaps doing something (such as exercise) to strengthen the "noodle" can ensure you fall on the homerun side of the equation. For more on this topic you should read Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brainby John Ratey.

6) Improved Morale - A company that exercise together...well never mind that. The fact of the matter is that exercise often serves as a good opportunity for employees to get together outside of the workplace. I am convinced that one of the reasons many personal trainers are so well liked is they are in contact with people at a time when the beta endorphins are elevated. If you buy into this train of thought you can see how exercising together might result in a more cohesive staff.

7) Reduced Employee Turnover- Personal trainers often work with the same clients for years as their clients become dependent on the motivation, attention and direction offered by the trainer. If your encouragement has resulted in a workforce that feels good about themselves due to exercise, don't you think they will think twice before leaving you?

8) Improved Creativity - Many a great idea has been conceived on the treadmill. Regular aerobic activity improves the efficiency of the circulatory system ensuring more oxygen rich blood is delivered throughout the body..this includes the brain. Aerobic Exercise = the electricity to power the "light bulb" over your head.  

9) Consistent Energy Levels Throughout The Day - Without getting into a scientific explanation, eating small meals (low in simple sugars) spread throughout the day will improve the likelihood that you will have a consistent level of energy throughout the day. Very big meals will often leave you feeling sluggish and unable to concentrate.

10) You Will Help Prevent Cardiovascular Disease and Other Illnesses Caused From Inactivity - I recently came across a funny cartoon, a doctor is standing with his patient and says "What fits your schedule better, exercising one hour a day, or being dead 24 hours a day?" The daily stress we face as entrepreneurs can result in severe consequences to our health. Embracing "health and fitness" as a lifestyle can help prevent many of these illnesses before its too late.

Some actionable advice- I highly recommend hiring a personal trainer for 2 or 3 sessions every 6 months. Be clear that you are looking for an organized program that you can do on your own. Exercising with proper technique and intensity levels will help prevent you from getting injured and improve the chances you will see results...and stick to the program.

Time to put my entrepreneur hat back on and focus on making Open Office Space one of those homerun businesses.

 

Small Biz/Entrepreneurs - Estimating The Right Amount of Office Space For Your Company

Whether your company is looking for its very first office space or your current lease is ending and you are looking for some new digs, it is very important that you first carefully assess your office space requirements both from a short and long term perspective.

While a small and cozy space might cost a little less initially, if there is a strong possibility your company will need to expand its staff within your lease term, choosing this less expensive space can result in some very tight quarters and severly hinder productivity in your workplace. (#7 on our list of the Top 10 Leasing Misaktes)

Conversely, while it might be fun to have a football catch across the office, taking on too much space can result in a big drain on your company’s bottom line and a potential blow to morale.

Estimating how much office space you will need is not an exact science. The nature of your business, corporate culture, workflow and even your individual preferences might vary significantly from other company’s. These variations make it virtually impossible to standardize a specific guideline that will work for every company.  

As you contemplate the amount of space your company actually needs, it is helpful to understand the difference between rentable and usable space.

Landlords charge tenants based on the number of rentable square footage leased. The rentable square footage is calculated by adding the usable square footage (the amount of square footage to be used exclusively by you, the tenant) to a portion of the common area (areas shared by all tenants such as the lobby, restrooms, shared hallways, etc.).

The distinction between the two is especially important as you estimate the amount of usable space that will best suit your company.

As many leases will lock you into your space for at least 2 years, it is vital to carefully consider your company’s future growth before making a final decision on how much space you need.

Terminating your lease early because your company outgrew its space will cost your company money, time and probably serve as a major distraction from your normal course of business.

OK, good advice but how exactly are we supposed to estimate the right amount of space for our company?

Good question.

Open Office space recently launched Office Space For Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses: An Evolving Guide to Leasing. The guide breaks down the entire leasing process and offers several strategies to ensure you accurately estimate the amount of office space that is right for your company. 

The guide includes an indepth look at the Top 10 Leasing Mistakes, a breakdown of The 4 Steps involved with the leasing process and also includes 50+ ways to streamline office expenses.  

In addition to valuable content, the guide also features two powerful (and FREE) tools to help you estimate and plan the right amount of space for your company:

1) The space planner/floor plan tool allows a user to layout their entire office space including furniture...before the moving van arrives. The extremely easy to use interface features an ability to drag and drop furniture directly onto a floor plan. Finished plans can be saved, printed and shared.

2) A space estimation tool  which will give you a head start with regards to estimating the right amount of office space based on your company's needs.

As an entrepreneur or small business it is very likely that a large portion of your time/overhead will be devoted to your office. With stakes so high, it is mission critical that you take the time to plan accordingly.  

If you do find yourself in a situation where you are left with unused office space, consider posting it on our site and we will do our best to promote it for you.