Many startups around the world are starting to use frugal practices to kickstart their offices. For those that are gradually upgrading themselves from an at-home company to a small or even medium business, it’s vital to look for ways to cut the costs of starting and maintaining an office.
This is where it helps to adopt a couple of cost-saving measures to get your business started as soon as possible.
With lower budgets and more requirements than ever, setting up an office in the current year can be tricky. Even with most companies adopting remote workflows nowadays, it’s still a good idea to set up a frugal office as a base of operations. So here are our tips to help you kickstart a cost-effective office space.
How much space do you need?
Ask yourself how much space you’re going to need for your office. If you’ve already hired a couple of people then consider how much desk space they’re going to need. Then, think about extras such as a kitchen or if it’s even needed.
Some smaller startups are perfectly fine with a corner for a fridge and a microwave, while larger companies might need a dedicated room.
Then you should also think about how many people are going to actually be in your office. This is a consideration for those who have employees that won’t always be in the office thanks to remote workflows.
With all this in mind, ask yourself how much space you really need for an office. Space comes at a premium and is incredibly expensive in terms of rent, so make sure you’re getting a location that is just right for your needs but can be expanded in the future if needed.
Pick up second-hand furniture
You can save a lot of money by fixing up old furniture and refurbishing things–but only if you have the time to do so. A bit of sanding, painting and general repurposing is a great way to save money on your office furniture.
However, we would suggest that you order office furniture from reputable companies if you’re concerned about quality. The problem with repurposing and refurbishing is that it takes up a lot of time that could otherwise be spent on running your business.
However, if you have the time and skills to reuse furniture and repurpose different items, it can save you a lot of money.
Use second-hand hardware
The important thing about your hardware is that it works, not that it’s the best. A startup office doesn’t need expensive laptops and computers, especially if they’re only being used for productivity purposes like writing documents and filling spreadsheets.
You probably don’t even need many computers to get started, especially if you’re coming from an at-home business where you already have a computer or a laptop.
We highly suggest that you purchase refurbished hardware and computers if you have multiple employees that will need to have access to a computer. Any office computer from the last 10 years will work perfectly.
