Small businesses comprise a large portion of the backbone of the economy, and they’ve all taken quite a hit during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many have shuttered completely, while entrepreneurs are hesitant to get into business at such an uncertain time. As this effect begins to wane over the next few months while vaccinations roll out, their eyes will inevitably turn back to getting into the game. For some, this will mean downsizing operations in order to build back strength, while others may see fit to kick off a start-up. Either way, the small business office needs to come back, and here’s how to do it right.
PREDICT YOUR TEAM SIZE
Choosing an office with the appropriate amount of square footage is vital. With more employees opting to work from home, this might be a good time to consider deciding who can do so on a permanent basis, and which workers should actually be in the office throughout the week. Generally, office spaces require between 60 to 350 square feet per individual employee, depending on whether it’s an open office layout, or not.
Second, it’s important to take note of which employees require larger work areas, depending on their job. CEOs and skilled workers may require more desk and surrounding space to do their jobs, while clerical and data-driven jobs may require far less. And finally, take a physical note of the machinery and computer systems required for your office, including workstations. From there, you’ll be in a better position to design and execute the perfect small business office.
WORKING WITHIN SPACES
Deciding how to fill up your workspace with office furniture depends largely on the functionality you are going for. Open office environments are designed with high traffic in mind, and an energetic flow in how employees work together and communicate. Not all employees will benefit from such a layout, which is why it’s important to designate private spaces where they can go to focus on their work. Desks are another matter. While L-Shaped desks can save space by filling up corners and increasing throughput traffic, they can also leave the area feeling empty and non-utilized. Cubicles may be preferable here, but if the idea is too loathsome to imagine, mobile workstation setups with modular partitions and structures may be more attractive. Our OrbitPod Workstations continue to be one of the hottest and most versatile alternatives to the standard cubicle, due to their modular design that allows them to be implemented in a myriad of different ways.
MEETING AREAS
Nowadays, the main conference room tends to see very little active use, and that’s a real problem when it comes to maximizing your workspace. Today’s conference rooms should be multi-purpose in nature, not just for big board and client meetings, but also for teams to sit down and coordinate on projects. Typically, this type of conference room should accommodate at least 8 to 10 individuals, allowing for full seating across a wide spectrum of meetings. This is especially important for small businesses who need to maximize the efficiency of every square foot of space in the office. Finally, conference tables and desks should come with data and electrical options built in, to accommodate those with laptops and other tech devices. By ensuring that these options are within easy reach, you will increase productivity of your team without missing a beat.
SEATING
It’s vitally important to make sure that a company peppers its office space with comfortable, ergonomic and reliable chairs that can go the distance, and keep employees productive throughout the day. Most of the work shift is spent sitting down, and if those chairs can’t do the job, productivity suffers. It’s as simple as that.
The secret to working within an optimal small business office is a combination of identifying how to utilize your particular space, and the office furniture that will be added into it. By striking this balance, you can create a highly efficient, versatile and modular office space that can accommodate growth as you navigate through those first business hurdles and prepare for expansion. For more information on how the right office furniture can help with this task, please contact us today!
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