I've discovered even working in the garden has it's problems this week. Namely that I've had both doors open and just ended up sitting on the decking. Yesterday I even nodded off at about 2pm. Can't seem to get any work done with this weather, when's the rain due back?
I have a client near to you Peasie, and his shop isn't huge but he seems to get hammered with his business rates, like you I thought they were largely a thing of the past here in gods country.
Kris
-- Edited by kjmcculloch83 on Tuesday 27th of March 2012 08:23:06 PM
I'm thinking of renting an office. At the moment I don't have enough clients to justify it or pay for it even. But if I was to obtain enough clients then an office it shall be. I have a place targetted and will be gutted if this place is occupied in the near future. It lay empty for a couple of years and was recently occupied but looks like it is vacant again. It is odd - the village is expanding and there is a massive expansion which I'm fairly certain has been approved by the council to be carried out over a five or six year period. Yet there are far fewer shops than when I was a kid growing up there.
It is in the main street in a smallish village although most of the shops are now closing/being demolished/tuned into houses and flats. I don't particularly like people watching me while I work and this shop has a large window where people can look in from the pavement. I'm thinking (see note) of dividing it in two using a screen of some sort and having a work area and an area where I met clients. The area where I met clients would be in the area visible to the public with a desk which had a couple of monitors on it and a wireless keyboard/mouse but nothing else on it. All paperwork/filing cabinets etc would be hidden from view.
Or am I thinking about all tis wrongly. Should my work area be in view and clients kept private.
Note - I'm "thinking" about all these things with this specific shop in mind - I don't even know if the shop will be available. And if it's not available I'm not sure I'd want an office and I'll just continue to work from home.
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
Oooo a big step. I've thought about it more times than I care to remember now, and it always ends up with me not being able to justify it. Maybe I'm just a big feartie.
I think that the setup you are considering makes perfect sense to me, I don't see any great issue with not showing clients your 'real' desk, how would they even know. I can see times when you'd perhaps want to discuss things away from passing eyes though. What about these glass stickers you get with your business name on them that turn clear glass into opaque glass?
What about these glass stickers you get with your business name on them that turn clear glass into opaque glass?
Or you could put up some of those louvred blinds? There's a small accountancy/bookkeeping practice near to me which is right on the road and they have covered their windows with blinds...can't see in at all.
on the where to put the partition, clients don't want to sit in a shop window when doing business the same as we don't want to sit in a shop window with people knowing that you don't have clients with you.
Clients also don't want to be left waiting in a shop window.
I've seen several shop conversions in the past and the way that accountants invariably have them set up is with a reception desk in the shop front them clients taken through to a back room which may or may not be the same room that you work in.
Keep the foyer / reception area uncluttered and professional looking to tempt in clients.
Alternatively lose the front of shop behind some dry walling turning the window area into a shop window for display purposes.
Also, try to avoid ever having clients left in a waiting room together. The last thing that you want is for tthem to start talking to each other!
One final point is "Don't forget the cost of the business rates".
There's a reason why accountants are almost always situated upstairs in that the rates are much cheaper than a shop front.
Talk in a bit,
Shaun.
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Shaun
Responses are not meant as a substitute for professional advice. Answers are intended as outline only the advice of a qualified professional with access to all relevant information should be sought before acting on any response given.
I dream of a plush office reception with marble floor glass ceilings and oak furniture with leather executive chairs, private work area upstairs with windows looking onto the the river. oh sorry was dreaming of when I get an office. I would try and keep things as affordable as possible as office space can be very expensive once you add up rent, rates,lights,security etc etc.I would just put up some blinds for the window to keep eyes out, split your work area from the meeting area with a screen divider or someting and a potted plant with some magazines and you should be ready. Good luck with the upgrade.
It's not really an expansion and I'll probably get shot down for what I'm saying next. I happen to like bookkeeping. Some people have hobbies and spend money on their hobbies. So this could be similar to spending money on my hobby. Rather than take the money out I'd rather it was used to rent an office. I'm not doing it in the hope of getting more work although I can't see me getting any less work because of it.
Rates - well, given the size of the property I don't think that will come into things. I'm sure their are no Rates in Scotland in small properties. My brothers have considerably larger premises not far away and they don't pay rates. They do have to pay water rates.
I realise there will be other costs - like Public Liability insurance.
I was at an accountants a couple of weeks ago. I'm not sure where the accountant works - the room I was in, the first room in the front door, there is a large desk but nothing on it other than a calculator. While I was in someone walked in and handed over some paperwork. He was late - he was meant to have been in shortly before me. I found it odd being introduced and shaking hands with someone I'll likely never meet again. It didn't bother me too much the interruption but I wouldn't have liked the situation if it was my own office. That's where I got the idea of working away from where I'd meet clients when I saw his uncluttered desk.
Kris - at least you have somewhere to go to work even if it is only out in the garden. I think I'd get more done if I had to travel a slight distance away from my home. I do like being able to work when I like at home but part of me wants to work normal hours.
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
I have a client near to you Peasie, and his shop isn't huge but he seems to get hammered with his business rates, like you I thought they were largely a thing of the past here in gods country.
Is it that Pet Shop you mentioned before? I'm not surprised the rates are high - it's in the main street in town. The premises I'm talking about are in a small village where the rates aren't so crippling.
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Never buy black socks from a normal shop. They shaft you every time.
