So you’ve got a great idea.  You decide to pull a few friends together, get some financing from friends and family, and dive right into it.  Your office is either the local coffee shop with free wi-fi, or your kitchen table.  Sure it might save you some dollars in the beginning, but are you really doing the right thing, for both yourself and your company?  Nowadays, being an entrepreneur is the cool, trendy thing to do.  In this shaky economy, more and more people are going it on their own in the hopes of coming up with the next best thing.  The movie Social Network has inspired more than a few people, and the growing numbers in start-ups is the proof in the pudding.  However, cutting corners by not having an actual “office” might not be one of your best laid plans.

Productivity

Whether it’s the phone, television, the fridge, or just your couch, working from home can be a productivity-killer.  The number of distractions present at home, or at the local coffee shop, is never-ending.  You may technically be working long hours, but your rate of productivity is cut down to 60-70% due to the surroundings.

Inspiring Space – Sense of Urgency

Corporations pay interior design firms obscene amounts of money to come up with workspace designs that boost productivity, inspire people, and allow for a stress-free and focus-inducing space.  There is a very good reason behind this.  If you’re serious about building a real company, then you’re going to need space.  You’re going to need whiteboards and desks and printers and stable Internet service and phone booths and meeting space.  Also, being in a professional environment forces you to take deadlines and deliverables more seriously.  If you’re sitting in your shorts and t-shirt at the coffee shop, missing a deadline or a deliverable doesn’t carry the same weight.

Secretarial Service – Answering Services

Photocopying.  Answering calls.  Taking messages.   Sending and receiving faxes.  Though these tasks are very simple, constant breaks in workflow to attend to them drastically affects your productivity and train of thought.

Professional Appearance

Having an office downtown may be good for enhancing your image and generating more business. You can accept customer visits, without worrying whether your customer will trip on your son s toys or your neighbors getting irritated with the comings-and-goings of too many people in your house.

In addition, clients will also be more relaxed to deal with you in an office environment, rather than in your house where they may feel like they are intruding on your privacy. Some clients may not appreciate doing business with you while your toddler is clinging at your feet screaming and demanding for your attention.

Costs for office suites and secretarial services

Costs are much lower than most people anticipate, and the added benefits of not having to acquire internet, set up phones, hire a secretary, dealing with leases and landlords, is priceless.