Tips and tricks for relocating a small business

So, you looked far and wide through the adds and finally found the perfect office space for your company. If this is the case, then you have to move your entire operation to the new place. Surely, relocating a small business is no easy task. You have to plan everything from hiring commercial movers to letting your business partners know about the move on time. Not only that, but you also have to organize your workers in such a way that their work doesn’t suffer. Since every move is difficult, you have to plan out your office relocation carefully. Luckily, it is not as hard as you would imagine. With our help, you will learn a couple of useful tips and tricks, and everything will go smoothly.

The most important thing in a commercial move is staying organized and focused. You can do this by creating a roadmap for the move, from start to finish. There are many small details to take care of, so you can easily let a few key things slip by you in all the chaos. So, grab a piece of paper or pull out your phone, and write down a moving checklist. It should contain goals such as:

• Organizing a timeline for the move
• Locating and hiring a reliable moving company
• Organizing the employees
• Planning out a moving budget
• Informing your business partners and clients about the move

Relocating a small business begins with timely preparations

Keeping in mind that there are many things to take care of, your first step is to make a timeline. Since you are moving a small business, you should create a time window of around two to three months for everything. Larger offices need significantly more time, but for you, this should be enough. Keep in mind that all of your supplies and equipment must be packed before the Oxford movers and packers arrive. Some less important items, such as archived documents and excess supplies can be packed at the very start of the process. More important things, such as your everyday work equipment should be left for last. The most important thing is to start on time. Otherwise, you will get caught up in the rush and make mistakes. Give yourself enough time and everything will be just fine.

Finding a reputable mover is half the job

Regardless of where, how far, or how much stuff you are moving, finding a good mover is the most important thing in the process. Look for movers online, as there are many reliable websites to do so, such as the Better Business Bureau. After you selected a few possible candidates, make sure to go through their reviews. This will be your best insight into whether you should hire them, or walk away. Once you narrow your list down even further, take your time and phone the companies individually. Ask about the types of services they offer, their rates, and insurance. Feel free to ask questions about anything you’re not sure of, or want a better explanation. After all, you don’t want to receive a nasty surprise when the bill arrives.

 Don’t forget about your moving budget

A commercial move can be quite expensive. So, when relocating a small business, the funds are a major thing to think about. The first step is to list down all of the moving costs you might run into. This includes moving fees, packing materials, transport, and storage fees. When you make an estimate of how much the move will cost, you can start gathering the needed funds and avoid unwanted moving expenses. If you calculate the costs in advance, you’ll be able to start building your budget on time. Another important factor is if you will buy or rent your new business space. No matter what option you choose, you should still reserve a portion of the budget for costs outside of the base cost of purchasing or renting. Added costs, such as lease, insurance, maintenance, and utilities, can easily burn a hole in your pocket.

Employees are a vital part of relocating a small business

If you have employees, you can’t move your business on your own. Because of this, you should organize a meeting and inform everyone about what is happening and what your plans are. Communicating with your workers is very important in situations such as this one. By talking to everyone, you will give them a chance to express their opinions, expectations, and ideas regarding the move. In addition, your workers might have some good ideas about designing and organizing your new workspace. This is why organizing a company meeting should be done before you make any major moves in the relocation.

Your employees should be included in the process as well. You can organize a to-do list, and split it between your workers. For example, one person should be tasked with one thing, depending on their abilities. Another option would be to task every employee with preparing their personal workspace for relocation. If you have more people working on organizing the move, you will be more efficient. Efficient moving will help minimize downtime and prevent losses. This is another reason why you should organize meetings in the workplace. Of course, for things which your employees are not able to do, you should always call professionals.

Keep everyone related to your business informed

Since you are relocating a small business, you will change your location and with it, your address and contact information. You will need to inform your clients, banks, suppliers, and any other party you may be working with, about these changes. This means that you should update your information on social media profiles, websites, and business cards. You can task one of your employees to do this. If you have any subscriptions to magazines or newsletters, you should contact the publishers and inform them of the address change. The most important thing is to notify your customers about your relocation. Keep in mind that you should do this before the move, to avoid problems and confusion.