Moving Your Business to Another Location? Remember The Following
At one point, every business considers the prospect of moving its operations to a new place. There are a number of reasons why businesses may choose to relocate; some wish to be closer to new markets, some are looking for better access to labor, some wish to reduce costs, some wish to upgrade equipment or offices or their lease may have ended. Regardless of the reason, it is essential to be prepared because you don’t want to disrupt your business operations for long and don’t wish to lose customers. Therefore, there are some expert tips that you need to consider when you are moving your business to another location and they are outlined as follows:
Establish a proper timeline
When you have decided to move, it is time to make a proper timeline to carry it out. It is no easy task to coordinate a move. In fact, it is downright challenging because you have to handle all the equipment and furniture in your office. Come up with a design plan for your new office because this will help you decide what furniture and equipment you wish to keep and what you will need to buy. You also have to inform your employees at least 4 to 6 months before so the changes don’t come off as a surprise. You will need to schedule time for updating your phone lines and internet services. Plus, you also have to get the necessary permits, insurance policies and licenses. You need time to plan all this out so there are no delays.
Allocate your resources
Planning beforehand also gives you an idea of the tasks you need to accomplish. It is a great way of ensuring you don’t forget anything and you can allocate your resources in the most effective way possible. From budgeting for equipment transportation and hiring interstate movers, you need to use your resources in the best and most efficient way. You can also ask your employees to assist and chip in to streamline the process as they are familiar with the operations.
Hire movers a few months before the move
Bear in mind that the choice of movers is not a decision you can make on the spot. You are trusting the movers to transport your assets to a different location and you want to ensure it is done safely and properly. Moreover, you don’t want any delays because you may end up losing customers and that’s not something any business wants. The process of choosing a moving company, especially if you are looking for interstate movers, can take some time. You need to get quotes from several companies before finalizing your choice.
Talk to your vendors
When you arrive at your new location, you don’t want to be without any necessities. Thus, it is a good idea to inform your vendors in advance about the move so they can make the required adjustments to your shipping address. If you need new equipment or furniture for the new office, it is best to order it before time because you don’t want to arrive at the new place and have to wait to set it up.
Update your website, business cards and letterhead
You are changing locations so the information on your website, letterhead and business cards will need to be altered to reflect the change. It is recommended that you start making these changes as soon as you sign the lease on the new office. This is because you may not have time later when there will be other things to worry about and you might forget to do all this, which is not going to be good for your business. It can have an impact on the public’s perception of your business and its image.
Inform your customers
Most businesses don’t even consider doing this and it can be a major mistake on your part. These days, a business has to be more open with their clients if they want to have a long-term relationship with them. One of the simplest ways of keeping them engaged is to keep them updated about the things happening behind the scenes. When you have decided to make a move, share this news with your customers through social media or blogs.
Think about a staggered move
If you cannot afford to shut down for more than a day or two, give a staggered move some thought. This is to maintain both spaces at the same time in the short term and gradually moving machinery and equipment. This will minimize the impact on your workflow.
As long as you follow these tips, you will be able to move your business to another location in an organized and smooth manner and minimize the hassle associated with relocation.
