If you’ve decided to pursue a new business venture and you now have the keys to your new premises, you’ll need to get things set up and ready before you bring in any new employees. There are many things to think about, so check out this handy list of things to remember when setting up a new business.
Furniture
If you’re setting up an office environment, you’ll need to make sure that there is comfortable furniture for you and your employees to use. This includes making sure you’ve got good quality desks and chairs. When it comes to desks, you need to make sure there’s enough room for everyone to have their own working space without compromising on space around you for filing cabinets and other essential office must-haves.
When it comes to chairs, it’s important not to scrimp out. You need to think about your employee’s backs. If they are sat down for long periods of time, a poor quality chair will lead to aches and pains. It’s better to put some money into investing in decent furniture now for longevity and also the well being of your employees. After all, a comfortable employee will work much better than one who isn’t.
Equipment
You’ll also need to think about equipment, especially if there’s an area of your business that’s customer-facing. For example, if you’re opening a cafe or a small bakery, you’ll need to make sure you’ve got the right equipment to keep everything to standard as well as display your products effectively.
While it’s totally possible to achieve this by yourself, if you want a truly professional look, your best bet is to go with shopfitters. This is because they can outsource the best equipment and fit it professionally, giving you the peace of mind that when opening day does arrive, everything goes without a hitch. Not only that, but you want your new business space to look clean and inviting, and that’s the best way of achieving it.
Fast internet
It doesn’t matter what kind of business you run, you need fast internet in this day and age. Whether it’s to help run the backend of things or so that you can offer your customers free Wi-Fi when they’re in your premises, there’s nothing worse than slow internet. This is especially important if you’re in an office environment, because when it comes to work and your employees being as productive as possible, you’ll need your internet service to be fast.
Take some time to shop around different providers to see what kind of deal you can get. If you’re in an area that doesn’t get good internet naturally (if you’re located in the middle of nowhere), there are lots of options you could look into when it comes to boosting your internet signal.
Modern technology
Another area to consider when fitting out your new business space is modern technology. No matter what kind of business you’re in, you’ll need to deal with enquiries and process orders as quickly as possible. And, if you have outdated technology or systems, this won’t be easy. Technology progresses quickly, and if you’re the one using old technology compared to your competitors, you could lose out on some valuable customers.
You should look into ways that you could introduce technology to make your employee’s lives easier too. Things like handheld tablets to take down orders in a restaurant are a great way of making sure that the customer gets exactly what they want. Not only that, but you’ll be saving money on paper tickets which also helps contribute towards climate change. Take some time to look into how modern technology could help your business and invest into it where possible.
Facilities
If you’re a customer facing business, then it’s important to make sure you’ve got the right facilities to make sure everyone is comfortable. You’ll need to think about facilities like bathrooms with amenities for baby changing, dressing rooms, or even spaces for mothers to breastfeed their children.
Having these kinds of facilities not only makes your customers as comfortable as possible while they’re with you, but it also helps with word of mouth recommendations. If someone has had a pleasant experience with you, they will talk about it to their friends and family, which will help your business.
Security
Security is another key area to consider when it comes to launching your new business. This includes both in-house security and online security. Making sure you have security cameras on the shop floor or even a security guard will help deter anyone from stealing anything, and can help give you that peace of mind if you’re working alone or need to cash up with a shop full of people.
When it comes to online security, look into managed IT services as they can help you handle all of your security and data. They will help prevent any data breaches from happening and also be on hand to solve any IT problems your business runs into if you don’t have anyone in-house that can sort the problem. Having them on speed dial will also give you that peace of mind, giving you one less thing to worry about.
Pleasant decor
Finally, no matter what kind of business you’re planning to open, it’s important to have pleasant decor. If you’re opening a new office, having neutral decor with plenty of plants and artwork will help create a calming atmosphere for your employees to work in. If there’s too much “noise” to look at, you might find productivity levels drop.
When it comes to decorating for your customers, that’s where you can get a little more creative. Use your brand colours to create a space that reflects your company’s vision and everything you stand for. Make the interior of your store an exciting place to be that will get people talking!
Starting a new business (whether you’re seasoned or not) is never an easy task. But, if you keep these ideas in mind, things should go off without a hitch.
