Opening a corporate office can make it easier for your business to market itself as a legitimate organization. If your company is perceived to be a legitimate business, it may be easier for the firm to attract quality employees and increase its customer base. Of course, you will need to spend time and money setting up the office so that it can serve as an asset to your organization.

What Type of Employee Configuration Will the Company Use?

In previous decades, employees often worked in a series of cubicles that were lined next to each other on the office floor. While some companies still do that, it’s not uncommon for organizations to utilize open floor plans in which employees work at desks that aren’t divided by an artificial barrier.

An open concept often allows for a freer flow of information between workers, which can improve productivity. Furthermore, an open concept may make it easier to fit large equipment such as copiers or printers into a smaller space. This is because a row of desks will typically take up less space than a traditional cubicle. In addition, an open concept can help make workers less boxed-in and isolated.

Depending on your needs, it may be best to use a hybrid system in which some people work in an open setting while others work in cubicles. This may be ideal if a portion of your workforce needs to work apart from others so that they can have privacy when handling sensitive matters with customers or clients.

In addition to the office floor itself, don’t forget about other spaces such as an employee break room or a customer waiting area. Typically, these locations are kept separate from the main working area so that your people can work without being distracted by others who are on their break.

What Types of Office Furniture Will the Office Need?

The types of office furniture to consider depends largely on what it is designed to do. If the office is used mostly for customer service tasks, it will need to use a furniture design that will help minimize as much sound as possible. That may require acoustical panels or possibly the use of cubicle panels to help shield voices from each other. Lower height “Seated Privacy” cubicle panels can help keep an area with an Open Design and still provide a measure of acoustical and visual privacy.

If some of the office area is intended to be a creative space, you will likely need to carve out sitting spaces or dedicate specific rooms for that task. Lounge furniture, low slung angled seats and bean bags can help with the creative atmosphere in providing a relaxed look.

In many cases, you will need a mix of chair types to create the overall look and provide different styles for the varied employees who will be using them. A color-coordinated, varied modern look can be achieved with proper planning and a discussion with your furniture consultant.

Don’t Forget to Plan for Emergency Situations       

This is something that is usually taken for granted when setting up a corporate office. A sudden power outage could make it impossible to answer client phone calls, conduct meetings or handle other necessary tasks. Furthermore, a power outage could result in the loss of any data that wasn’t saved on an employee’s computer or company server. A power outage might also render the office security system ineffective. Therefore, it’s generally in your best interest to have a backup generator that can supply power at all times.

It’s also a good idea to have a fire extinguisher, defibrillator, and other equipment that might come in handy in case of a natural disaster or health emergency. At a minimum, make sure that emergency exits are clearly marked so that people can get away from danger in a safe and timely manner.

Setting up a corporate office may signal a significant step forward in the evolution of your company. However, if there are issues with the layout or how it is equipped, you may not get the most for your money. Therefore, it’s important to consider exactly how the space will be used and what it needs before occupying it.