Things to Consider When Choosing Office Space
Choosing a new office space is a pivotal moment for any growing business, and it’s a choice that significantly impacts your team's productivity and morale. The right office for your business should support your current needs while accommodating future growth. Before signing a lease, you need to weigh factors far beyond just square footage, including the availability of crucial meeting and collaboration spaces, whether a furnished or unfurnished setup is right for you, and the array of on-site amenities that can elevate your daily operations.
Bright and modern private office interior at Avalon Suites's Houston Galleria location, featuring two workstations, ergonomic chairs, and large windows with a city view.
How Much Office Space Do You Need?
Choosing a home base for your business is a big decision, and size is probably one of the biggest factors to consider. So, how much office space do you actually need? In the United States, the office size average is around 150-200 square feet per employee in private offices. There’s wiggle room there, depending on the office layout and the type of work that you do, but it can be a good guideline.
But there are other factors that come into play when choosing the size of your office.
Questions to Ask Yourself to Determine the Right Size Office
It can be difficult for business owners to strike a balance between what you need right now and what you’ll need in the future. Of course, you want to dream big, but choosing an office space to accommodate workstations you don’t need to fill yet can be a waste of money and leave you with an office that feels distracting and unfinished. But choosing too little square footage can make your current staff feel cramped and stunt their productivity.
Consider these questions:
- How much do you expect your company to grow? Accommodating for future expansion can help you save on relocation costs, but it’s important to be realistic. How many more employees do you anticipate adding over the next two to five years? Which brings us to the next question.
- What kind of lease are you looking for? Many office buildings ask for a minimum of three years for a commercial lease commitment, and some bump that up to five or ten. If you’re expecting to grow quickly, you may want to look for more flexible lease terms or slightly overshoot the office size you choose.
- How many employees will you have in the office? Does your staff work a hybrid schedule? Does half of your team work remotely? Will everyone attend meetings at your office?
Consider Meeting and Collaboration Space
The best office spaces are dynamic and collaborative. That means thinking beyond the cubicle or a single private office. What about meetings, interviews, and cross-team collaboration? When choosing an office space to lease, make sure the building offers the larger meeting spaces you need to do business.
It’s not just about the size of the conference room. Will your meeting rooms have the hookups and other amenities you need to hold meetings, brainstorming sessions, and connect with remote employees or clients virtually?
When considering an office for rent, look for inclusions like:
- High-Speed Internet: The last thing you want to deal with is connectivity issues during your presentation. Make sure the meeting rooms offer high-speed internet that’s reliable.
- AV Tools: Conference rooms should come equipped with the audiovisual tools you need for presentations, video conferencing, and more.
- Administrative Support: Almost more important than the amenities themselves is the support for them if something goes wrong. Buildings with on-site staff can help you if something comes disconnected or another tech issue pops up.
Furnished or Unfurnished?
Many, but not all, offices for rent come furnished. While furnished offices often cost more, they’re move-in ready and look professional. Plus, leases for furnished offices are typically more flexible, since the building manager has to do less work between tenants to get the space ready for move-in.
If you have specific furniture or storage needs, or plan to bring furniture from a previous office space, an unfurnished office may be the better route. But for many companies, furnished offices offer the best value and convenience.
What About Virtual Offices?
If you’re reading through this guide and finding that a lot of these factors, like amenities and meeting rooms, simply don’t apply to you and your business, there might be a better option. Virtual offices offer everything you need as a startup or small business: a business address, basic furniture, and basic services like mail and answering services. Plus, virtual offices typically lease hourly, weekly, or monthly.
Take a Virtual Tour of Your New Office
At Avalon Suites, we believe that your office should be a place that inspires you and your employees to do your best work every single day. The sleek, art gallery style of our offices will give your company the perfect setting to flourish and thrive.
Ready to take your business to new heights? You can take a virtual tour of our office spaces right from the comfort of your desk.
It’s All About the Amenities
Many office buildings include additional areas and services that make your office feel much bigger than the four walls you rent. Things like break areas, mail rooms, and cafes can free up space in your office and make your employees feel like they have more room to stretch their legs.
Depending on your needs and the size of your operation, you may want to look for amenities like:
Your business deserves more than a single printer shoved into a corner. Many office buildings offer full print and copy services. Typically, black and white printing will be included in your lease, with color printing available for a charge per copy.
The safety and security of you and your staff should be a top priority when choosing an office. Look for buildings that offer a 24-hour access card system and an on-site security staff. Buildings with a receptionist should also log visitors to your office, like potential new hires or clients, to ensure everyone is accounted for.
Your employees need a place to unwind on lunch breaks or enjoy their morning coffee before the daily grind begins. Make sure the office building you choose has break rooms that accommodate your staff. Many break rooms include things like a microwave and fridge for you and your employees to use.
It’s becoming increasingly common for office buildings to feature a cafe or cafeteria in the building. These on-site dining options make it easy to grab a bite without having to commute anywhere else, helping your staff save money and time. Many buildings even include complimentary coffee and tea for your employees.
What happens if a light bulb goes out or the AC in your office doesn’t work? Some facilities offer janitorial, maintenance, and equipment services that make your life easier. Other on-site services are also a big perk. You may want to prioritize offices that include mail services, phone answering, reception, and other support.
Parking is one of the biggest questions your employees are sure to ask when it comes to moving to a new office location. If most of your staff commute by car, parking is non-negotiable. Some buildings may offer reserved or unreserved parking in a private lot, while others have plenty of street parking or paid lots nearby.
Avalon Suites: Everything Your Business Needs to Grow in Houston, TX
Choose Avalon Suites for your next office rental and equip your business with everything it needs to thrive. We offer fully furnished, private offices and conference rooms at our three Houston locations. Beyond the modern workspace, you gain a full suite of all-inclusive amenities, including secure 24/7 access, reliable high-speed fiber internet, and professional on-site reception and support staff.
Forget the burden of traditional office management; leverage our state-of-the-art conference rooms for meetings, utilize complimentary printing and mail services, and take advantage of highly flexible leasing terms, from hourly rentals to long-term commitments.
Frequently Asked Questions
High-speed internet with reliable connectivity, AV hookups that make it easy to connect your tablet or laptop to a screen for presentations, and ample seating are the basic necessities for a conference room. A whiteboard can also be handy for brainstorming and training sessions.
If you’re trying to make the most of limited square footage, there are ways to make your office feel bigger than it is. Take advantage of natural light or add lamps and mirrors to give the illusion of a bigger space. Utilize vertical storage like tall shelving or wall organizers to free up floor and desk space.
As a tenant, you will have 24/7 access to your office using a secure key card access system. Our staff is on-site at the front desk Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Conclusion
Choosing the right office space comes down to understanding your business's unique needs — today and in the future. From square footage and meeting rooms to amenities and lease flexibility, every detail matters. Whether you're ready to commit to a fully furnished private office or just need a virtual setup to get started, taking the time to evaluate your options will pay off in the long run. The right space isn't just where your team works — it's where your business grows.
