There is a lot of pressure for your startup to succeed past its first year, and you have to take on a lot. You have to secure funds, market your services, network with customers and partners, and somehow find time to actually run the business. If you’ve lasted this long, you should be proud. One of the basic things your startup needs to run effectively is space to work. There’s a reason no one is successful at conducting business in their pyjamas; it’s unprofessional, and it doesn’t motivate you to get any work done. To give your startup the best chance of success, make sure you’ve given it the perfect space to grow.

Home office

Understandably, most startups begin in a home office. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t treat it like a professional space – after all, this is crucial to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Choose a room in your house – a spare bedroom or anywhere you’re not likely to be disturbed – and transform it into the perfect office environment, complete with a desk and a comfortable ergonomic chair. Set yourself some office hours and stick to them, dress like you’re going to work. The more you can treat it like a job, the better your chances of meeting your business goals.

Build an office

You might not have the budget to buy some land and build an office from scratch, but if you own your house then you can create the perfect space above the garage or in the garden. Consult an industrial construction company about the possibility of building an office on your property – preferably with its own separate entrance – and find a quote that works with your budget. This might not be ideal if you’re running an online store, but if you need a space to meet clients then this will give you some added professional credibility, and privacy to speak with your clients.

Share an office space

If you don’t quite have the funds to buy an office space by yourself, you can make some calls to local entrepreneurs and ask them if they have some rooms that you could share with them. Not only will this reduce your financial burden, but you will be part of a community of smart individuals who are going through the same challenges you are. These are the best people to bounce ideas off of and bring a certain productive energy to the office.

Buy an office space

There are many empty buildings on high streets that are just waiting for someone to take up residence. Technically it doesn’t have to be a designated office area, just a nice building with some security, access to electricity and wifi, and perhaps a small kitchen. If you have a little extra money in your budget, you could get a slightly rundown space and pay to have it refurbished and redecorated exactly the way you want it. Remember, a good location increases the visibility of your business and attracts more customers.