Office Outside Of Home

SuperiorR

For the guy's that have a moved your office outside your home. What has been the biggest benefit to you? Do you feel it generates more work or was it a decision to get personal and business seperate?

BobsLandscaping

I work out of my truck primarily. With cell phones and WiFi it's really easy to set up a mobile office space. AW Direct has gear to set up a truck as a mobile office. I have a laptop tray that keeps my computer from sliding around, a file organizer that keeps papers handy, and my briefcase that holds all my current contracts and bids. Printer/scanner/copier is on the passenger floorboard. Unless I get employees and add a showroom/nursery I don't see getting a fixed office. As long as I keep organized an extended cab pick up is perfectly adequate. Plus it's nice to always have all my stuff with me. In my house I keep a small desk with a filing cabinet. When I complete a job I file the contract, receipts, etc. in that.

How big is your operation? How many employees do you have? Do you need to keep equipment/supplies in a commercial zoned location?

gene2

I did that after a couple of years upon startup, found I was never home except to sleep. Found I could be interrupted while working on important bids by family anytime, takes longer but at least have some time with family. Now it is 4PM M-F & leave office & be family - work be damned. If really needed, just a few steps back to office, better be damned important to leave family though. Life is more than serving clients like 7-11, I have a life & career is just a means to support that life. If you don't have a life, get one. When you're pushing daisys, very few clients will care & what will you do with the money (if you really made any) Daisys don't need any money.

fez-head

Not in any particular order

1. The ability to keep employees out of my home
2. Keeping the family out of my work area and tools
3. The neighbors no longer call code enforcement about trucks and equipment on my property
4. MUCH more credibility in the eyes of the public which leads to more work
5. We have been able to grow much more smoothly / steadily

rbsremodeling

Yep and Wings and Strippers once a month. for the guys of course

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fez-head

Well of course

BMAN

I own a small to midsize residential painting and remodel company. My decision to rent a small office was a good one and has paid off with a few great things for me. I finish every day at the office and get home by five. I no longer come home only to go return phone calls after dinner. We operate Mon-Friday 8-5 now. I do have to dispatch my guys from home at night sometimes still based on messages from clients that I do check before bed. It has also given me a place to have structure and concentrate better, I have a 2 year old and 8 mo old twins so it became very hard to go home during the day to do paperwork etc without being interupted. I found a great business "incubator" that rents small offices for under $300 (mine is $150) I say go for it.

buildpinnacle

I built an office in my home a few years ago and hated the fact that the secretary and men had to be in my home, or at least in part of it. That lead to our bathroom being constantly used, then the microwave, to eating lunch at my Kitchen table. I rented an office after that for a couple years until they sold the building. I just bought two commercial buildings with an additional acre of land and will spend the next couple months getting them move in ready for us. I ditto everything else said above, but will add that moving out of your home will graduate your mind to a different business level. It almost forces you to run your business like a business, set appropriate hours, keep files, employees, and equipment organized, and most importantly...you only take home the business that's in your head at night. I don't care what anyone says. You have to be able to get away from your company. I'll thwart all the tough guys that are going to post how you have to run your business 24/7, etc etc etc. If you can't get away from your company, you are probably working for min wage and your business is running you.

I encourage the move, when financially responsible.

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contract223

I want to echo all the positive comments in this thread and emphasize how much more professional and stable you look with an outside office. Half the battle is building trust with the customer. You may look more serious with your own office - even if it's small.

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silvertree

In the home is less travel time, more control over your life.
Outside is more respect for your business (as in real business with a business address).

I left my office in the last 2 years, I had an outside office and worked mostly from home so I had 2 offices for about 12 years.

Lately I am looking at an office on a local lake, beautiful view and close to home, there is a lot to be said for getting away from your home life.

Eventually I will move out, but this time it will be more upscale and I plan on a media room for sales.

Both will work, but I now lean more to outside the home. My plan is my next office is built out to impress.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

fez-head

Hey Paul,

I would like to hear more about this media room. We just now are getting our conferance / display room together and I am looking for ideas on how to kick it up a notch.

Thank's Pal,

Jesse

silvertree

Just for now Jesse,

I travel with a laptop and wireless printer, I also bought a projector last year for presentations. That's the good.
People like to watch movies, and that's good.
But you need to be involved without making it too much of a show. That's harder.

The media room can be small, 42" or 50" flat screen on the wall, I have a mount for it that you can move it all over.
Wine cooler for drinks (non alchohol). Sorry Rory!
Media room is the touchy feely place.
Ever go with your daughter to the museum? You touch everything and its all interactive including media, as in sound, sight, touch and taste (if you want).
My media room will have lighting to enhance products and colors.
On to sound, looking at a faucet is one thing, or a toilet, how about if you flushed that toilet (on screen) and the ccustomer got to hear how it sounds being flushed. You don't need the products and without the products you actually do a better job than most showrooms.

I'll send you my manual after I get it printed.
Paul

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

fez-head

Pretty cool ideas. I never would have thought of ading the sights and sounds on a flat screen tv....I guess you could link it to the computer and not only show products but past jobs in high resolution as well and just skip the grainy YouTube style movies that are on our web sites.......... now if we couif our supplier could provide "Kohler" style commercials for each which could be played individualy that would be the cat's ass

Great stuff

BreyerConstruct

Good stuff Paul, I like how you think!
~Matt

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BMAN

Silvertree what about having the movies on a dvd that you can burn copies of and hand out an electronic business card?

silvertree

You guys are giving me ideas about a business devoted to supporting contractors. DVD's, sample sets, whatever, all pretty cheap to buy, it could be like "Frederick's of Hollywood" for contractors. Just the bells and whistles cool stuff.
I'd do it if contractors weren't such difficult people to work for.

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

Please don't encourage him. its bad enough as it is

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silvertree

Boy, it didn't take long for this thread to unravel

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

rbsremodeling

I got a new nick name today. My subs and 2 of my guys now call me Chef. I was like Chef were did that come from? The said I was always stirring some **** up. I didn't get it but they thought it fit

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fez-head

I think I smell what the Chefs cookin'