Cutting costs quickly in the crisis: Business centers offer maximum flexibility

The economy has clouded over significantly in recent months and many companies are struggling with declining orders and falling margins. And even if some augurs already see light on the horizon again: Crises and economically uncertain times like now offer a good opportunity to critically scrutinize costs and look for intelligent ways to save. Perhaps in your case in particular, moving to a business center is a smart option to save comparatively quickly, adapt to changing circumstances, and get your business back on track for success.

After I dealt in my last post with the question of what you should look for when choosing a business center, this post will therefore focus on how you can use a business center – in each case in line with your individual needs – and what models there are for this.

You will look in vain for the “average office” in a business center, because professionally managed facilities focus on diversity. As different as the user groups, the duration of use and the respective requirements for the premises are, so too are the offices that are available there. The list ranges from “full time” single, double, executive and team offices to open-plan solutions and co-working options. With us, offices and conference rooms can even be used by the week, day or in some cases by the hour.

Once again, in my experience, this is where the wheat is separated from the chaff. A good business center is characterized by the fact that it takes into account as many desired working environments as possible and provides appropriate office forms. Modern room and furnishing concepts, for example, make it possible to remove walls or use connecting doors to adapt to the customer’s needs. The resulting offices can then, should this be desired, also be designed in accordance with the client’s respective corporate identity. The company’s own sign in the foyer and on the offices also makes the brand and company easily recognizable.

Not only the premises, but also the contractually regulated terms should be completely geared to the different needs and circumstances: from the company that rents its team rooms on a fixed basis for several years to the individual office for the headhunter who is always on site on Fridays only. Flexible terms also take into account that circumstances – such as now during a period of economic downturn – sometimes change quickly: In a business center with flexible contract terms and usage models, you can quickly downsize your open-plan office to a dual office. If things pick up again, jobs can be added just as quickly. So you have full flexibility. Costs such as those for daily cleaning, energy, furniture, etc. are also usually already included in the business center. With many other services, there is a solution for every budget.

Write me how you use your rental office and what positive and negative experiences you have had.

The terms should be adapted to the needs of the customer, and another quality criterion is open contracts with short notice periods – an advantage that should not be underestimated, especially in a downturn or business crisis. Customers who want longer-term contracts should of course be given this option. Basically, the business center should adapt to the needs of the customer and not vice versa!

Another option that could give wings to your business plans in uncertain times are so-called virtual offices. They can be used, for example, as a “precursor” to a permanent office that can be rented later when the budget is there. With a virtual office, you rent a business address and, if necessary, a local phone number. Your business correspondence will arrive at this address and will be processed according to your instructions. Calls will be answered in the name of your company and according to your instructions by professional staff.

The secretariat located in the business center can be used “on demand” for additional services, so that your company can concentrate fully on its core business. For business meetings, appropriate offices and conference rooms can be booked by the hour. Many customers from the Hamburg area who do not have a location in the city use this to be closer to their customers. Self-employed persons, freelancers or sole proprietors also benefit from a professional external appearance, because the (previously used) private address or an unrepresentative address is replaced by the Business Center’s prestigious address as part of this service.

Other important criteria when selecting a business center are location, equipment, as well as professional service and personal atmosphere. Because it simply makes a huge difference whether, if the worst comes to the worst, you end up in a call center or have an employee on site within minutes who can solve the problem immediately.

Feel free to write us what services you would like to see or what makes a good business center in your eyes…

I hope this has given you some valuable tips for finding a suitable business center and the usage and contract model that suits you best. Feel free to write me! The next blog in December will be about Co-Working & Co.

Until then, good luck to you in your work.

With warm regards
Your Christian Schmidt