Outgrowing Home Base: 5 Signs Your Business Is Ready for Its Own Space

Make room for customers & supplies

When you first start your own business, it often makes sense to operate out of your home. Over time, you may find that you need more supplies or customers or simply need a more professional workspace. Here are a few signs it’s time to start scoping out your new business space. 

Not sure if it’s time to move your business?

Maybe it isn’t! Before you start touring office spaces, ask yourself the following questions.

• Can I work well in my current space?
  

• Is my business growing?
  

If you can do your job with minimal frustration and your business is holding steady from month to month, you probably don’t need to move just yet. Even if your setup isn’t ideal, there may be simpler solutions than moving your entire operation. If you have to squeeze in between boxes of supplies to put your laptop down, shelves are a faster fix than a whole new office. On the other hand, if you’re constantly struggling to keep things orderly or business is going so well that you need to add new employees, it’s probably time to move out.

5 signs you’re ready for a dedicated business space

Your house is starting to look too much like an office

When your business supplies start taking over your living room, kitchen and bedroom, it’s time to move into a new space. Depending on the kind of business you run, you may also need to hire additional on-site staff as you expand operations. Unless you have a massive extra room (and an extremely accepting family), you can’t reasonably invite people to work in your home. When it’s time to start hiring, it’s probably also time to start looking for an office or storefront.

You need to meet with customers

If your business requires face-to-face interaction with customers, you’ll want a dedicated space sooner or later. If you sell handmade goods, for example, you may be able to serve a handful of customers with a website, a printer and some cardboard boxes. Once you start getting dozens of orders per week, though, you’ll need either a small shipping operation or a whole store where locals can browse.

From retail to beauty to food service, some businesses simply wouldn’t work well in the average house or apartment. If your business starts attracting more than a handful of customers at a time, then it’s time to upgrade your space.

You can afford it

Most businesses don’t earn much money right away, so you’ll want to cut costs wherever possible. That will probably include working from home rather than finding a dedicated space. Once you’re up and running, you may find yourself with a steady and predictable revenue stream, which means you’re probably in good shape to start looking for an official business location.

There are two things to keep in mind regarding money, though. First, you should be reasonably sure that your profits will increase—or at least stay the same—in the long-term. Otherwise, you could find yourself paying a lease out of your own pocket. Second, you should think about how much your business might grow in the future. If you wind up needing an even bigger space a few months down the line, you’ll have to start the whole process over again.

You’re ready to impress people

Even in an era of remote and hybrid work, having a physical space can make a business feel more respectable. Having an office or a storefront immediately communicates that you have enough money to afford it and enough customers to make it worthwhile. Furthermore, people passing by on the street can see your company’s name and description. Foot traffic is a valuable way to attract business, especially on main streets or in urban areas.

A dedicated space is also a way to build your brand. From your logo to your decor to your clothing, customers can get a sense of your principles and values. The way your business looks—both outside and inside—helps set you apart from the competition.

You need to keep up with the competition

Just about every business is part of a bigger field or industry. That means you have to compete against other companies that sell similar goods or services. If customers expect a business in your field to have a dedicated space, then you need one, too—even if you think you’d do just fine in a home office.

For example, suppose you run a law firm. Nothing about the job requires a physical office. You could file paperwork online, direct your employees via email and meet with clients in rented rooms. However, if every other law firm in your area has an office—particularly one where the whole staff works together—they can offer clients a more convenient experience. If in-person work is standard in your field, there may be a good reason why.

Grow your operations with Walmart Business

Finding your own professional space is only one part of growing your business. Whether you need to increase your revenue, hire new talent or step up your marketing plan, the resources at the Walmart Business content hub can help. There, you can read about other business owners’ experiences with building, expanding and changing their companies over time.

If you need to stock up on supplies, you can also sign up for a free Walmart Business account, which will let you buy supplies in bulk, create multi-user accounts, share company payment methods and view complete order histories for both in-store and online purchases.

Already have an account? Upgrade to a Walmart Business+ membership. With it, you’ll get free shipping from Business.Walmart.com¹ and free delivery from local Walmart stores on orders of more than $35.² You’ll also earn 2% back in Walmart Business Rewards on orders of $250 or more.³ These perks can help your company save more than $500 per year.⁴

¹ Excludes most Marketplace items, freight and certain location surcharges.

² Restrictions apply. 

³ Rewards can only be used toward future purchases on Walmart Business. Additional terms apply. 

⁴ Savings based on 1 free $35+ delivery order vs. $9.95 fee and 1 free shipping order under $35 vs. $6.99 fee biweekly, plus 2% Walmart Business Rewards on monthly order >$250 (average value of $400).