7 Considerations before Choosing a Startup Office

A startup office is one of the most important things for your startup business. Startup is one type of business that is increasingly being looked at, especially in 2019. Many startup companies already have big names in Indonesia, such as Traveloka, Grab, and others. Not surprisingly, this company became the biggest reference for beginners who want to try their luck.

Currently, around 203 types of startups are already running in Indonesia, with four startups that have managed to reach investments above US$ 1 billion, or the equivalent of IDR 13.7 trillion. The startup itself is synonymous with the impression of being independent and ‘young’.

Indeed, the average pioneer is in his 20s. The government also pays special attention to the startup sector with the movement of 1000 digital startups who choose 200 startups each year.

Tips for Choosing a Productive Startup Office

For those of you who are looking for an office to pioneer a journey of this new line of business, let’s consider the tips on choosing an office for startups below:

1. The company stage, the number of teams and its growth for the next 6 months

Tips on choosing an office for startup first is that you need to know at what stage the startup is currently. Is it at the stage of pioneering, developing, or stable? By knowing this stage, you will automatically get an overview of the types of offices that will support the company’s needs as well.

When a startup starts to develop, usually the number of employees will grow to more than 10 people. This means that the working space you need will be greater than when you were pioneering with a small number of team members.

But not to worry, at this time co-working space is the most appropriate choice for those who are still in the pioneering stage, while large offices such as a combination office can be considered at a stable stage.

How do you determine the need for a larger working space? You can try to imagine it for the next six months. If you are sure in the future you will need a lot of energy again, you should immediately consider renting a large office space.

2. Location in the business center is not a necessity, also consider the ease of access of your team

Access to the office is the most vital thing for a startup business. For that, quite a lot of things must be considered in order to find a location that suits your needs. You have to take into account whether the location of the office is in remote or in the center of the crowd.

Just imagine, if your location is in a hidden area or in remote areas, your mobility activities will be complicated by long and long access. Then if you are in the city center, also consider whether the location is in a traffic jam or not.

3. Know the office support facilities

Tips on choosing an office for a startup is one of the most important too. Although indeed, the suitability of the price should be considered when renting an office, do not rent a cheap office with very minimal facilities.

In the end, your activities at the office are messy and difficult. Supporting facilities such as fast internet connections, comfortable meeting rooms, cafeterias that sell satisfying food, and clean bathrooms and prayer rooms will determine the smooth running of your startup.

4. Choose an office building with no additional costs for overtime

The next tip is about overtime. For startup companies, working up to overtime might be commonplace because there is a lot that must be fixed from the start. To answer this, choose an office building that can facilitate overtime with no additional fees if overtime.

5. Attractive office layout designs

As we know, the design of an office for startup today is very innovative and attractive. Because it is undeniable that an attractive design will contribute to the comfort of all employees. Check out startup companies like Google and Facebook that are famous for their room designs and attractive murals.

Local companies also took inspiration from these two giant startups, such as Tokopedia and Gojek which eliminated barriers between employees and made offices like a place to relax. An attractive layout design will help spawn ideas that are out of the box also from your team.

6. Build a good relationship with other startup teams

Building a good relationship with other startups can give birth to a profitable partnership. For that, choose an office that is inhabited by various other startup companies. Co-working space can be an alternative that can be considered.

No need to worry, being in an environment with another startup will not make you easily rivaled. Instead, it will provide an opportunity to complement each other and share among employees for the sake of their respective developments.

7. Choose an Office with a denser density ratio

The main difference between an office for startup and a conventional office is its density ratio. Conventional offices prioritize privacy, so a density ratio of 1 employee is made per 10 sqm of office space.

This is different from startup, which prioritizes sharing ideas so that it requires teams to be in a space that easily communicates with each other face to face. Because of this, startups usually have a density ratio of 1 employee every 6-7 sqm. Tips on choosing an office for a startup the next is to choose an office with an adequate density ratio.

Startups are also more flexible in their work culture. Usually, there are rows of tables or one large table without bulkhead without assigned seating, meaning that anyone is free to sit anywhere. 

All items are stored in lockers at the end of working hours, unlike conventional offices that place personal items on their desks. This is because conventional offices usually assign assigned seating.

Selecting an Office becomes a Matter that must be Considered Early On

The startup business is predicted to continue to grow rapidly from the previous year. Now the number of startups that move from home to office is increasing. This is in order to maximize the potential that can be achieved by the startup.

The office is not only a means for employees to work. The office can be a place for employees and founders to exchange ideas and ideas. Bright new ideas may emerge from a corner of the office.

Office use makes startups look more professional and can enhance your startup’s reputation. Therefore, an office is needed to support both points and highlight the main characteristic of startups; a flexibility. That’s why a flexible startup office will be more needed by the employees.

(Read also: 7 Indonesian Investor Companies that Support Startup Business )