Office Space — 6 min read
Common office setup mistakes small businesses make
The avoidable decisions that cost small teams money and momentum when they set up their first office.
Sizing for the team you hope to have
The most expensive habit in small-office decisions is taking space for a headcount that has not arrived. Empty desks are paid for monthly and produce nothing in return.
Size for the team you have, with a clear plan for where the next two people sit, and choose an arrangement that lets you expand without moving.
Budgeting the rent and forgetting the rest
Service charge, utilities, backup power, internet, cleaning, security and pantry supplies routinely add up to a second rent. Budget them at the start rather than discovering them in month three.
Spending on the wrong things
Money goes to the visible items — a reception desk, a large boardroom table — while the chairs people sit in for eight hours are chosen last and cheapest. Reverse that order. Chairs, desks, lighting, air conditioning and internet decide how the place feels to work in.
A boardroom used twice a month is almost always better rented by the hour than built and maintained.
Not reading the exit terms
Reinstatement obligations, notice periods and deposit refund conditions are agreed at the beginning and felt at the end. Read them before signing, not while planning a move.
Treating the commute as someone else's problem
In Dhaka, location is a retention issue. An office that adds forty minutes each way to most of your team's day will cost you people, and it will cost them before anyone says so out loud.