Started a New Business, Rented an Office, Now I need the customers….

Ok, you just signed the lease to your new office and was handed the keys. Time to call the movers. You move all your furniture in, you decorate the space, you post up all your licenses, phone lines are up, computers are up. Now, you need the customers. You start thinking how can I get the word out that I just opened a business. You call a few friends to let them know you've started a business, print out fliers and stuff them in neighborhood mailboxes, run an ad in the local newspaper, and sit back and wait for customers to come. When the leads and sales don’t happen, guilt, frustration and stress set in.

Marketing isn't a one-time activity. To find customers and keep them coming in, you need to actively promote your business in as many ways as you can on an ongoing basis. However, without solid advertising and marketing, you won't get customers. Even worse, you can spend a fortune on advertising in the wrong places and you STILL won't get customers.

In these tough economic times, it can be difficult to increase customers and improve business. When finances are tight, potential customers are less likely to spend their money with an unfamiliar business. Develop an effective marketing strategy for your new business. You can promote your business in various ways, including advertising on radio, television or print media, signage, business cards, direct mail and even SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING.

Sales often happen because prospective customers hear about your products and services in several different ways and from several different sources. The more often they hear about you, the more likely they are to consider what you have to offer when they are ready to buy.

Give away free samples of your product and ask the recipients to tell their friends if they are pleased. Or, if you are a consultant, give away some free advice. This could be in the form of a newsletter with that contains news or tips and hints, or it could be a free consultation during which you provide just enough information to help the client scope out their project and know that you have the ability to handle it.

The best form of advertising is personal recommendations and people will respect the recommendations of their family members, friends, co workers and close associates than from an ad so you shouldn’t focus all your effort on advertisements but, rather, do your best to make sure people keep on recommending your service.

Once you’ve considered the above factors you will find it easier to get things done.

 Van Nuys Offices

Moving Your Home Business to an Office

The decision to relocate has to be made with specific regard to the future of the business. It needs precise planning and research, the establishment needs to be faultless and the owner needs to be sure that relocating is the answer for his/her business future. Once you have made the decision to move your home business to an office, you have some planning to do.

The advantages of moving out of your home office comes down to increased professionalism, more space to work and unlimited growth potential. And less much less distraction. Renting a small office at a good price can be very meaningful.

The first decision you make when you have already decided to rent an office, should be your desired location. It’s usually a good idea to start looking at offices near your house to avoid a long commute. Of course, while this is the ideal option, it may not work out perfectly when you consider other details that greatly affect your business. You need to make sure the new location reaches your target audience, so do some research of the surrounding area to find out who lives near the building you are considering. Try giving Van Nuys Offices a call, they have small offices for short terms and for only $195 a month.

Second thing you should consider highly is making sure that all your office furniture, including desks, filing cabinets, and bookshelves, will fit into the new office space. Make sure you leave room for expansion, especially if you plan to hire a few employees soon. Also, consider where customers will sit when they come into the office. Draw a layout, measure your furniture and move your furniture around so that you can get an idea of how much square footage you will need.

Last thing after you have found your perfect office, you signed a lease, and now you're ready to start running your business from the office. DON'T FORGET to update your address on all your licenses, bank account, vendor accounts, post office, and all your stationary. If you regularly get inventory shipments, you need to let the distributor know your company’s new address ahead of time. This can prevent you from having to move merchandise shortly after it is dropped off at your house, so be sure to update your business address. You will have to do the same for your mail and any marketing materials that feature your current address.

Get Approved for a Small Business Loan

Launching a business requires capital. Even when a business is already up and running cash flow is important to keep things running smoothly and to allow expansion. Many businesses find there are enormous benefits from getting a small business loan.

There are a variety of financing programs that give emerging businesses the boost they need to expand and grow into a “bankable” enterprise that generates new jobs and strengthens the economy. Normally you have to have two to three years of solid financials before a money lender like a bank will even consider lending you money. Often you need to have a strong personal credit record to be eligible for a decent business loan from start-up.

There are other lenders that offer business loans specifically for start-ups so the process is easier now than it was a decade ago. Such lenders can furnish you with a loan of the capital you require in order to get your business start-up running or to take your existing business to the next level. Getting approved for a business loan from a bank with a credit score of 650 or less can be extremely difficult. Before a lender approves your small business loan application, they will want to be certain that your business is capable of repaying the loan. This is why it’s so difficult for startups with unproven operating histories to obtain loans. In order for you to stand a chance in getting approved there are some steps you will need to take.

1. Check Your Credit History
It's a good idea for business owners to check their credit histories before trying to get a loan. Correcting erroneous data or resolving any inconsistencies before applying for a loan will increase a business's chances of getting one.

2. Research Potential Lending Institutions
Before you start applying for loans, you should gather some basic documentation about you and your business - such as a demonstrably good income record. The most important measure banks use in determining whether to loan money is the company's ability to repay. Always try to approach a bank that is familiar with your industry and target market.

3. Create a Cash Flow Statement
A cash flow statement is a familiar financial statement to the banker and provides the banker with an understanding for the current assets and liabilities of the company. Banks prefer more assets than liabilities. In order to create the projected cash flow statements, you will need a detailed business plan. This is also something a bank will want to see before they approve your loan. The plan should be part of your loan application. You should focus on the details within the plan that explain how you will use the loan proceeds.

4. Invest in the Business
Invest your own funds. Lenders like to see personal investment. It is a sign of commitment. Wait until you can afford to invest your own funds before requesting the help of a lender. In general, a lender will help you to subsidize your total funding need, but will be reluctant to provide you with the entire amount.

Marketing your New Business at Low Cost

Are you looking for ways to market your new small business? Looking for ways to let people know you have open a new business. Whether it’s with established sites such as Google and Facebook, or newer outlets like Pinterest, there are plenty of options available to promote your site.

Create a marketing strategy. Lay out goals for how many consumers you want to reach, define your key audiences and decide how you will time each phase of the promotion. It's also wise to use a variety of methods. One of the many great things about marketing a small business is that there are plenty of options to fit any size budget.

You can begin by obtaining a domain name for your new brand. On Godaddy.com. you can buy domains for less than $10. If your domain name is not available as a.com, come up with another name. Now that you have your domain. Develop a website using your domain name. This will help people find out information about you and your products / services if they do a search online. Begin Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to get ever higher rankings for your website. It does you little good to have a website if no one can find it. Hire an economical SEO firm or do it yourself. Google's Guide to SEO is free, online, and a great starter.

Use social media including a blog, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter several times a week. If possible use your own name, not your business name, because social media are personal. Constantly reach out to potential customers or referral sources by following them or asking them to connect.

Tell your family, friends and other associates about your new business and ask them to spread the word to drum up sales. Word of mouth referrals are still the No. 1 marketing medium in the world, and for good reason — people trust their friends' recommendations.

There are many other ways to market your business and generate new business leads. However, the marketing strategies I mention in this article are effective low- or no-cost options. Use them consistently and watch your sales grow.

Starting a new business is a bold and exciting process! It takes a lot of courage to jump out on one's own. Sometimes you're forced by layoff and difficulty finding another job. Or maybe you just decided to make the jump and make your dream come true.

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What to look for when leasing a space?

The best thing to do when you need to lease an office space is to follow this easy steps. Once this is assessed, you want to evaluate how much space you will need to expand once your business becomes successful and can hold more people.

DON'T RUSH GIVE YOURSELF SOME TIME:

Give yourself time to find and lease an office space. Finding the right space for you and negotiating the terms of the lease with the landlord can take much longer than expected, sometimes even months. You don’t want to end up unhappy with your lease or your space because of time restraints.

AMOUNT OF SPACE NEEDED:

Your office space should be big enough to accommodate your clients and workers. Make sure that you have enough room to efficiently operate and run your business. For most business starters, a smaller office is recommended, and as they grow their clienteles, changes may be made. Make sure that the office space you are renting is most appropriate for the business that you are going to run.

BUSINESS IMAGE :

Don't underestimate the value of appearances. How your office looks can have a huge impact on business & investor relations so it is crucial that the premises you choose match with the image you want for your business. It might not matter to some businesses what their building looks like, but if you need to impress a steady stream of clients who come to visit you, it might be better to spend a little more looking for a nicer building. For example, a corporate solicitors firm operating from above a nightclub doesn't give the best first impression.

TERMS:

How long is the lease term? The property owner usually wants you to commit to a longer-term lease. If you are willing to do this, you should receive concessions in the form of free months of rent or help paying for build-out. If you're looking for something a little more flexible, consider a six month or month-to-month lease. Many standard office spaces will have a one or two year lease. If you're just starting your business and aren't quite financially stable, you may want to opt for a shorter lease, which won't be as financially detrimental if cash gets tight.

It seems like a lot of things to take into consideration, but when you finally do find that perfect space for your business, you can rest assured knowing that you’ve covered all of your bases. Finding a space in which your business can grow and prosper is important, and once you’re settled in, it will be worth all the time and effort.
Keep these tips in mind and you should easily find the perfect office suites for your company!

Van Nuys Offices offers office solutions to meet any business’ needs and budget.

Looking at offices for rent? contact us today to schedule a tour of our executive suites and other office space options.