6 Reasons to Build Your Start-up in a Shared Office Space

Chelsea Slayter — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 18:22:32 +0000

Starting your own business isn’t easy. Especially when your company headquarters is located in the garage or basement “office” and you’re holding client meetings at coffee shops. Between the dog barking next door and the loud roar of the blender crushing ice in the next drink order at Starbucks, productivity can really suffer. This makes it difficult to tackle any of the thousands of tasks you undoubtedly have on your to-do list. At some point, your home office does not cut it anymore and leaves your business stagnant.

That’s where the value of shared office space comes in.

Shared office spaces and co-working solutions eliminate all the mess and complications of a home office, allowing you to tune out distractions and focus on growth. If you think you’ve had enough of those Starbucks meetings, consider the following 6 advantages of a shared office space.

1. Team or one-man operation

Right now you may be operating your start-up by yourself, however as time progresses and your company grows you will need to make some additions. If you are a one-man operation, there are various office sizes to choose from that provide 24/7 access for those late nights. Co-working spaces, or shared office space, also offer you flexibility in adding new members to your team by adding additional offices when the time is right.

2. Build Relationships

The difference between a traditional office space and a shared office space are the people who occupy them. At Encore Offices, for example, you will find a variety of businesses such as attorneys, marketing groups, wealth management, social media agencies, branch and satellite offices, and mortgage brokers etc.

The possibilities are endless and the best part about this is the networking opportunities. When you work in a diverse environment, it drives creativity and keeps your work day interesting because of these new relationships.

3. Cost-efficient

Building an office or renting a traditional office space could cost you thousands. Many people don’t realize the costs involved when adding office furniture, telephone service, internet service, office supplies, printers, and fax machines etc. Not to mention, have you hired a receptionist?

Co-working spaces provide all of these services to you and more. One of the unique features Encore Offices offers is a lounge with an awesome Starbucks machine, vending machine, and even a juicer. You definitely get more for your money and the time you save not worrying about going to Staples to buy a paper clip is truly notable.

4. Low maintenance

In addition to cost savings, the overall maintenance is lower at a shared office environment. The janitorial services are taken care of and the paper is always restocked. The staff at an Executive Suite manages the office to make sure everything is up and functional so you only need to concentrate on running your business. That includes any repairs for those occasional paper jams and any I.T. services.

5. Makes Clients happy

If you’re still holding meetings at your local coffee shops, your professional image is already compromised. The coffee blenders are noisy, the tables are small, and the shared public Wi-Fi is painfully slow. Walking into a beautiful building with a friendly greeting is definitely more appealing to your clients and is more likely to make a far better impression on you and your business.

All services and amenities are available at the snap of a finger to make your clients feel comfortable and welcomed. When your professional image is strong, your business will be too.

6. Increase Productivity

With the above combined, the only thing left to really think about are your business goals, tasks, and agenda. In the early development phase of your start-up, time is more valuable than ever and your work environment can make or break you. Dozens of intangible factors affect the productivity of your business but the power of collaboration enables you to focus on your core competencies.

The Benefits of Shared Office Space are Clear

Running a business is not an easy chore and if you are still working from home, your business may not be achieving its fullest potential. Work in a space that drives creativity, network with a diverse pool of professionals, and most importantly focus your time and energy on what’s most important while the rest is taken care of.

Interested in upgrading your home office?

Contact one the helpful members from the Encore staff or check out the shared office space and services we offer.

With a convenient location in Aliso Viejo – the heart of Orange County, Encore Offices provides an environment where your business will thrive!

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Welcome Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce!

Chelsea Slayter — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 00:20:53 +0000

One of the key features of our office is our prime location. We are proud to be located in the beautiful Aliso Viejo as it is home to many large business hubs and well-known companies. Today we are even more excited to share with you the implementation of Aliso Viejo’s very own Chamber of Commerce! After much anticipation, the Aliso Viejo Chamber of Commerce was established on August 22, 2012. As stated on their website, the Chamber of Commerce is “an organization that bridges all of the elements of the city by offering connection, support, development, education and communication. This is the organization that ties together the City of Aliso Viejo, large employers, small businesses, professionals and all elements of our thriving community.” We are thrilled to have an organization that supports the local businesses in Aliso Viejo and know that it will be very beneficial for many of our clients as their mission is to “encourage economic prosperity within the community and be an effective bridge between its businesses and the city.”

Encore is pleased and excited to support the new chamber and will be hosting various networking and business events in the upcoming years at our Aliso Viejo office location! Stay connected with us for more updates on how you can get involved in future networking and business events.

We would like to encourage and invite you to attend the “Board Installation” meeting on Thursday January 24, 2013 at the Renaissance Club Sport. The reception will begin at 5:30PM followed by dinner at 6:30PM. The Program and Installation will soon follow at 7:00PM.

The event costs $40 for members and $65 for guests.

Encore Offices and many other clients will be attending this event and we hope to see you there as well!

For more information, please visit: www.alisoviejochamber.com or stop in to see our President, Deb Walls, as she is an active member and will be happy to answer any questions you may have or direct you to the right person who can assist you!

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Think Long Term

Deb Walls — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 23:08:09 +0000

Many freelancers see their “condition” as only temporary-one that will go away as soon as economic conditions improve says Richard Greenwald of the Walls Street Journal in “How to succeed in the age of going solo.” They figure it’s just a stage between jobs. Some of them may be right but many are wrong. They’re probably going to be on their own for a long time so why not think permanent and plan accordingly? Many of these freelancers have worked 9 to 5 jobs and only know how to take direction not initiative.

There’s action you can take to insure a better chance of success according to Greenwald.

1. Pick the Right Skills-and Keep Them fresh. The consultants or freelancers who are most successful offer a technical skill or expertise that is too expensive or infrequently used for companies to keep in-house.

2. Join a Network. Most successful consultants are in a network or community of consultants. These networks are important sources of new clients. Also many consultants refer and share work, taking on larger projects that require more hands.

3. Have Your Own Space. Successful consultants say that having a work space separate from your living space is crucial. Clients do not want to have an important phone conversation interrupted by children crying , a TV in the background, or dogs barking. Using shared spaces or serviced suites that provide a quiet space or private office provides a sense of workplace and synergy.

4. Think Like An Entrepreneur. Too often freelancers drift from project to project. They need to have a business plan or mission statement. If they take everything that comes along they may not be known as a specialist in their field or they may be to busy when a perfect project comes along. A business plan will help focus your business and steer you toward your goals.

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Current Special of the Month! $500 Ready Office

Chelsea Slayter — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:48:15 +0000

Get your Ready Office TODAY!

Encore’s new “Ready Office” gives you everything you need to run your business anytime. We will personally handle your calls and provide mail service with a prestigious business address. You also have use of a private office for 20 hours per month as well as 2 hours use of any of our media-rich conference rooms, all inclusive.

Get away from the distractions at home and come work in the office for a few hours before hosting a client meeting in the large boardroom. Make all your copies as well as send out your billing (postage not included) in our full service Business Center. All of this is included in the “Ready Office” Package at Encore Offices for $500/month.

CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR READY OFFICE! 949-425-9000

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Sharing skills can lead to success!

ASwingler — Wed, 25 May 2011 16:35:42 +0000

In the current economy when middle managers, executives, and experienced sales people are finding
themselves without sufficient job opportunities it has not been uncommon to make the decision to
start your own business. Many people, however, don’t own the necessary skills which come inherent
to entrepreneurs and successful start-ups. A shared service environment with a private office can
enhance a company’s chance to succeed in many ways. Besides the most common reasons for choosing
an office in an executive suite such as cost effectiveness, flexible lease terms, and corporate image,
entrepreneurs can benefit by collaborating with their peers in the same work environment. We see
more and more clients working together in the start-up phase of their company.

For instance, search engine optimization is known to be integral to every company today, yet, it’s
a constantly changing field, so unless you can afford to hire an expert or an employee to assist you
with your efforts, the time it takes to simply do research is costly. A Financial Planner in a shared
service environment, however, may be introduced to an expert in SEO in an adjacent office so they can
exchange ideas and knowledge in support of each other. So not only do companies share services and
common areas such as kitchens and conference rooms in an Executive Suite but now we see far more
sharing of skill sets than ever before.

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