How Much Office Space Do I Need for My Brevard County, FL Business?

Are you looking for a new office space? Whether you are establishing your business in Brevard County for the first time or moving from your current office space, it can be daunting to figure out how much office space your company actually needs. There is a difference between rentable and usable square footage. Figuring out your office space requirements are determined by totaling the amount of usable square footage you need.

Start by listing your current employees including their role in the company. “The customary range for office space is 150-350 square feet (SF) per person employed. It is the type of space you need to accommodate your business that plays a large part in narrowing that range.” (source)  

In addition to employee count, you need to identify your industry standards for office space. If your company is expected to have a waiting room, on-site storage spaces or a private conference room, the amount of usable square footage needed increases. Working with an experienced realtor is a great way to make sure you identify all of the important aspects of your new office space.

Here’s How to Determine How Much Space You Need for Your Brevard County, FL Business

Current Needs

Begin by asking a few questions. Larger businesses may benefit from having managers provide input to complete lists for each area.

Ask:

•         How many people do I currently employ?
•         Does each employee need an individual desk or is sharing possible?
•         What are our storage needs?
•         How often is a conference room utilized?
•         What are the things we don’t have in our current space that are beneficial to incorporate into our future office?

Once you have figured out how many employees will need space to work, you can move on to incorporating additional common areas. The more specific your list is, the easier it will be for your realtor to help you find the ideal office space.

Here’s a checklist to help you compile square footage needs more quickly. You can also use this Square Foot Calculator to total the amount of office space you will need.

Checklist:

Number of employees requiring an office:_________ x 350 square feet

Number of employees requiring desk space in a cubicle:______ x 250 square feet

Number of employees requiring desk space in open concept plan:_____ x 100-150 square feet

• File Room
• Storage Room or Library
• Mail Room
• Work Room
• Reception Area (100 sq. ft. + 10 sq. ft. per person waiting)
• Lunch/Break Room (75 sq. ft. + 25 sq. ft. per person seated)
• Conference Room (50 sq. ft + 25 sq. ft. per person seated)
• Other Specialty Areas (size varies depending upon usage)

If you are aware of specific square footage requirements such as the office for your CEO make sure to highlight that as a non-negotiable space on your list while itemizing.

Planning for Growth

While current office space needs are your first consideration, you shouldn’t ignore potential needs as your company grows. Besides the hassle of moving your business, you don’t want to deal with breaking your lease to accommodate your company’s growth requirements.

Taking time to estimate your company’s potential now will save you time and money in the future. Here are a few questions to ask yourself about the future of your company.

Ask:

•         Do I expect to add any staff in the next couple of years?
•         Over what period of time will I add the staff?
•         What kind of staff will I be adding: executive, administrative, or sales?
•         Will new staff work remotely or need space in the office?

Factoring in Location

While prime real estate options will cost more per square foot, the location should be a factor you include as you look for new office space. Competitive industries may find that a conveniently located office space accelerates company growth and makes recruiting new employees easier.

Finding the right office space takes time, but Brevard County, FL offers a lot of variety in properties for companies of all sizes. At Ullian Realty, we specialize in providing commercial property services for every step of the journey you will take finding the right size office space for your company. Contact us today to learn more about the Ullian Realty Process and schedule a time to start looking for your Brevard County, FL office space.