How Can Hybrid Working Make Your Small Office More Cost Effective?

A small office has many uses, and most businesses using these commercial spaces will have spent time in at least one over the years before outgrowing them. With bigger teams comes a need for more space, but larger offices cost more. Balancing that cost with the need and return on investment is a part of every business owner’s journey.

With flexible working, some businesses are looking at sparsely populated offices but still paying for them. If hybrid working is adapted permanently, a smaller office can be a great solution to ensure there is a central base for those who need or want to use it while allowing a larger team to rotate and schedule their time working remotely and in the office. This is a great way to save on the cost of a larger space while still having a central work location.

What Is Hybrid Working?

After remote working became the norm for many businesses during the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growing call for workers to return to the workplace. However, hybrid working is gaining traction as a compromise between workers who have become accustomed to skipping the daily commute and businesses looking to get people back into the office.

Hybrid working involves staff working both remotely and in the office on a split determined by the employer or on agreement. In many ways, this can be seen as a compromise between both parties to find the best way of working for all involved. It also allows employers to get the best out of their employees as not everyone thrives in the same environment.

What Advantages Can Flexible Work Arrangements Provide?

There are plenty of reasons to be flexible with working arrangements where possible. In some industries and roles, this isn’t possible due to the nature of the work being done, but in others, it can be a way to attract the best talent to push your business forward.

While some people thrive in a bustling office, others prefer a more familiar surrounding without the noise or distractions that the workplace can bring. Hybrid working ensures there’s still a regular presence in the office, that teams can still meet, work and enjoy some social interaction without making employees work in conditions where they’re not at their best.

On a more practical level, you could also find that hybrid working brings beneficial cost-saving benefits, too.

How Can Flexible Working Increase The Value Of Your Small Office?

Flexible working has allowed many businesses to not only retain their best staff, but also attract new ones they might not normally consider because they’re too far away or don’t have the capability to give these people what they need to work.

With flexible working, this has changed. Distance is less of an obstacle, and ensuring every worker has the right equipment to work remotely is a part of standard working practice now. A small office suddenly has a lot more to offer businesses than large spaces that are only half full. Whether you were considering a move to a bigger property, or are considering downsizing, there’s plenty of benefits.

Scheduling Time In The Office

One of the main reasons you might want to move your business into a larger commercial property or office is begace of a growing workforce. When people can’t do their jobs effectively, or are working in conditions that hamper their productivity, a new location can breathe new life into your team.

However, with remote working, a small office space can be more viable for a lot longer. Hot desking puts a standard level of equipment that everyone can use as they need to, and by scheduling which employees are in the office on what days, you can reduce the number of people at the office at any given time.

Your company can grow while avoiding the increased overhead and feelings of a sparsely populated office this way.

Cutting Certain Costs

As one of the big costs a business has to factor into their accounts, office rent or mortgage payments can be a big drain. A larger office comes with a bigger cost, whether that’s through rental agreements or purchases. This makes the argument for a small office more convincing, especially by embracing hybrid working.

A small office space also means smaller utility bills, which means bigger savings compared to a larger commercial property. You may also find smaller office in a better location than if you look purely for bigger places to accommodate your whole team – even if they won’t all be there at the same time.

Adapting To The New Way Of Working

Technology is going to keep advancing, and this opens up new ways of working. Being on that trend is appealing for those looking to grow and develop in ways traditional businesses are still lagging behind.

Remote working is one example of this, but working with talent across the country – and beyond – without requiring people to uproot themselves, at least immediately. Face-to-face contact and meetings will always exist in some way, but video conferencing removes the need for long journeys to and from, maximising efficiency within the business by having people at their desks, wherever they may be – more often.

Finding New Ways To Use The Small Office Space

With any change comes opportunity, and this is no different. No matter how big or small an office space your business makes use of, flexible working arrangements could free up some of that space on a regular basis – and how you use that space is up to you.

From getting involved in the community by offering the space for use, you make your business a stronger part of the area and build better bonds that can be reflected through relationships. You can turn more of your small office into meeting rooms or smaller breakout areas to allow for collaborative work to continue, and create more specialised areas to work in.

The possibilities are endless, and with some creative thinking, you could find a new avenue for your business to explore.

Find Out More About How Hybrid Working Can Help You Get More Life Out Of Your Small Office

Hybrid working can allow a growing business to prosper in a small office that normally wouldn’t be suitable. Thinking of new ways to adapt to change is an important business skill, and using a small space for longer by scheduling and rotating who’s in the office when can be a great way to keep costs down.

While there will be times when this space isn’t enough – such as when teams continue to grow or on occasions when more, or all, staff need to be present, there are other solutions that can help with this. If you’d like to know more about getting more out of your small office with flexible working arrangements, speak to the team at Williams Sillitoe today.