Kansas Office Space For Rent | Southcreek

6 Ways to Organize Your Kansas Office Space For Rent

Remember that time is money, and looking for those old files you saw three weeks ago in your commercial property in Overland Park, Kansas, will take a lot of time if you aren’t organized. Letting go of that digital and physical clutter can really help your business be more productive, so here are a few tips, as outlined in “Clean It Up! Being Productive at Work Starts with Organization,” to keep your office and computer clean and organized to save you valuable time:

#1 Organize physical paper as soon as you can.

A great way to deal with your physical paper copies is to scan them, file them somewhere on your computer and shred the actual physical copies. This is something you could do for invoices, receipts, letters and just about any desk clutter that is taking up too much room. For more important documents that you don’t want to get rid of or want to keep close by, look towards more common organizational techniques like file boxes and folders. It is best to deal with the physical papers right away so that you can eliminate any paper mountains obscuring desks or shelves.

#2 Create an effective file organization system.

This works for both your physical papers and computer documents. For physical documents, well-organized file drawers and folders work fine, but if you are a more computer savvy business, you may want to look into a cloud-based system where you save and back up files on a joint cloud service.

However, that’s just half the battle. You want to make sure that what you are filing is actually up to date as well in terms of labels and organization so you can access it after you store it. The best way to do this is to make sure to have everything dated and organize everything according to these dates; even if these documents are just edits to a previous ones, save these edits with a new date.

#3 Get rid of those unused files and programs.

Uninstalling or even deleting unused desktop icons as well as purging defunct programs from your computer will create more room and less clutter on your computer. Remember that organization of your computer’s desktop is just as important as your physical desktop. Keeping it clean will make sure that you have things visually organized.

#4 Make a list.

One of the simplest ways to stay organized and manage your tasks is to make a list of things that need to be done that day, week or month, and even in the next year or two. Keeping a list with different goals in mind can help you accomplish things in both the short term and long term. Many professionals say this is the best way to stay organized; the simple pen and paper method helps with understanding what needs to be done. Even though there are several apps out there for this sort of thing, there is something satisfying and tangible about the physical version, so grab yourself a whiteboard and hang it in the office to get your day started.

#5 Clear your desk.

Simple and easy—clean your desk at the end of each day; it will help organize your thoughts and make sure that your next day will be a new start without any leftover work from the day before. Many new businesses require their employees to have their desk clean for the next workday. It helps with general organization for the whole office.

#6 Use new technology to keep yourself organized.

There are thousands of new organizational apps to choose from to manage emails, meetings, etc. These apps and software claim to help organize your files and create daily project lists that will help you through your day. Ask around about what works for friends and co-workers, and experiment with a few different apps until you find what works for you.

Remember to stay organized in your Kansas office space for rent even after you do a major cleanup! Make a habit out of it. Once you have things nicely filed away, put into separate boxes, or stored on a hard drive, remember that the papers will still keep coming. Stay ahead of your organization, figure out what you need to keep, and make sure you have things ready to go before it gets out of control.

If you are looking for office spaces for rent in Overland Park, Kansas, at an office park in Kansas, give one of our real estate agents a call at 913-685-4100 to set up a tour of our commercial property in Overland Park, Kansas.

7 Ways to Make Over Your Small Office Space for Rent in Overland Park, KS

If you and your employees are starting to feel a little down about your small office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, there are so many easy ways to give your office a facelift. Studies have shown that making a space look better can have a positive effect on office morale and show employees that you are concerned about their comfort. Here are a few tips for improving your office space, as suggested in the article “6 Easy Steps to an Extreme Office Makeover”:

Create an Atmosphere of Hospitality. It is important to create a space that is welcoming for employees and demonstrates that you care about their little daily needs. Create a small “hospitality area” in your office by setting up a space with things like a coffee maker, mints, snacks, some first aid supplies and other odds and ends that make life a little more convenient.
Encourage Personalization. Letting people express themselves is a great way to foster creativity. Try allowing employees to decorate their own personal spaces with family photos, posters, knick-knacks, and even letting them play their own music. This creates an atmosphere where people feel more at home and part of the company “family.”
Bring in Some Color. Painting a space with brighter colors can be a cheap and easy way to cheer up a space. There are all sorts of studies demonstrating the positive effects of color on an environment. Consider painting an accent wall with colors that correlate to specific moods. For example, studies have found that blue can encourage calmness and relaxation, whereas red is ideal for tasks that require a more detail oriented focus.
Develop Company Culture. In addition to encouraging employees to create their own personalized spaces, it is important to personalize the whole office to showcase your company’s brand image. One way to do this is by painting your logo around the office, which has the double benefit of increasing brand visibility and brightening up an empty wall.
Add a Little Fun. People appreciate having a place in the office where they can take a moment to unwind and recharge, so think about taking a page out of Silicon Valley’s book and adding something like a foosball table or even just a comfy couch in a break area.
Upgrade Your Chairs. The importance of supportive furniture in the workplace is becoming a bigger and bigger conversation as studies are coming out about the negative effects of too many sedentary hours both in and out of the workplace. You can help combat these negative effects and improve overall office well being and comfort by investing in good office furniture that is supportive for different postures.
Create Zones. In addition to creating a fun break area or a hospitality area for your employees, think about the work they do on a daily basis and how you can design areas to better support that work, for example, rearranging furniture to encourage social interaction in a place for collaboration, or adding some headphones and armchairs in an area for quiet, private work.

Very small changes to your Kansas City office space for rent can go a long way in raising spirits around your office. Even if all you do is change out your chairs or repaint a few walls, your efforts demonstrate your interest in creating a positive work environment for your staff—one that supports their physical, emotional and mental well being. In turn, you might see the benefits of increased creativity, productivity and commitment to your business!

Looking for office space for lease in Olathe, KS? Give us a call at 913-685-4100 to get more information about our commercial real estate in Kansas City or set up a tour of one of our office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS.

Office Space for Lease in Overland Park KS: When and Where to Look

Trying to find office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, and don’t know where to begin? Here are a few tips on when to look for commercial real estate in Overland Park and what resources are available to help you search, as described in the article “How to Find Commercial Real Estate for Lease”:

When to Look

While it might seem like the home real estate market has nothing to do with your office space, statistics show that a favorable real estate market for home buyers also correlates with a favorable market for businesses leasing commercial property. So when home prices in the area where you are looking are down, that might be a great time to start seriously looking into commercial property.

Another thing to keep in mind is to give yourself plenty of time to find a space and negotiate a lease—anywhere from six months to a year. If you find a space quickly, a landlord might be willing to hold it for you for a few months, but it is also likely that it will take a long time to find a space, gather any necessary documents, finalize a lease and eventually move into a space, so you do not want to wait until your current lease is almost over to start looking for a new option.

Where to Look

There are several different ways to find different types of commercial space for rent. Here are a few to start with:

Ask around. A simple way to start is just by asking friends and family in the area if they know of any available space. If you are looking for a small amount of space, there are also some local organizations who might have a spare office area, such as local community centers, churches or other businesses. You might also try checking in with the local chamber of commerce.
Drive around the area. Another easy early step is to just drive around the city or town and look for office parks with for lease signs. In tougher economic times, you will most likely see plenty of signs, and if you can find something and contact the lessor directly, both parties will be likely to save money without the hassle of an intermediary party that needs to be paid commission.
Check the local newspapers. This might seems a little old fashioned in the digital age, but this could also be a great way to save some money. Most papers will have ads from realtors, but in addition to looking at these, keep an eye out for listings that are posted by individuals. As with signs outside of buildings, this means you can work with the lessor directly, and because they don’t have to pay commission they might be more inclined to offer extra incentives such as a month of free rent.
Utilize internet search engines and websites. A great way to start a very general search is to type into Google the name of the location (city and state) where you are looking, followed by keywords related to the type of space you want, such as “commercial space for lease” or something along these lines. There are also a few different specific websites you can use to search:
- LoopNet – This nationwide website allows you to look for commercial space by city, state, or zip code. A lot of listings are for property that is for sale, but there are also always for lease spaces listed as well.
- Craig’s List – This catchall website can also be a good source of commercial space listings and you can narrow down your search to the county you are looking in and the type of listing. Craig’s List is also a common place for individuals to post listings, so it is another good opportunity to find a lessor who might pass along some of their savings to you in the form of various benefits.

When looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, it is good to look at several different spaces and systematically compare the pros and cons of each. There is more to consider other than just the bottom line rental rate, including extra fees, the length of the lease term, and any potential benefits a landlord might offer. Start early and give yourself plenty of time to find what will best carry your business forward in the upcoming years.

If you are looking for office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-689-4100 to find out more about our available Kansas office space for rent and even set up a tour!

Commercial Property in Overland Park, KS 101: A Guide to Finding Guide to Finding and Leasing Space

Finding and leasing the office space best suited to your business is a multi-step process that involves doing a little homework before actually starting the search for your perfect office park in Kansas. Here are a few key things to consider if you are looking for commercial property in Overland Park, as suggested in the article “How to Find the Best Commercial Space for Your Business”:

#1 Decide What Type of Property You Want

There are so many variations of commercial leases, so before you start seriously looking, try to narrow down what exactly your business needs. The first thing to focus on is what kind of property you are looking for. You know you want commercial real estate, but even within this category there are sub-categories:

Business Park – A property with a group of buildings designed primarily for business use with very light industrial use. A business park tends to be the cheapest option and is a common choice for doctors, law offices, and other professionals.
Commercial Retail Property – This type of property includes strip centers, malls, and other complexes that feature store-front businesses. This might not be ideal if you are looking for more of an office space, but a lot of commercial retail property owners also have some units in business or industrial parks.
Industrial Parks – This kind of property usually consists of warehouses and is best suited to manufacturing or other heavily industrial businesses. However, some property owners have started recently building out and renovating these spaces to accommodate more traditional office space tenants.

#2 Decide What Type of Lease You Want

Once you have narrowed down what type of property you need, the next step is to figure out lease options. The first difference to consider is between leasing and subleasing:

Lease – A lease is between you and the landlord and states that you are the main business occupying the property.
Sublease – A lease in which the business that already has the primary lease with the landlord arranges to rent out some or all of the space to another business. Not all leases allow for subleasing, and in this situation the original tenant cannot transfer the rights in their lease to the new business if they were not named in the lease originally.

There are pros and cons to both of these options depending what your business is looking for in terms of the amount of space and the level of commitment in a lease. Another thing to consider is the different ways that leases are structured. Here are some examples of common types of leases:

Gross Lease (Full Service Lease) – In this type of lease, common to office or industrial spaces, the landlord pays for most or all of the expenses associated with the property—taxes, insurance, maintenance, etc. These costs are passed on to the tenant through their rental payments in what is called the load factor.
Net Lease – In this lease, a tenant pays for a portion of other expenses (i.e. taxes, insurance, etc.) on top of a base rental rate.
Double Net Lease – Tenant pays base rent, plus insurance and taxes.
Triple Net Lease – Tenant pays base rent plus insurance, taxes and maintenance.

Again, there are pros and cons to the different types of leases, so it really comes down to whether your business would like to simply pay a consistent lump sum or possibly save a little by paying more or less each month

#3 Make a Checklist

In order to evaluate and compare spaces as logically and systematically as possible, make yourself a checklist before you even start looking. Here are a few things to include on your checklist:

Customer Accessibility – One of the most important factors is how visible and accessible you are to your customers. Make sure that you will have some sort of sign that is visible from the road if your space is not. You might also ask whether the property owner helps advertise for the businesses in the park in order to draw in more traffic for everyone.
Maintenance – Another thing to check for is whether not the property is maintained. A well-maintained space suggests that the landlord will be responsive to your need and also will create a positive impression of your business for clients.
Parking – Check on the parking situation both by asking the landlord about how many spaces you will be assigned and observing the parking lot at various times a day on different days to see how full of the lot gets. Also check to make sure that there are handicapped spaces available as well as wheelchair accessible entrances to the property.
Restrictions – Make sure to ask the landlord upfront about any restrictions relating to how your business can operate in the space, including hours or limits on customer traffic, and in regards to advertising, for example specific rules about the size or color of signs.
Safety – Check out the basic safety measures of the property, including whether they have an alarm service, security, nighttime lighting and fire alarms, as well as the proximity of fire hydrants and police and fire departments.
Insurance – Safety concerns are also related to insurance, as most places will require that you have some sort of general commercial liability insurance before moving into the space. Be sure to make sure you take care of getting insurance before you sign the lease so that you are not surprised by this problem later.

Deciding what kind of property you want, what type of lease best suits your business, and making a general checklist with which to evaluate spaces is a huge first step in preparing yourself for a smooth search for an ideal office park in Overland Park, KS.

If your business is looking for office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our Kansas office space for rent!

Documents Needed for an Office Space for Lease in Overland Park, KS

Signing a commercial lease also involves providing a few other documents for a landlord, so it is important to make sure your business these different documents and can get them to the landlord so as not to hold up the leasing process. While different leases and landlords might require different specific documents, here are five documents you can generally expect to be asked for when looking to rent office space in Overland Park, as outlined in the article “Documents Required to Sign an Office Lease”:

#1 A Business Plan

Particularly if you are a startup company, a landlord is going to want some assurance that you will be a stable and reliable tenant. The first step in proving this is to provide them with a business plan, which should include an overview of what your company does, your goals both for the short and long term, and a general description of how you plan to use the office space. A good business plan will assure the landlord that you are thinking of the big picture and have really considered what leasing the space will entail.

#2 Bank Statements

In addition to your business plan, the landlord will want some financial records proving that your business has a good financial history, which is an indicator of your ability to pay rent. These documents should include things like profit and loss statements or balance sheets.

#3 Tax Returns

Providing your tax returns for the previous two years will help establish that your business is above board and is another indicator of your reliability.

#4 Professional Resume and References

A professional resume or some references from clients, previous landlords or accountants also further confirms the character of your business. A landlord might request both the resume and a few different references, so be ready with names to give them.

#5 Personal Guarantee

This is less than ideal for a business owner, but sometimes landlords require one. When you negotiate your lease, try to also address this issue. You might not be able to eliminate the need for it entirely, but you can try to ask for a limited personal guarantee, which might require you as a business owner to only pay rent for a certain period of time if your business breaks the lease. You can also see if you can have the guarantee waived after a certain point in the lease term. However, the landlord will most likely want some guarantee as an extra form of protection.

If you are in the process of looking for office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, make sure that you can access all of these documents. Your landlord might require more documents, such as an insurance policy, but this is a good place to start in establishing your good character as a potential tenant.

If your business is looking for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out more about our available Kansas office space for rent, or even set up a tour of an office space for rent in Overland Park!

Finding Kansas Office Space for Rent: 4 Steps to Take Before You Start Negotiations

Before you start a serious search for commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give yourself plenty of time to really prepare yourself—especially if it is your first time dealing with a commercial lease. Your professional image, business assets and the futures of your employees are at stake in this decision, so there is every reason to exercise the utmost care. Here are a few steps to take to get ready for the process of commercial real estate negation and rental, as suggested in the article: “Your First Commercial Lease: How to Prepare and What to Expect”:

Familiarize yourself with the jargon. Determining whether the spaces you are looking at are right for your business sometimes comes down to a matter of technical terms. Make sure you understand the different classes of commercial property, the different types of leases, and the difference between “usable” and “rentable” square footage. It is also important to understand the names of other fees associated with a lease, such as Common Area Maintenance (CAM) costs, as all of these things ultimately affect what you are paying for and your experience of the property.
Assess your budget. In addition to knowing the names of the various costs, you need to know whether your business can handle them. This means first looking at the financial status of your business, your projected growth and the level of risk that it is safe to assume in a lease.
Seek professional guidance. One thing to seriously consider in order to make the process a bit easier for you is working with a real estate attorney or broker to help you understand the details of your lease. While this is an added expense for your business, it might pay off in the long run if you can get a better deal and avoid some serious leasing pitfalls. Be wary of the brokers that are brought on by the landlord, as they are not objective third parties or interested in the most favorable terms for you. An experienced professional hired by you will have the best eye for details that a first time lessee might miss.
Consider the growth of your business. Another thing to think about is the growth of your business in the upcoming years. If you anticipate your business getting bigger, it is important to look for a space that you can grown into, or a lease with an option to expand. Most new and growing business also opt for shorter term leases (1-3 years) with an option to renew.
Evaluate your brand. A final thing to consider is how the location will affect the image of your business. Remember that even if you are only there for a few years, every place you choose will contribute to the brand image your business is building, and certain neighborhoods or properties convey different messages. This factor is more abstract than just the budget numbers, but take the time to include it in your overall strategy for finding office space for lease in Overland Park, KS.

Before you even start looking for Kansas City office space for rent, do the necessary homework to make sure you know what to expect from the process and what is best for your business.

If you are looking for commercial real estate in Kansas City, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to find out about our available office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS.

Commercial Office Space for Rent in Overland Park, KS: Finding and Keeping Your Ideal Location

An office space lease is a serious commitment for any business. On top of the cost you pay per month, you have to be prepared to pay for other expenses, such as insurance, maintenance and taxes, as well possibly putting up a personal guarantee. Since this is such a big financial decision, it is important to approach leasing as a well-informed negotiator. Remember that there is no standard lease, so don’t be discouraged if the initial terms the landlord offers do not work for you—there is always room to negotiate. Here are a few issues to consider when looking at the locations of office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, as described in the article “Office lease negotiating: Part 1—location & relocation”:

Location Considerations

When selecting an office space location for any business, there are three crucial things to remember: visibility, accessibility, and desirability. In other words, you need to find a location that your clients can easily find and want to go to. Here you more specific considerations to look into when evaluating the location of an office space for lease in Kansas City:

Visibility Changes – While you might start off with a space that has great visibility, it is important to make sure upfront that your signage and space remain visible. For example, what happens if partway through your lease a tree blocks your sign, or your sign is no longer lit? These problems aren’t uncommon and can definitely be addressed in your lease by stipulating the landlords maintenance obligations—but this requires the foresight to anticipate these issues.
Referring Potential – In addition to finding a place that is easily accessible to your clients, you might also want a place where nearby businesses can provide a reference to your business. If all other things between two office space options are equal, it could certainly tip the scales if one of the places is near a business that could send some clients your way.
Exclusivity Clause – Another issue that should be addressed in lease negotiations regarding location is an exclusivity clause. This prevents the landlord from leasing spaces in the same complex to direct competitors of your business. You might not be thinking about competitors when you first move into a space, but it is important to plan for the possibility of one seeking a nearby office.
Logistics of Access – When assessing how easy is a place is to access, it is important to think out the logistics of how your clients will reach you. Is there nearby highway access? What about public transportation stops? If you live in a bike friendly city, will people be able to easily bike to your office?
Parking – One final thing to consider is the parking situation at your office space. Make sure you know if you will have enough parking for both employees and clients and how close parking is to the building. You should also ask about parking lot security, particularly if you anticipate employees staying at the office after dark.

Remember that a lot of these concerns are not things that a landlord will address right off the bat. It is important to raise these questions yourself and negotiate for any necessary clauses or provisions in your lease to address them.

The Relocation Clause

A lot of leases might include a clause that gives the landlord the right to relocate you at some point during your lease term. In a lot of cases, you might not be able to eliminate this clause entirely, but there are a few things you can negotiate for to limit the power of this possibility:

The amount of notice required before relocation.
The places to where you can be relocated.
The window of time in which a landlord can choose to relocate you.
The costs of relocation and who is responsible for them.
The right to end your lease if you do not want to relocate.

It is important to bear in mind while looking for an office space for lease Olathe, KS, that the offered lease is not a document set in stone. There is a lot of room for negotiating to see if you can satisfy all of your concerns. The best way to make sure that your issues are addressed, particularly when it comes to location and relocation, is to make sure you educate yourself ahead of time on what is important and keep an eye on your priorities throughout negotiations.

If your business is interested in a commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our Kansas office space for rent!

Small Office Space for Rent in Overland Park, KS: 2 Questions to Address Before Signing A Lease

Getting ready to look for a new office space for lease in Olathe, KS, or moving into your first real office space? Before you start to make any commitments, step back and ask yourself these two questions to make sure you are looking at the right kind of space and lease, as suggested in “20 Things You Should Know About Leasing Small Office Space”:

#1 How much space do I need?

One of the first things to take into consideration is how much space your business will require, as too little or too much space can cause financial problems for your business down the line. Calculating square footage should be based on how much space you need now and what your growth expectations are for the upcoming lease term. Here are a few questions about staff and workspace to assess how much space you might need:

How many employees do I currently have? Will I be adding more over the next few years?
Exactly how much workspace do I need per employee? Is desk sharing an option?
When do I plan to add staff, and about how many staff members would I want to bring on in the next few years?
What kinds of staff do I have or plan to hire—administrative, sales, executive?

Having some concrete numbers to go off of when thinking about the amount of staff in your business can best help you determine how much space you need. On average, it is good to factor in about 150-350 SF per employee; however, the type of industry you are in can also be a big factor in this.

Different industries tend to choose different types of layouts for their offices. For example, a customer service call center might want workstations with groups of cubicles in more of an open office plan, whereas something like a law office is better suited to the traditional private office model.

Once you have determined how to arrange employees in your office, consider also what things you might want included in your space, such as a kitchen area, conference rooms, or a waiting room and reception area. As you get closer to choosing a space, you might also consider talking to an interior architect or a space planner for a second opinion.

#2 How Long of a lease should I sign?

Another thing you should determine early on is how long of a lease you are prepared to commit to. This depends largely on your budget, but also on your goals and expectations for your business in the coming years. To evaluate these factors as objectively as possible, sit down and make a 5-10 year plan for your business with detailed descriptions of budget, staff, how much space you will need, etc. The goal is to find a space that you can comfortably grow into but also afford, and you want to do your best to avoid moving if possible, since moving is an expense and a hassle for any business. If you are not sure where you will be in 5 years, talk to the landlord about renewal and expansion possibilities so that you have options at the end of your term. Here are a few pros and cons to consider when thinking about long versus short term leases:

Long Term Lease

Pros: This type of lease is ideal for a company with a clear plan and predictable growth. It also allows a tenant to really invest in customizing a space, especially since landlords typically help with construction costs for long term occupants. It also means avoiding regular renewal negotiations, which can be costly and tiresome if a landlord knows that you do not want to leave the space.
Cons: One major con is annual rent increases. Typically the yearly increases for a long term lease are based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which increases at about 3% per year—meaning that after 10 years you will be paying 30% more in rent. Regular market values rarely raise at this steady rate, so by committing to this measurement you are missing out on the opportunity to negotiate for a better rental rate.

Short Term Lease

Pros: The biggest benefit of a short term lease is knowing you will be less likely to find yourself stuck in a place you cannot afford. A 2-3 year lease term with the option to renew or even to expand into adjacent space is the ideal situation for a small business not yet in a position to accurately predict the future.
Cons: The downside of a short term lease is that there are not as many benefits for the tenant as there are in long term leases, for example, free rent periods, breaks on some expenses, or help with build-outs. The longer the term, the more financial concessions a tenant has the power to ask for.

Knowing how long of a lease to sign for a small office space for rent in Overland Park, KS, comes down to how sure you are about the trajectory of your business in the next few years and whether it is worth the risk of taking on a space that will be too big or too small. The more stable and predictable your business is, the longer the lease you should look for in order to reap all of the benefits offered to long term tenants.

Before you get too far into negotiations over any commercial real estate in Kansas City, step back and make 5-10 year plan for your business to decide how much space you should lease and how long of a lease you can commit to!

If your business is interested in Kansas office space for rent, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our available office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS!

5 Steps to Turn an Office Space for Lease in Overland Park Kansas into a Co-working Space

Ready to get out of the home office or stop working in coffee shops, but not sure where to go next? Co-working spaces are the buzz of the entrepreneur world as startups and entrepreneurs begin to realize the value of a creative atmosphere and networking opportunities inherent in a shared space.

But what if there isn’t a co-working space near you that fits your needs? If that is the case, it might be a great opportunity to start your own co-working space in a commercial office space for rent in Overland Park, KS. If you are interested in creating a shared office space for yourself and other like-minded businesses or individuals, here are a few steps to take, as suggested in the article “7 Tips for Creating Your Own Co-Working Space”:

#1 Spread the Word

Before looking for a space, start getting the word out in your local business community that you are thinking of undertaking this project, so you can see if there really is a demand for a co-working space in your area. Since the idea of co-working is so new, you want to make sure that you have an interested group of businesses or individuals before you rind a space, rather than renting one and hoping people will join you.

One way to evaluate interest is to host some events, create a Facebook group or use other means of online advertising and communication. If you only have a small interested group, continue to meet or talk with them—the interest in a co-working space could grow over time and become a possibility later down the line.

#2 Choose Your Location

This is one of the cardinal rules of finding office space for any business. Make sure that you have a space that is convenient and suitable for all parties. If you are looking for a good deal on a space, try to find one that has been on the market for a long time or a building with a lot of openings—you might be able to negotiate a better deal on these kinds of spaces with a landlord.

#3 Style and Function

The co-working space trends tends to revolve around environments that are a little unconventional and conducive to comfort and creativity, but this requires serious consideration of your budget. The space might not be as hip and energetic as Silicon Valley right away, but you can continue to make changes over time.

To start, be realistic about your budget and priorities. For example, high-speed internet and other basic utilities should be at the top of your list. In regards to furniture, consider buying secondhand or even letting occupants bring their own to create a space that is eclectic and comfortable, but cost-effective.

#5 Find Support

This might seem like a financial impossibility for a group of small businesses, but often there is a lot of local help for entrepreneurs and businesses looking for office space for lease in Overland Park, KS. Contact your local chamber of commerce or small business associations and development centers to ask about grants and loans that could help defray the costs of renting a space.

Developing a shared office space can be a challenging and ongoing project, but so potentially rewarding for small businesses or entrepreneurs. The benefit of having the amenities of a larger space but with shared costs can be huge for small businesses, and many find the atmosphere of focused creativity to be much more conducive to work than the silence of home or the distractions of public places. So if you are not sure you can afford commercial real estate in Kansas City, start talking to your business community to see if creating a co-working space is the best option for you!

If you are looking for a Kansas office space for rent, give us a call at 913-685-4100 to learn more about our commercial real estate Kansas City!

4 Things to Consider When Finding an Office Space for Rent in Overland Park

If you are looking to move into a new office space for lease in Overland Park, KS, be prepared for a long term search in order to find a space that is just right for your business. Though the problems vary by tenant, several factors can help prevent any major headaches from occurring. Here are a few tips on how to save time and money when looking for office spaces for rent in Overland Park, KS, as outlined in “How Long Does It Take to Find Office Space and Move-In?“:

Viewings. Looking for a space can be an long process if you aren’t quite sure what you are looking for. If you don’t want to spend too much time searching for that perfect space, make sure to be open to different environments. So instead of having that one ideal office space, maybe consider a few other suitable spaces for the sake of comparison. Being flexible on things like specific building features and surrounding amenities might save time in finding a space.
Lease Terms. The best way to prepare for negotiating lease terms is to do your homework and figure out what is generally expected of both the tenant and the landlord in a lease. Most of the time a tenant may hire an attorney to help understand and oversee the writing of these legal obligations, although working it an attorney typically prolongs the process.
Realistic Criteria. As discussed previously, remember that having a flexible idea of what you want in a space is a good way to save time and stress when searching. This shouldn’t mean that you settle for anything that might fit the bill, but rather have an idea of what you want and an alternative solution if you can’t find it. Finding a balance between searching for different options and leaving enough time for moving is the ideal scenario.
Build-Out Time. When altering or adding to an office space you want to remember that this too will take a lot of time and push back the date when the space will be totally ready for use. There are a lot of factors that go into a build-out, from contractors to general building approval to the actual construction process. However, it will be worth the wait to have a desirable and customized environment where you are happy and comfortable doing business. Tenants who are able to find a furnished space that requires less build-out might find it lacking personality, but will probably save some time and money.

When you are looking for a new office space and planning that big move, it is important to have a realistic idea of what that process entails so you can plan your timeline and budget according. Before you start looking for office space for rent in Overland Park, remember these tips to make that process a little more painless!

If you are looking to rent office space in Overland Park, give us a call at 913-685-4100 for more information about our available Kansas office space for rent.