Smoothly relocating your business starts by creating a detailed timeline, budgeting all moving costs and giving your IT team a few months to prepare. Even the smallest details matter when relocating your entire business, and so it’s important to plan far in advance. The following tips for relocating your business will make the potentially stressful process go a whole lot smoother.
#1. Create A Detailed (And Realistic Timeline) For Packing And Moving
The first step to successful business relocation is to build out a detailed and realistic timeline including when you will pack different elements of your business, alert clients and even shut down for the actual moving process.
Make sure to give yourself some wiggle room; it’s not uncommon for things to take longer than expected when working with so many moving parts. If you have the opportunity to do so, start planning as much as 4-6 months in advance. During the earliest stages of planning, inform all employees of changes and when they are scheduled to take place.
It might take a few months to simply make inventory of your office and decide what’ll move with you and what can be tossed out. As the moving date approaches, it’s time to start scheduling all services for Internet and phone, as well as obtaining any necessary permits, licenses and insurance you’ll need. Waiting to take care of these things post-move can slow down your reopening and result in lost revenue.
#2. Give Your IT Team A Few Months To Prepare
Give your IT team plenty of time to plan the transfer of technical equipment, Internet services, and other important elements. This gives your team time to evaluate the new space and make suggestions for lucrative improvements or changes that should be made, either in regards to infrastructure or equipment.
#3. Budget All Moving Costs
Moving isn’t cheap and every last penny adds up. Make sure to detail every expense in your move out plan. Movers and equipment transportation are just two of the many expenses to factor in. Don’t forget to total costs for lost revenue while you are unopened for business. Also, will your employees assist with the move, be given paid time off, etc.?
#4. Hire Move Out Cleaners
Prior to handing the keys over to your landlord, consider investing in move out cleaners to help you secure more of your initial deposit. A professional move out cleaning company can help the process go smoother while reducing stress on everyone.
#5. Let Your Vendors Know 1 To 3 Months In Advance
Well before your scheduled move out date, contact all vendors you work with to provide your new address and let them know when you are scheduled to relocate. This prevents things from being shipped to your old location after you’ve already moved, as well as other potentially costly mistakes.
#6. Order Office Furniture 1 to 3 Months In Advance
Order new furniture and office equipment prior to move-in day. This helps to ensure everything arrives on time and there are no delays once you’re already settled into your new space. If you’re stuck waiting for certain furniture or equipment to arrive, you might have to postpone your grand opening, which will cost you additional money.
#7. Update Your Website, Business Cards, Google Page & So Forth
You don’t want your customers mistakenly going to your former location after you move. As a result you could lose business and irritate your clientele. Don’t wait until after you move to make address changes to your website, business cards, Google Page and any other place your commercial address is listed.
#8. Keep Employees Organized Before & During The Move
Create a streamlined system for employees to follow as they pack up their desks and other belongings. For one, employees should clearly mark all packed boxes with their name and what’s inside of the box so that it’s easy to place it accordingly post-move. Color-coded boxes and files are very helpful, especially for larger companies with a lot to move.
#9. Schedule Your Future Meetings And Deadlines With Respect To The Move
Anytime your business relocates it is going to shake up your day-to-day routines, at the very least for a couple of days. Don’t overestimate what you can accomplish during the moving process. For instance, we wouldn’t recommend planning an important meeting with a high-dollar client the day after you move into your new space. Be open and honest with clients about your relocation and give yourself some time to breathe by scheduling future meetings and deadlines with regards to your move.