Getting a 2nd office...without paying business rates?

[hazmog]

I'm trying to explore creative ways of getting a small office in a nearby city away from my main one, without the massive cost of business rates which incur when you get 2 offices. It would not need to be staffed full time, although it would be good to have some desks in there ideally, and at a minimum a sofa and coffee table,

The ideas I have so far are:

• Hot Desking
• Meeting Hire rooms
• Partnering up, or coming to some arrangement with another company in the city I want to expand to (my favorite idea, but it does rely a lot on the 3rd party being reliable and decent)
  
• Finding a property with a tiny rateable value

Any other ideas?

Thanks

 

[billmccallum1957]

An office that's not staffed is a waste of money. I would look at hot desking.

for example....

http://desklodge.com/2-free-days-br...jwHMPhLeMOuTYHv-bN9glIZnONQIlJZEi4RoCZIrw_wcB

https://info.futurespacebristol.co....YQ9usjGvPt2VlVRtKlu95RUjfm6_t25s6FxoC1xHw_wcB

 

[hazmog]

"An office that's not staffed is a waste of money."

Not in my case - it's not about the desk, it's for entertaining clients. Right now in our main office we convert about 80% of potential clients into sales after meeting them. I want to bring new clients into the new location and have the same success there.

The desks would not be for people to work on, but to give the image of that as and when needed whilst my core staff are in the head office.

 

[Paul Norman]

Given your reasons - which I understand, I have the same favourite as you, partnering up.

Just so long as the arrangements are clear. And that the person you partner with does not turn out to be 'difficult'.

I suspect the second best might be something like a Regus arrangement, which would give you some meeting room space. But that might not be much cheaper than paying rates.

 

[hazmog]

Thanks for the reply.

Yes, I have looked at Regus, but it turns out they are very expensive and aggressive with their sales tactics, not really a fan.

 

[ethical PR]

You're overthinking it - there are lots of amazing places to hot desk with meeting rooms. Just use of one of them.

 

[Salman Afzal]

Regus is one the worst service provider i have ever signed up with, their aim to just ripoff their customer by all means, once you sign up they will send you an invoice 60 days in advance of the month and will ask you to pay in 10 days, otherwise you will incur late payment charge of £65 on an invoice of £123 ridiculously rippingoff , we have reviewed the contract but cannot find any payment date in contract. moreover If you have moved your office within the same Regus building, they will charge you £240 of cleaning charges, even for a hot desk. they will also charge for tea and coffee up to £70 pounds a month without mentioning, until you discover in your bill, i ended up paying thousands on additional charges and amgoing in court against them, I STRONGLY SUGGEST TO EVERY ONE, PLEASE GO TO A TOM DICK AND HARRY BUT NEVER SIGN UP WITH REGUS THEY ARE A COMPLETE RIFF OFF AND A DESPERATE COMPANY.

 

[ico1234567]

did you make it to court ?

 

[Gingerbreadmen]

A suggestion for a work around:

hazmog ltd. opens another ltd. hazmog (estates) ltd. who in turn rent the office space and pays the rent. Prior to each rent hazmog (estates) ltd. invoices hazmog ltd. for use of the office on the days needed at the exact same amount plus £10 (to cover cost of filing returns accounts etc. but not enough for profit or tax) hazmog (estates) ltd. then applies for small business rate relief?

 

[JEREMY HAWKE]

There are hundreds of virtual offices for as little as £25 a month with meeting rooms

 

[GillespieBS]

Co working spaces - so popular now - Regus should be out of business.

 

[ico1234567]

gingerbread turns a simple 1 man band into a complex structure with group relief, transfer pricing complications and vat grouping.. The accounting fees will rocket up...

 

[estwig]

A lot of accountants will have meeting rooms you can hire and trade from their address too.

Obviously hotels have meeting rooms.

 

[Nord20]

You could open a personal bank account in your local Virgin Money branch. They offer free meeting rooms, which you can then book as and when you need them to entertain your clients and it won't cost you a penny.