Are you running your business in Sydney but planning to expand to Melbourne or Brisbane? Instead of dealing with the hassle of setting up a full second office and the long list of tasks that come with it, consider opening a satellite office to simplify the process and get going quicker.
What is a satellite office?
A satellite office is like a branch office, where a company expands into other suburbs, cities, or countries and creates “branches” of its business. This new space is physically separate from the head office but still conducts work as part of the overall business. With satellite offices, you’ll have another physical space that employees can report to.
What are the benefits of a satellite office?
Sourcing talent from new regions
Say you’re looking for a web developer. What if you found the right person but they’re on the other side of the country? Rather than trying to relocate top talent or ask them to work from home, you can strategically pick a region you want to expand into and open up a satellite office to help widen your pool of potential candidates and add diverse people to your already thriving team in a face-to-face environment.
Connecting to the local customer base
Satellite offices can help you reach local customer bases that are still untapped. When you place your team in the same community as your customers, they will gain firsthand knowledge of what your customers need. They will understand customers’ desires and lifestyles, helping your business identify and address key challenges. Through this, businesses can develop strong connections between themselves and their customers as well as solutions that solve consumers’ needs.
Collaborating face-to-face
Having in-person communication and time to innovate together in an office improves overall team productivity. While work-from-home days can have their benefits too, incorporating face-to-face days for employees helps to strengthen brainstorming and connection. When multiple minds work together, it can develop a more well-rounded outcome than just one perspective. In contrast, if team members miss out on face-to-face interactions, creativity can take a hit and employees can feel isolated. Having one or more satellite offices ensures every member of your team has a space where they can connect with the business and each other.
Expanding with flexibility
What’s great about satellite spaces is that you can open them when you need to expand but also shut them down when you need to dissolve them. Many serviced offices and co-working spaces offer flexible lease terms that don’t lock you into a multi-year contract, instead working month-to-month and giving you room to pivot. This is great for small to medium-sized businesses that may want to test a new region for 6 months and then decide if they want to stay.
Reducing commute time
One of the biggest benefits of a satellite office is the cut down on commuting time, improving accessibility for all. If located in a city environment, employees can pick their means of transportation — walk, train, bus, or bike — which cuts costs and improves employees’ lifestyles. Too many hours in traffic can negatively impact a team’s energy, focus, engagement, and productivity. So by opting for a convenient location, employees can experience higher motivation and get more work completed.
What should be considered before opening a satellite office?
As beneficial as satellite offices can be, there are still a few considerations worth thinking about before opening one. These are the 3 most important things to consider when looking to expand.
Location
Where are you currently located? Where do you want to go next? Once you know the region, it’s vital you check if it’s close to public transportation, restaurants, and other necessities for new employees or clients. Analyse how easy it would be to get to or what the ‘feel’ of the suburb would be. This is a huge factor that influences new talent in their decision to come on board.
Cost
Do you have the $$ to expand and hire new employees? Is growing into a new spot something that will benefit the success of your business? You’ll want to run a cost-benefit analysis to make sure that adding new rent and overhead costs will pay off in the long run.
Space
Lastly, you’ll want to consider whether you’re picking a satellite office in a standalone building or a co-working space. Depending on your choice, you may be responsible for furnishing spaces, setting up internet, or employing tech support for your team members who are separated from the main office. In a co-working space, many of those variables are bundled into one main price.
Who should use a satellite office?
A satellite office is best for businesses in growth. If you’re thriving in one region and looking to expand, but don’t want to move your whole organisation, a satellite office would solve the problem. This allows you to keep your already bustling business in one place while opening the door to new opportunities and accommodating the extra work.
A satellite office can also be a temporary interim spot for small to medium-sized businesses that have outgrown their previous offices and need a consistent place to report before moving into a new office. This way, employees can still maintain familiarity, even during times of change.
Businesses that are looking to form new partnerships in different areas may also benefit from a satellite office. They can open an office where they want to grow a new team or partner with existing companies, which they wouldn’t have been able to do in their original location. This improves a business’ ability to network, connect, and grow in multiple places.
Get started at a satellite office location today
On the doorstep of Carlton, Melbourne Connect Co-working is woven into one of Melbourne’s beloved neighbourhoods, and is a great option to set up a satellite office if you’re looking to reach Melbourne.
With flexible options and a vibrant professional community, it’s the perfect place to establish a local presence and connect with new opportunities. Get in touch to find out more.