Many successful companies have their roots in basements and garages across the country. Countless discussions, business plan revisions, and meetings are conducted with anyone necessary to make a go of the product or service. These arrangements were usually out of necessity rather than choice. Office space can be expensive for a start-up company with rent commitments, furnishings and communication setup costs far beyond the most optimistic of entrepreneur budgets. While hashing out business details at Denny’s has also held some popularity, picking up the tab for business lunches can typically be a pricey office solution as well.
Enter Starbucks and wi-fi and a whole new world of temporary, on-demand office space. Coffee shops have become the new alternative to the garage for start-up companies….mostly out of convenience but the components are there for a successful business discussion. How simple can it be? Start talking over a cup of coffee…pull your laptop out of the briefcase…and your meeting is in high gear!
As with anything new, the rules have to be hashed out and many coffee shops have begun limiting wi-fi access or wall jacks for battery recharge which keeps the new millennium entrepreneurs on their toes looking for the next great “hot spot” to hold their board meeting. Reliability becomes a big factor when to need a spot to hash over agenda items.
Many people don’t realize that the world of temporary, on-demand office space already exists and has existed and probably isn’t far from the Starbucks where they’re currently meeting. When we started Plaza Executive Suites we had the opportunity to pitch our new venture to friends, family and pretty much anyone who would listen. Many believed we had stumbled upon one of the most brilliant ideas of the 21st century.
The reality is that executive suites, serviced offices, business centers or whatever other name you can think of have been around for some time. We just like to think that we’ve stirred the pot a little bit by offering a comparable product that is inexpensive, requires no contract and convenient to schedule, find, and conduct business. While maybe not brilliant…we’re certainly very popular lately.
Bob Alsbury, General Manager - Plaza Executive Suites
A few years back, I was laid off from a corporate job I held for 16 years as a result of a company acquisition and relocation of company headquarters out of state. With a fistful of money from a nice severance package and the lack of desire to continue in the career I had poured my heart and soul into for so long, I decided to search inside of myself for some other talent or marketable skill that I could pursue. How I settled on real estate investment (specifically apartment real estate) I’ll never know.
Over the course of 14 months I bought triplexes and four-plexes and finally stopped when I owned 43 apartment units. Not your everyday, run-of-the-mill apartment units…seedy apartment units in an older part of Phoenix’s working class neighborhoods. Early on I knew that I’d be managing these units alone. I was the leasing agent, maintenance man and the rent collector. I worked from my home office which served my needs just fine. I also knew I didn’t want many of these tenants to know where I lived for fear I’d never get any peace and quiet.
For this reason and that I didn’t need office space for my newly launched LLC, I obtained a PO Box for all matters related to the rental units. While I dreamed of the day I would grow my investment company into a national real estate giant with my own floor in a downtown high rise, I knew then I’d have to make do with what I could afford.
As a new business owner and more importantly a small business owner, I didn’t know I had other options in between a post office box or leasing an office space for my business. I have subsequently found that there is a whole world of virtual office and business identity programs in the office space world which can be very intriguing to someone who is trying to present a professional image with out the dedicated office expense. These programs can be obtained for as little as $25 per month for a prestigious business address or a dedicated phone line with a sophisticated auto attendant.
Take a look at our website to see the variety of business identity programs that we have available and then search for an executive business center in your area and ask them for the same. You will be glad you did.
Oh, and the apartments? I think I was aging a week for every day I self-managed the apartments. Thankfully the 2005 real estate boom couldn’t have come faster. I sold the residential units and purchased commercial office space in the blink of an eye and couldn’t be happier. At least I learned a lot about home repairs. I have no idea what I’m ever gonna do with all of these plumbing tools. Anyone need an electric sewer line rooter?
Bob Alsbury / General Manager www.PlazaExecutive.com