This article is contributed by Michael Adams.
Earning a living as an independent contractor can be fulfilling. For those who are disciplined enough to manage their time and get things done without supervision, this is the only way to work. Even so, being an independent contractor can be a solitary work experience. One way to meet some practical needs and feel less isolated is to lease temporary office space from time to time. Whether it’s for a couple of days, a week, or a longer period, this solution can be cost-effective and helpful. Here are four reasons why this approach to work space is worth considering.
A Place to Meet With Clients
Even in an age when so much is done using online resources, there are still times that you want to meet face to face with potential or current clients. Much of the time you can go to their offices and hold those meetings. Should the client want to come to you, inviting them into the spare bedroom where you work most of the time is not the best move. How will you handle the situation?
Choosing to lease office space for the short-term is the way to go. It’s great for creating a professional setting that your clients will feel comfortable entering. Remember that if you want an address in the business center for this purpose, it pays to go with one that includes access to a conference room as well as a private office. That’s particularly helpful if you’ll be spending time with several representatives of the same client, and want them to be comfortable while you show them a customized presentation.
An Address That’s in the Business District
This is especially helpful if you’re seeking to acquire a new client. For the first impression, having a location in the business district sends the message that you take your operation seriously. Even if the client knows that you are only leasing the space for a short time, the fact that you choose to do so will help make a better impression.
It doesn’t hurt that the temporary rental usually comes with support services like front desk reception, access to meeting rooms, and maybe even access to a general break area where it’s possible to enjoy some snacks when the two of you take a break. Those little perks convey the message that you know how to do things in a professional manner and take proper care of your clients.
Opportunities to Interact With Other People
The solitary nature of working for yourself is great at times. There is no office politics to deal with and no one is trying to climb the corporate ladder by going over or behind your back. Even so, there are times when it would be great to have coworkers who can help break the monotony of the day with some idle conversation.
Working in temporary office space means that there’s no need to do anything by yourself. There are still times when you will shut the office door and work alone, but you also have the change to visit the common areas and strike up conversations with others who work in the building. You may make a friend or end up making a connection that eventually becomes a new client. Even if you don’t the human interaction helps clear your head and make it easier to get back to work.
A Way to Draw a Clear Line Between Home and Work Spaces
People who work out of their homes sometimes have trouble putting the work day behind them and changing the focus to family and friends. If you find yourself falling into that sort of rut, a week or two at a temporary office will help reinforce the lines between work time and home time. You may even get some ideas on how to physically create more lines between your home workspace and the rest of the house after spending time in the rented office.
These are only some of the ways that independent contractors can make use of temporary office space. Think about how you conduct your business currently and how you could use this resource to enhance the operation. Once you try using it once or twice, this may be an option that you decide to make use of a few times each year.
This article is contributed by Michael Adams.
