News Room

Press Release Source: Office Business Center Association International

If Your New Year's Resolution Is Growing Your Business, Moving It From Home- Based to Office Business Center Is a Great Way to Start, Says OBCAI
Thursday December 28, 11:05 am ET

MT. LAUREL, N.J., Dec. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- With the New Year about to become a reality, many business owners will be making resolutions to earn more money, put out a better product and perhaps even expand their companies. For the home-based business owner, all of these goals might be better achieved by doing one thing in 2007 - moving the business from the garage or basement to a professional office space.

"The trouble is, for many home-based entrepreneurs, the cost buying or leasing of commercial real estate can be prohibitive. But that doesn't mean a New Year's resolution to expand the business has to go out the window like those other promises to lose weight or quit smoking," said Mike Moore, President of Office Business Center Association International (OBCAI), the non-profit association representing the office business center industry. "Office Business Centers (OBCs) can help start-up business owners put the 'solution' back into their New Year's 'resolution.'"

OBCs offer home-based entrepreneurs the ability to move into a more professional environment without the huge investment of time and money that purchasing or leasing commercial real estate can entail.
"The cost to rent an OBC is about half of what it typically takes to equip and staff a commercial space," said Mr. Moore.

In addition to the economic advantage, there are many other benefits to using an OBC:

-- The business' image is improved: Moving to an OBC can mean
entrepreneurs finally have a place to entertain clients without
having to invite them into their homes. The more professional setting
ensures that clients view the business as legitimate and established,
and not as a fly-by-night operation.

-- Valuable work time is not lost on setting up the new office:
Entrepreneurs can focus on what they do instead of where they do it,
since most OBCs come fully furnished and already have phone and
Internet service. Some even offer a receptionist as part of the
rental agreement, so there's no need to hire additional staff.

-- As the client base expands, so can the space: Most OBCs offer
customers flexible leases, so they can add office space as their
business grows.

-- A huge financial commitment isn't necessary: OBCs do not require
multi-year leases, expensive lease-hold improvements or make-ready
expenses.

-- No need to worry about overhead or maintenance issues: Business
profits can be used to expand the business, rather than saved for
overhead. Entrepreneurs who use OBCs pay rent to the Office Business
Center manager, who takes care of all the utilities, grounds keeping
and other ancillary expenses.

-- OBCs are typically located in easy-to-find, high-profile areas: By
relocating to an OBC, a home-based entrepreneur doesn't have to worry
about his or her business being out of the public eye. In addition,
OBCs are often located in areas that are convenient for customers to
reach.

-- Networking opportunities abound: Entrepreneurs might find potential
clients, friends or mentors among the other business owners who use
the same OBC. Moving a business out of the home helps alleviate the
sense of isolation entrepreneurs might feel while working from home.

-- Business owners might benefit from establishing a separation between
work and home: Being able to leave an actual office at the end of the
day can help many entrepreneurs strike a much-needed balance between
their business and their personal lives. In addition, many find they
can operate more efficiently when work is taken out of the home.
Entrepreneurs looking to fulfill their New Year's resolution to expand their
business can find out more about the OBCs in their area by utilizing the
resources that OBCAI provides.