What to do when you outgrow your home office:

When your business needs to move out of home

You can get up when you want. You can set your own hours. And you can take a break, whenever it suits. Yes, being able to do your work from your home comes with perks.

But it’s not all rays-and-sunshine. If you’re running your own business, side-hustle or hobby, you might be feeling the growing pains of working from home:

• Your home office (or bedroom) is filling with clutter

• You’re lacking daily inspiration and motivation

• You’re missing coffee and catch-ups with colleagues

• You’re aspiring for a more professional image

• You ready to take on employees or freelancers

So, time to bin those empty coffee cups and clear out your home office. Here’s what you can do to reclaim your home from the clutches of your business, without giving up your flexibility.

Moving out of the home office: What are your options?

Get some extra storage

Your solution could be simple if it’s just a matter of space and clutter. For businesses with inventory, such as sellers on eBay or Etsy, you may just need extra space to put inventory. Artists, too, might need to expand their studio space to fill out an archive and reclaim their workspace.

Getting some extra storage space can be a quick way to free up your home. Plenty of options exist, from a self-storage solution to a friend’s garage, for those who are economically-minded. But often, it’s not just a storage problem. You may need a better workspace, too.

Join a coworking space

If you need a cup of coffee with a coworker to start your day, joining a collaborative coworking space could be a good next step. You’ll not only get work done in an inspiring, productive space with plenty of office-like perks, you’ll also tickle that social bone too.

These days, there are plenty of coworking spaces to choose from in most major cities. Even if you just want a few days in the month to get out and about, a coworking space could be the fertile ground for your business as you step out of the home office.

Join the office of another business

Small businesses with office space sometimes lease out extra desks. In this arrangement, you’ll be working from the office of another business. This is a great way to get the benefits of working in an office environment and feeling like you’re a part of a team.

Finding the perfect arrangement might be tricky, though. Start looking into your local area. Check local business Facebook groups for opportunities, ask around with people you know, or drop into some local offices of small businesses you like the look of. There may an extra, unused space with your name on it.

Try a shared office space

Another option is a shared office space. Similar to a coworking space, it’s usually an open office arrangement with a permanent desk and storage. Rather than coming in just a few days a month, you’ll be a permanent fixture. It’s on the professional end of flexible work, usually with full business services and meeting spaces to wow those clients-to-be.

If you’re thinking about completely separating your home and your business, a full-time, shared office could be the right option. Especially if you’re taking on more, bigger or better clients, and need to full-suite of services (how about a concierge?) that a professional office can provide.

Sign on for a serviced office

A serviced office is more of a permanent arrangement than coworking or a shared office (though there are short-term plans available). A shared office might in a building of other offices, suitable for 2–20 people. If you have hired employees, freelancers or contractors, this might be the next step for your business.

With a serviced office comes all the perks of a professional image of a real business. Of course, if you’re not at that stage, you might want to find other business owners or founders in the same boat as you, and team up. With a serviced office, your business is at its most professional, without forfeiting your flexibility.

Start small, grow big

From flexible coworking spaces to fully serviced offices, there are many options for you, at every stage of your growing business.

Once you start feeling like your business is getting too big for the home, you can dive into the next step, whatever that may be. So, it’s time to start clearing up that home office!