For many businesses, being based in London is not an option. The headquarters of some of the largest firms in the world are located in the capital, and that’s often through choice rather than just necessity. Of course, the situation is slightly different for smaller businesses, but just how essential is having a London office?
It’s helpful to have a firm in the centre of everything
With London being the capital city, it makes sense that it is almost seen as the centre of everything in England. There are lots of other businesses in the area for a start. It’s highly likely that your main rivals are already set up in the area so this is a key reason to get involved.
You don’t want to be missing out on deals or potential new customers because you aren’t in the middle of things. Your competitors will be able to make the most of the area because if you aren’t there, it’s one less business that they need to worry about.
It’s convenient
You also need to look at things from your own perspective, not just the competition. All of the resources you need are likely to be located somewhere in the capital. If you don’t have offices in the area, you could find yourself severely restricted. It could even involve you having to travel to London to get things sorted.
If you’re trying to get new customers and they are based in the capital, it’s likely that you’ll have to go to them. If you’ve got an office based in London, this won’t be as much of an issue. However, if you’ve chosen to locate elsewhere, it can be difficult, costly, and time consuming to travel to the capital.
It’s good to have a base camp
Of course, you also need to take into account the fact that you will need to have somewhere to actually host your meetings with potential customers. If they want to meet in London, you are going to be a bit stuck without an office of some sort and a café might not cut it. Similarly, meetings with your staff are going to need to be held somewhere and a base in the capital can be very useful.
While rents in the centre of London can be expensive, there is the option of only having an office on a part-time basis. If you intend to have your main office outside of the capital, a serviced office that you only rent when you need it could be ideal. Having access to a boardroom or meeting areas for the occasions when you have a meeting could work out cheaper but still ensure you remain professional.
You’re connected to international clients
London is often regarded as being a financial centre and many international businesses see it as the key place to be within the UK. With that in mind, if you want to crack the international market, you need to be located somewhere that these businesses have faith in and are aware of.
It’s all well and good having your offices right out in the countryside somewhere, but when you start talking to companies that aren’t familiar with the UK, they are likely to lose interest quickly once you tell them where your business is based. It might sound silly and even a little unbelievable, but being able to say that you’re based in the capital could make your company seem more legitimate and trustworthy.
It sets the right tone
Arguably the most important reason of all, clients might take your company more seriously if it is based in an influential location. For example, according to office provider One Heddon, companies based in Mayfair are often regarded as being more credible than others due to the exclusive location. As a result, this positive impression could be the deciding factor in securing that all-important business deal.
It’s easy to expand
It might be a smart idea to have your main offices based somewhere outside of the capital in a location that suits you and your staff. You can then rent an office in London as and when you need it. This will allow you to keep up with the competition, make your presence felt, and ensure you don’t miss out on any vital changes in your industry.
It could be that you want to expand, in which case a smaller office in London can always be marketed as being your main headquarters, even if the majority of the work takes place elsewhere. Customers need never know that your London office is a back-up, with the main base being somewhere else in the UK. If you have a good receptionist and can have any mail redirected, it’s certainly possible and may be the best option all round for your company.