Archive for June, 2014

You Can Never Have Too Many Amenities

One of the many advantages that come with an executive office suite are all of the amenities that are included in your lease that make your business life easier and more productive. Many, if not all, of these services are included at no extra charge.
They include:

On-site Office Manager. The Office Manager is on-site Monday-Friday to manage the facility and insure that the services you count on are always available to you. They are also there to help you set up the plan that’s right for you or to answer any questions you may have.

Upscale Décor. The modern decor is upscale and professional which greatly aids in the perception your visitors and guests have of you and your business.

Convenient Location. You don’t want your clients, prospects and visitors to have to spend an inordinate amount of time searching for your place of business. Quick, convenient access with plenty of available (hopefully free) and well-lit is a must.

A plus is if the center is located in close proximity to hotels, restaurants and shops.

Security. The user-friendly security system allows for 24/7 access to your office plus a safe working environment.

State-of-the-art Conference Facilities. Available by reservation and equipped with appointment and offers all of the assets you need to conduct a successful meeting. Such assets include Wi-Fi access, 3-way conference speaker phones, white boards, liquid refreshments and presentation equipment.

Concierge Services. The concierge attendant is available to assist you with meeting and catering planning, dinner reservations and any other professional needs that may arise.

State-of-the-art Answering System. The phone system provides a personalized telephone answering service plus 24-hour voice mail and message retrieval. Added value is obtained if the voice mail message is carbon copied as a wav file and emailed to you.

High Speed Internet. High-speed access provides always-on Internet.

Copy/ Facsimile. For your convenience, a copier and facsimile machine are available for your use. This saves you from having to commit to a long-term rental and/or service agreement.

Mail Service. Along with a prestigious business address, you should receive a private mailbox for your incoming mail.

Utilities, Janitorial, Maintenance Services. Your lease should include all of these which ensure a professional, functional working environment.

A La Carte Services. You should be able to access a wide variety of professional business services to support you in running your business. This saves you from having to employ an executive assistant or or administrative staff. Typical services include:
• Research/respond to RFP’s
• Production jobs
• Evening meeting services
• Information Management
• Website services
• Creative services
• Invoicing
• Professional administrative services
• Witness services
• Scanning service
• Printing services (color, black and white)
• Facsimile service
• Express shipping, postage and private courier services

You will find all of these amenities, and more, at Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch. To learn more call us at 941.373.1400.

Traditional vs Shared Offices and Executive Suites

With 10+ years of experience within the Executive Suites (Shared Office Space) industry, I have seen many vital aspects of both Traditional Office Space and Shared Office Space change. The economy has helped shaped both of these industries terms pretty drastically and for technology has a more prominent role in their service offering than ever before.

The Economy is healing but at a slowed pace. Traditional Office Space is going through some pretty sever changes and is struggling to stay relevant. Building owners are trying to keep their units rented by discounting their Per Square Feet rates, playing with term lengths and find it a challenge to keep their CAM costs under control. When it comes to bigger corporations and organizations (Fortune 500 for example or the US Government, etc.), their goal is to lower their real estate foot print and increase employee productivity. This is where Shared Office Space comes into play. Executive Suites such as Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch find an increase in corporate tenants and large organizations. These types of clients no longer find value in renting out thousands of square feet to house a few new employees; now it’s all about one person offices or shared offices and maximizing their productivity. This same principal also applies to small business owners who once found prestige in renting out a free standing building or a spot in a strip mall but now it’s about cutting their expenses and going to a less traditional space.

With an Executive Suite business model, you get a shared receptionist to answer your calls (no more expensive payroll), you only use the space you actually need. Furthermore you are surrounded by other like-minded individuals from small business owners to account executives of larger corporations. Think of the great possibilities of in-house networking!
Technology has changed an awful lot as well. When I started my career in this industry, cell phones were current technology and the Internet was just starting to make its mark on industry and society. Cell phones were used to make “quick and brief” calls or during hours where it was free to dial out (“call me only after 7pm or on weekends”). Now cell phones are pervasive and have morphed into smart phones with all that their expanded technology entails.

Internet speed has increased exponentially and has created an improved method of communication known as VOIP technology. Cell phones and VOIP are not only a major method of communication but they are also a way to advertise our businesses, receive our voice mail and text messages and help us with directions to our next appointment. Furthermore, the innovation of smart tablets and much smaller portable computers have shifted the dynamics of how we report to the “office”. Today’s business professional needs a lot less space in our modern world to work. That is why places like Executive Suites at Lakewood Ranch with smaller offices and collaborative work spaces are the new norm. Save on overhead, find a professional place other than a Starbucks to conduct your business (and still get great coffee) and close some deals…isn’t that what all small business owners strive for?