Business seeks Space

Is your home business ready to expand but not ready to take on full premises? We look at how small business can afford to move out of home.

It can be a frustrating time for a business that is starting up or has been established from a home base it has outgrown. Having your own premises or offices gives your business an increased perception of professionalism. It also gives you and your employees a more conducive working environment, without the distractions of home.

An ideal solution is a serviced office.
At a serviced office you only lease the office space that you need – the other facilities are shared. At the Clarence Business Centre in Grafton for example they centralise reception services, equipment, cleaning and some administrative tasks such as mail.

The benefits are huge, reducing the isolation of being a solo operator, having professional space in which to meet clients and hold meetings, a focused working environment and you can benefit by interacting with other small business operators, sharing ideas and advice.

Business Incubators are another initiative supported by AusIndustry. These are designed to assist people wanting to start a new or already operating business in the local community.
The aim of the project is to provide the impetus for the development of a wide variety of light industrial and commercial enterprises for the local area and thereby enhance the industrial and commercial diversity that already exists.

The main objectives of the incubators are to:

*Foster self employment, business development and accelerate business growth *Reduce the failure rate of start up businesses *Assist businesses to operate, create jobs and wealth

Tenants pay commercial rent and have access to free business advice and business services eg. photocopying and fax on a fee for service basis. There are also meeting and training rooms for tenant use.

Current business incubators in the Northern Rivers include award winning Byron Bay, Ballina and Mullumbimby as well as Evans Head and Grafton.

BETC, in partnership with Lismore City Council, has recently won funding to establish another small business incubator in South Lismore. Call BTEC on 6686 8068 or go to
www.ausindustry.gov.au for more information.

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