The average American moves about 12 times in a lifetime, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2016, 6.9 percent of the population moved, which equates to about 22 million people. These numbers show that a lot of Americans move – and they move a lot.
As such, you may think that relocating your business will be fairly similar to moving your household. In some ways, you’re right. However, moving a business can be vastly different from moving your household.
Packing up and relocating your business and employees take a lot of time and effort, more so than moving houses. Your business operations will come to a temporary halt, you need to think of your employees, and packing your entire office can be a nightmare.
Fortunately, we’re here to provide you with ways that can make your business relocation a smooth, seamless experience.
Create a Checklist
Planning is key to a smooth and successful move and you can do this by making a moving checklist. Write down your planned moving date and create a timeline from there. List down the documents and permits that you need to file for the move. Identify the key personnel you’ll need and their designated tasks. Plan your budget and other financial needs that your business move requires.
When you have all these details on your checklist, you’ll have a structured guide to follow, lessening the risk of making mistakes along the way.
Start Packing Early
In your timeline, make sure you schedule packing early on. Box and ship out or move into storage the equipment that your office can function without for a couple of months. This technique eases the burden of packing everything at the last minute where you’re more likely to make a mistake because of time constraints.
Also make sure to find the right moving and storage service, which professional moving packers from South Florida say can be a big task. Get moving quotes from a few different moving companies and decide on which one gives you the best service and value for money.
Communicate With Your Current Employees
Employees often carry the heaviest burden during a business move. For them, it’s either they relocate with you or they let go of their source of income. As for you, you have to face the fact that you may have to let go of some of your best employees.
These are the reasons you need to gather your employees and inform them of the move early on. Doing so gives them enough time to decide if the idea of moving for a job is something they want to consider. This way, you can plan for employee replacements if needed, so you can restart your business operations right away.
Expect a Massive Change
The move may be easier on you and your employees if everyone is aware that moving means more than just a change in location. You will possibly have to adjust to new people, a new schedule, and even a new climate. Preparing for these scenarios can lessen the shock and better prepare you and your team to adapt to change.
Finally, give yourself and your team ample time to adjust. A fresh start can be invigorating for a business, but only if you’re confident of the new environment you’re in.