Moving your business can be a time-consuming, overwhelming and expensive task. It’s not something that any business owner would usually do unless it’s absolutely necessary or is a worthwhile investment for the company. Bear in mind that the more time you take planning ahead for the big move, the less downtime your business will experience during the process – allowing you to get back up and running and making a profit again. Here are some top tips to help you prepare so that your upcoming move is as seamless as possible.
De-Clutter:
In the weeks or months leading up to the planned move, it’s a great time to get rid of any old phones, printers, laptops, PC’s, office furniture or other office supplies that you no longer use, need or want. You could donate them to new upcoming businesses in your area, schools, or registered charities. After all, what’s the use in paying to move items that you’re not going to be using?
Start Packing Early:
The earlier you start when it comes to packing, the easier the job will be when the big day arrives. Start by packing any items that you need to keep but aren’t essential to the day-to-day running of the business – this way, a business can continue as normal and when moving time comes around, all you’ll need to pack are the essentials. Bear in mind that most of the time, people will seriously underestimate just how much time it can take to pack everything up, so make sure that you give yourself at least a few weeks in advance – longer if you have a large inventory of items.
Hire a Reputable Moving Company:
The moving company that you hire can make all the difference to your moving experience, so it’s definitely worth spending some time researching to make sure that you’re putting your business in the hands of a reputable, experienced mover. It’s a wise idea to call at least a couple of months in advance and get several price quotes, along with asking for proof of insurance. If the moving company is also going to be packing for you, remember that they might pack everything – so be sure to remove any perishable items or trash yourself. If you want a moving company to pack, then make sure you do your research as you’ll need to trust them with some of your most valuable stuff.
Label Your Boxes:
In the build-up to the move, it can be all too easy to be consumed with packing and preparing, so that you forget about all the unpacking that you’ll be doing once you arrive. Don’t forget to make it easy for yourself by marking boxes on the tops and sides, so that you’ll be able to locate what you need easily when you’re unpacking and setting up your business in a new place. Labelling the sides is more important than you think, as only marking the tops makes it harder to locate items quickly. And if you’re facilitating a very large move and have hundreds of boxes to move, a numbering system is ideal to avoid losing things in the move, especially if you’re working with a moving company. In the event of the moving company losing any of your items along the way, numbering your boxes with a short description of what’s inside them will make it easier to make a claim.
Make a Checklist:
The best way to ensure that your move is as stress-free as possible is to make a checklist of everything that needs to be done. It’s a good idea to write your ideas down in order so that you can get started at the top of the list early on, working your way down until moving day. And, don’t just think about packing and moving – at least a week in advance, take some time to make sure that everything is in working order at your new premises, any relevant permits have been obtained, and any signs are up.
Let People Know:
Last but not least, don’t forget to allocate some time for updating your contact information and letting your customers know about the move. You may want to do this by uploading information to your website or sending an email out to customers to keep them informed. And, don’t forget to update your contact and location information on Google My Business, so that potential new customers don’t get sent to your old address.
Moving a business is never an easy task, but with the right preparation and planning, you can make it a relatively stress-free experience.